8 speed cassette advice please

broona
broona Posts: 414
edited April 2012 in Road buying advice
Following on from my £200 new wheels thread here - viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12845534 I'd also like to get a second cassette to build up a full spare set of wheels (already got a pair of Michelin Krylion tyres and tubes), but not exactly sure what I'm looking for!

According to the Giant spec here - http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 317/49824/ it currently has a SRAM PG-830 11x28 cassette fitted, but when I google this, it comes back as a MTB cassette, is this right?

The PG-830 is only £13 delivered from CRC at the minute, is it worth just buying another one of those, or are there any other, better options that won't break the bank? Cheers. :D

Comments

  • rpd_steve
    rpd_steve Posts: 361
    There is no difference between MTB/road, just that generally up to 27 is called road and 28+ MTB as it is rearly used/needed on the road. Any cassette that is SRAM or Shimarno fitment and 8 speed will work. If you dont run out of gears on hills then a 12-25 may be a better and more common option.
  • broona
    broona Posts: 414
    RPD Steve wrote:
    There is no difference between MTB/road, just that generally up to 27 is called road and 28+ MTB as it is rearly used/needed on the road. Any cassette that is SRAM or Shimarno fitment and 8 speed will work. If you dont run out of gears on hills then a 12-25 may be a better and more common option.

    Thanks for the reply. I'm not at all fit, and often end up in bottom gear on both mountain and road bike, and I'm stupidly doing the Hills of the North sportive in September too, lol - http://www.hillsofthenorth.com/about_hi ... _north.php

    Do you think it would be worth me sticking with the lower gearing?
  • rpd_steve
    rpd_steve Posts: 361
    In that case - yes. The advantage in having a close block cassette is you have lots of very similar ratios around the crusing speed of a racer/club ride. This means the rider in question can always maintain their exact perfered cadance, as some like to stay between 93-97 for example - but most people (and yourself I'd expect) are not that fussy.

    If you have never found yourself looking for 'that right gear' between cogs then I wouldnt worry- having the right gears for the hills is more important.
  • broona
    broona Posts: 414
    RPD Steve wrote:
    In that case - yes. The advantage in having a close block cassette is you have lots of very similar ratios around the crusing speed of a racer/club ride. This means the rider in question can always maintain their exact perfered cadance, as some like to stay between 93-97 for example - but most people (and yourself I'd expect) are not that fussy.

    If you have never found yourself looking for 'that right gear' between cogs then I wouldnt worry- having the right gears for the hills is more important.

    Thanks for the informative reply, I think I'll just go like for like, but upgrade from the PG-830 to the PG-850 and save a little extra weight too. :D
  • graham_g
    graham_g Posts: 652
    If you feel like buying in bulk, the prices on cassettes at Rose Versand (mail order) are astounding. I stocked up a few weeks back. I think the 8 speed cassettes are in the region of £9 each, but you need to allow an extra fiver for postage - hence the bulk order.
  • broona
    broona Posts: 414
    Graham G wrote:
    If you feel like buying in bulk, the prices on cassettes at Rose Versand (mail order) are astounding. I stocked up a few weeks back. I think the 8 speed cassettes are in the region of £9 each, but you need to allow an extra fiver for postage - hence the bulk order.

    Thanks, but they only appear to have Shimano in stock, and the Sram always seems to get better reviews, so I've just ordered a PG-850 from CRC for £22 delivered. :D

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