12/27 or 11 /28? Pros and cons

ukracer
ukracer Posts: 421
edited November 2009 in Road buying advice
Currently riding normal double as did not like the compact as much bought looking to change cassette to give me a little lower gearing if needed.
I have a 12/25 at the minute but how would the 12/27 or 11/ 28 differ please?

Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Can't see that you need an 11 cog ? Just pedal faster.

    How is your climbing ? A 27 is good but a 28 would be slightly lower ? Where do you ride and how heavy are you ?
  • ukracer
    ukracer Posts: 421
    cougie wrote:
    Can't see that you need an 11 cog ? Just pedal faster.

    How is your climbing ? A 27 is good but a 28 would be slightly lower ? Where do you ride and how heavy are you ?

    I guess im Mr Average beginner , 13 stone riding round all parts of derbyshire inc a few sportives hopefully
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    sounds like you've answered your own question..

    12-27 or 11-28 just gives you a bit more over a 12-25

    a 12-25 is exactly the same as a 12-27 apart fromn the top two gears - it has 24, 27 rather than 23,25 so very little in it.

    I run 12-27 most of the time but 11-28 is useful if you spend a lot of time in a low gear - I ran 11-28 on the Marmotte for example.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • dag_on_a_bike
    dag_on_a_bike Posts: 581
    Good question.

    Currently running 34/50 - 12/27 but recently seen bargain 11-28 advertised at Wiggle for £35.

    I'm advancing in years and declining in ability. So, as I can't remember tha last time I went on to the 50/12 combination, but would appreciate easier climbs, is it worth it? Would I really notice much difference between the 27 & 28?
    There's no such thing as too old.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    depends on the terrain really. I climbed Ventoux in Sept and my mate's bottom gear was 34-27 whereas I was on 33-28. Towards the top I was clearly at an advantage as I could keep a decent cadence whereas he was grinding a bit.

    But that's Ventoux. Most of the UK climbs are short bursts in comparison. I doubt on most climbs you'd notice the difference between 27 and 28, but the small advantage is still there nontheless.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • chrisw12
    chrisw12 Posts: 1,246
    It's a personal thing but I like a range on the back as it means less shifting on the front.

    Since you've already got a 12x25 then perhaps buy the 11-28 and then you can bastardise the two if you really want to experiment. You may get a 12-28 for example if you you're not using the 11.

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