Will changing from 12 to 11 on the rear cassette speed me up

chris_bass

Hi

I did a search for this but couldnt really find the answer I was looking for, it seemed to be more geared up (pun intended!!) to the larger gears than the smaller ones.

I often find myself reaching for an extra gear when on the flat or going downhill and I an currently running 12-15 on a triple. would changing to 11 as the smallest rear gear help or would it not really be too noticable?

merak

I assume 12-15 is a typo and you mean 12-25. What's your big ring? I doubt you are spinning out a 50/12 on the flat - if so need to work on your cadence. I'd also say ditto downhill, as by the time you're spinning out 50/12 (say 36mph) you might as well just get in a tight tuck and stop pedalling.

Monty Dog

It's a common questions: 50x12 is good for 60kph, so unless you're exceeding that sort of speed then suggest you need to work at improving your pedalling speed. Perhaps getting a computer with cadence function will help? To an experienced cyclist, 'spinning out' is in excess of 130rpm and for some in excess of 180rpm!

bigmat

A lot depends on your natural cadence, and what gear you have at the front. I found a 12 tooth sprocket on my mountain bike (48t front ring) wasn't enough for my London commute - I was practically always in the top gear! Switching to an 11t (and moving somewhere with a few hills) means I am now able to make better use of my gears.

On my road bikes I have cassettes with and without an 11t sprocket. I like having the 11 for top end cruising - yes I could achieve the same speeds with faster cadence and a 12t, but sometimes its nice to just turn a big gear (long flat runs with a tailwind, long straight descents etc).

chris_bass

yeah sorry that should have been 12-25!! 12-15 wouldnt be much of a range!!

the big ring is 50 so i guess i need to get the old legs spinning a bit quicker before changing the rear cassette then! at least that is a much cheaper option

rolf_f

Chris Bass wrote:

the big ring is 50 so i guess i need to get the old legs spinning a bit quicker before changing the rear cassette then! at least that is a much cheaper option

Particularly since 11-25s commonly seem to cost 30% more than 12-25s! That's a lot of money for one less tooth!

Bobbinogs

Why not try a different cassette when your current one is worn out and see how you get on? On one of my bikes I have a 50 chainring and found that I also wanted one extra gear when going downhill probably about 3 or 4 times on an average saturday ride (my routes are usually very undulating). However, I get no where near 50-11 on a flat, if I can find one. If you are Shimano then the Ultegra 6700 11-25 is a good cassette for the money and the gaps are quite nicely spaced. You can always go back to your current range cassette at the next time to change if you want to with no money lost, as such.

briantrumpet

Well, I've just done exactly that change (down to 11), and have found the fact that all the gears up to the 15 sprocket have moved one to the right better for me (the crossover between the ranges on the 50 & 34 rings seeming more flexible/practical), as well as having a gear I can more comfortably spin on at higher speeds.

mroli

If you are running 10 speed shim or sram - http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... RAMCASS260 is £30 for a 11-26 - not saying it will make you faster like, just giving you the option! I run a mixture of 11 and 12 on my wheels and don't notice a vast difference.

oldwelshman

Some poplelike to crunch big gears and its a personal chice, but in answer to your title of the post "will changing from a 12 to 11 speed me up" the answer is no, it is how fast you pedal determines your speed.

MichaelW

Practice your spin and your natural cadence with increase. I practice in a stupid low gear just ramping up the cadence over 1 minute till I am spinning as fast as possible. Dont bother trying to ride fast at the same time, you are just training your spin muscles..

McBain_v1

Is it just me or does this question sound a bit "Spinal Tap"

This one must be faster cos look, it goes down to eleven!!

prawny

I hardly ever use my 12t sprocket, I must be either awesome or a wetter, not sure which.

keef66

Well I just managed 39.7mph in 50 x 12, and I was nowhere near spinning out.

Bit of a downhill involved, obviously.

redvee

My smallest sprocket get the chain on it today as I dropped down into Wells at close to 40mph, first time since I've had the bike that has happened.

batch78

39.7mph on 50x12 are you sure? Without spinning out, I'd have thought you'd look like you were fitting!

In answer to the OP, if you've got the power, yes it can make you faster, if you can turn it, if you hit top gear and its a slog you'd be better working on cadence.

optimisticbiker

batch78 wrote:

39.7mph on 50x12 are you sure? Without spinning out, I'd have thought you'd look like you were fitting!

In answer to the OP, if you've got the power, yes it can make you faster, if you can turn it, if you hit top gear and its a slog you'd be better working on cadence.

Thats only 126rpm cadence... easily doable in short doses if you have the legs for it... my max recorded cadence is 152... :roll:

batch78

Well I'm genuinely surprised its so low, above about 37mph I feel I'm not accelerating by turning the pedals and prefer to take a tuck position, ho hum, looks like the op and myself just need to pedal faster then!