General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday?? Rss Feed  
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2014-04-10 3:26 PM

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Subject: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
I live in pancake flat country and put a 12-23 cassette on my road bike last fall. I love it around here.

My first Sprint tri of the year (I did 3 last year) is Saturday in Oxford, Ohio (MUSF) and I'm wondering if I should re-install my 11-28 for the hills around Oxford, just to be safe. While not too steep to those that ride in the hills/mountains, I recall one small section that is pretty steep. Most of the ride will be either climbing, or descending with very little flat riding.

Thoughts?


2014-04-10 4:07 PM
in reply to: DannyII

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
I plan to put my 11-28 back on, if I remember right, I enjoyed my 28 on my compact last year.. and this year I'm using a standard chainring.

Just like you I switched to a 12-23; but my reason was for the trainer.. nicer to have the gear spacing closer. If nothing else, I'm hoping the 28 will mean I have to switch to the small chainring less.

Of course nothing will matter if I don't get healthy enough to race it.
2014-04-10 4:14 PM
in reply to: DannyII

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??

You want to make sure that your derailleur can handle the 11-28 and you also may want to use a longer chain.

2014-04-10 4:32 PM
in reply to: Jason N


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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
Originally posted by Jason N

You want to make sure that your derailleur can handle the 11-28 and you also may want to use a longer chain.



The potential issue needing the longer chain is if you cross chain big to big. Not a gear you should be in anyways.
2014-04-10 5:06 PM
in reply to: Sidney Porter

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
All depends on how strong a rider you are and what the actual % grade/length the hills are. What I do is search sites like Strava, Garmin connect etc. that can give some pretty good detailed info on climbs and I compare those to routes I ride or have ridden on.

I remember hearing all kinds of chatter about the Branson 70.3 which has 8 or 9 Cat 5 climbs but I was just fine OK with a 11-25 and 50/34 crank because I studied the climb data a little and compared it to my local rides.
2014-04-10 5:43 PM
in reply to: DannyII

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??

like everyone as noted- it depends on how steep it is, or, more specifically, how fast you can climb up that hill without exceeding your lactate threshold.

Personally- I love my 11-28, but don't go there unless you need it. As, with the 11-28, you lose the all important 16 cog.  Which is right around 23-24mph I think.  

I'm not familiar with the course- but you didn't specify if you have a compact set of chainrings or standard combo.  50/34 or 53/39 up front.  if you've got a compact, a 12-23 is a fairly good spread.  12-25 might be a nice compromise.

 

my favorite web site tool for comparing:

http://home.earthlink.net/~mike.sherman/shift.html

 



2014-04-10 6:13 PM
in reply to: DannyII

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
I wouldn't change anything this close to a race.
2014-04-10 7:01 PM
in reply to: Sidney Porter

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??

Originally posted by Sidney Porter
Originally posted by Jason N

You want to make sure that your derailleur can handle the 11-28 and you also may want to use a longer chain.

The potential issue needing the longer chain is if you cross chain big to big. Not a gear you should be in anyways.

Agree.  But we don't know how long the OP's current chain is to accommodate his 12/23 cassette.  It's possible that the chain is already set to a length where big ring and 23 is a stretch.  Thus when going to 11-28, the OP would lose another gear or two while in the big ring.

2014-04-10 8:25 PM
in reply to: Jason N

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
MUSF was my first ever tri and I did it on a mountain bike and didn't think the bike course was that bad. I think you'll be fine, honestly.

Have fun at my alma mater
2014-04-10 9:14 PM
in reply to: meggfishy

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
I decided to leave well enough alone.

Thanks all!!!
2014-04-10 10:12 PM
in reply to: DannyII

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??

sounds like you made up your mind.  to add my input... i only run an 11/28. couldn't imagine anything different. 



2014-04-11 8:03 AM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
I'm an friggin' idiot!!!

I forgot that I put my 11-28 on my dedicated trainer wheel, and put the 12-27 that I got for Christmas on my good wheel. I still have the 12-23 in the box in my bike toolbox.

Carry on.



Edited by DannyII 2014-04-11 8:04 AM
2014-04-11 5:09 PM
in reply to: DannyII

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
Yep. Sounds like you made up your mind. But for what it's worth, I think the most underrated thing about 11-28 isn't the low-low gears. It's the lower gears in the big ring. I live in middle NC (went to Miami U undergrad BTW) and we have lots of rollers and short hills. I can stay in the big front ring for many more hills when I'm using the 11-28.
2014-04-11 6:32 PM
in reply to: smoom

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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??

Originally posted by smoom Yep. Sounds like you made up your mind. But for what it's worth, I think the most underrated thing about 11-28 isn't the low-low gears. It's the lower gears in the big ring. I live in middle NC (went to Miami U undergrad BTW) and we have lots of rollers and short hills. I can stay in the big front ring for many more hills when I'm using the 11-28.

Yep.  This is why I use 11-28 for training.  Nice to stay in the big ring for the 50/22 combination without having to worry about cross chaining.  I can even go to 50/25 for short periods if I need to...but I won't go to 50/28.  At that point it's better both mechanically and physically to go to the small ring.

2014-04-17 10:58 PM
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Subject: RE: Should i put my 11-28 cassette back on for tri Saturday??
Originally posted by smoom

Yep. Sounds like you made up your mind. But for what it's worth, I think the most underrated thing about 11-28 isn't the low-low gears. It's the lower gears in the big ring. I live in middle NC (went to Miami U undergrad BTW) and we have lots of rollers and short hills. I can stay in the big front ring for many more hills when I'm using the 11-28.

I always try to avoid the two lowest gears while I am in the big ring, the leaves me stuck with a 21 tooth even if I swap my 11-25 for an 11-28 or a 12-27 I do often feel like I am at either extreme on the big or small ring - I think a 22 cog in the 8th position would help but I don't see any shimano cassettes that come that way.

Edit - I would love it if trading my 11 tooth for a 12 moved everything up one, I don't really need to be pedaling at 35+ MPH.

Edited by Anachronism 2014-04-17 11:07 PM
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