11/26 or 12/23

nonameuser

I have 2 Shimano cassettes. 11/26 and 12/23. The 11/26 came as standard on my Trek 1.2 double. I got a spare cassette for my training wheel which is still in very good condition. This is a 12/23. Which would be better for me to fit onto my new Planet X model B's. I am guessing that the 11/26 would be better for hills but the 12/23 would be good for flats??

Bit confused with cassette sizing.

sungod

11-26 is a nice range

what have you got in the front? with a 12 on the back, on descents i run out of revs with a 52 on the front, doesn't happen with an 11 and 53

nonameuser

50/34

RoadieBob

Well, the 11-26 will give you a larger top gear, and a smaller bottom gear, but larger gaps between gears. So if you find that you're regularly grinding away at low cadence in bottom gear when going uphill, and feel like you need to change down, then go with the 11-26. Otherwise, the 12-23 is better in my opinion. 50x12 is a decent sized top gear - the worst that will happen is you'll be spinning the pedals pretty quick down steep hills, but that's no bad thing. The only reason you might need that 11 tooth sprocket is if you're racing, so you don't get dropped on the fast downhill sections.

nferrar

It's all down to where you ride and how fit you are. Presumably you've already ridden a bit using the 26? If so did you need to use 1st & 2nd gear on the hills? If you did then I'd stick with the 11-26, a 12-23 is quite a close ratio so less noticeable jumps between gears (easier to find a cadence you're happy with) but certainly where I ride I couldn't get up some of the hills on a 23

Mossrider

As NFerrar says - how fit are you and where do you live? I'm reasonably fit (not to race standards) and am generally geared 11/23 with a 50/36 to ride in the South Pennines (Holme moss, the Strines etc). I can get up anything local on it (and some are pretty steep round here) only the occasional hill is a struggle, I occassionally stick a 25 on the back for sportif / trips to the Alps etc.

Whichever, you will get used to it, but try the 12/23 - you can get fit, and hold the other back for your trip to the Alps!

geordiefella

Hey

I'd go with the 11-26 if you're gonna be doing mixed riding in your training with steeper hills etc. i wouldn't worry so much about the spinning out at the top end, more like not getting off to push on the hills using the 26 rather than the 23 tooth small cog.

Dave