I think Mark's question has been answered, but I will toss in my $0.02 just put it out there.
I like a wide cassette because, while yes, I ride a lot of terrain, I want CHOICES. The whole reason to have a bike that changes gears is so you can have a lot to choose from. The down side of a wide cassette, if any, is that you can develop "cadence gaps". This is where the cog you are in is just a wee bit tough and slows your cadence and then when you move up one cog it's a wee bit too easy and your cadence begins to "spin" a little. It's basically Goldie Locks all over.
I personally don't often, if ever, encounter cadence gap issues. As a result, I ride with and 11/28 and compact on my favorite road and TT bikes. One exception was IM Tahoe where I wanted a LOT of gears and I brought an 11/32. It needed a special long cage derailure because the 32 was the size of a dessert plate. My mountain bike has a super wide cassette because I run a single chainring in front. That means I run an 11/44 in the rear. Plenty of choices.
Think of 11/28 as a golf bag. Don't want a lot of club selection in it if you are on wheels?
Gearing question for IM Canada: I'm gonna be at ~3.2w/kg (230/72) by race day. I have a compact crank and 12/28 cassette. I really don't want to have to mess with changing the rear derailleur to go to a 12/32. Do I really need to do that, or will I be ok with the 12/28?
I rode all the hills I could find around the "hill country" of south Texas last saturday and got 3300' of climbing in over 60miles total, but it's all rollers (some pretty steep....but all short). I tried to ride the EN way, but obviously can't get up some of the steeper stuff at 160W (0.7IF) and 3.2w/kg! I just did my best to keep the effort as low as I could without going just stupid slow and almost falling over slow. My VI was 1.07ish.
Is that going to be OK? I could back off a little more on the climbs.....just don't know how long/steep the climbs are on this course.
So I am also contemplating gearing for IM Canada. I was thinking I should get a compact crank but have the Quarq power crank now (with an 11/28 cassette) - and will lose the ability to have power if I change it out. I weigh 128 now hoping for 126 race day and have FTP of 185. I'm an ok climber but am coming from flat sea level Florida! Any suggestions/recommendations are appreciated!!
So I am also contemplating gearing for IM Canada. I was thinking I should get a compact crank but have the Quarq power crank now (with an 11/28 cassette) - and will lose the ability to have power if I change it out. I weigh 128 now hoping for 126 race day and have FTP of 185. I'm an ok climber but am coming from flat sea level Florida! Any suggestions/recommendations are appreciated!!
Kate,
Sounds like you have a standard crank on there now, correct? Not worth changing to a compact and losing the ability to race IMCA with power. I think the 11/28 is good enough. For you to get more gears would likely require you to install a mtn bike rear deraileur. I don't think that's necessary either.
sorry to counter Coach. because Coach is Coach. but ...
in my opinion ...
Canada is the hardest bike course I have done. my ftp north of 3.75 watts/kg. I definitely needed a compact and 11/28. there are some steep grades.
my wife, with ftp ratio not quite as good at yours, loved the compact and 11/32 she has.
If you need to keep your power in the crank, at a minimum, do what needs to be done to get 11/32 on the back. new derailleur? you might even consider 11/34 but I do not know if that is possible.
or do you have a newer Quarq that also accepts compact chainrings?
Thanks Coach Rich! I am training on the kickr and have the Canada course on perfpro... it's tough. I keep looking back to see if there is just one more gear!! Robin - thanks for the input. Another option - per my bike shop - is to put on a compact crank with the Stages power (which i don't know much about), costing about $500. I don't think my Quarq will accept a compact chain ring - but will check on that. Thank you for your input!!
Kate: I have not done Canada but have done some hilly races. You do NOT want to run out of gears. It becomes too costly on the ride and then on the run. You might check with Quarq as they often will do exchanges. If not look at eBay. Cranks are pretty easy to change. Stages would be interesting as well. As Robin said though you would want to go with a compact.
Comments
Yes, but you have to admit that long cage derailleur was unsightly. (Yes he rode it well.)
I like a wide cassette because, while yes, I ride a lot of terrain, I want CHOICES. The whole reason to have a bike that changes gears is so you can have a lot to choose from. The down side of a wide cassette, if any, is that you can develop "cadence gaps". This is where the cog you are in is just a wee bit tough and slows your cadence and then when you move up one cog it's a wee bit too easy and your cadence begins to "spin" a little. It's basically Goldie Locks all over.
I personally don't often, if ever, encounter cadence gap issues. As a result, I ride with and 11/28 and compact on my favorite road and TT bikes. One exception was IM Tahoe where I wanted a LOT of gears and I brought an 11/32. It needed a special long cage derailure because the 32 was the size of a dessert plate. My mountain bike has a super wide cassette because I run a single chainring in front. That means I run an 11/44 in the rear. Plenty of choices.
Think of 11/28 as a golf bag. Don't want a lot of club selection in it if you are on wheels?
Unsightly on my TT bike as well, but a huge benefit for a guy like me at Tahoe.
Gearing question for IM Canada: I'm gonna be at ~3.2w/kg (230/72) by race day. I have a compact crank and 12/28 cassette. I really don't want to have to mess with changing the rear derailleur to go to a 12/32. Do I really need to do that, or will I be ok with the 12/28?
I rode all the hills I could find around the "hill country" of south Texas last saturday and got 3300' of climbing in over 60miles total, but it's all rollers (some pretty steep....but all short). I tried to ride the EN way, but obviously can't get up some of the steeper stuff at 160W (0.7IF) and 3.2w/kg! I just did my best to keep the effort as low as I could without going just stupid slow and almost falling over slow. My VI was 1.07ish.
Is that going to be OK? I could back off a little more on the climbs.....just don't know how long/steep the climbs are on this course.
Advice?
Your listed watts is ftp or race goal?
Robin...FTP is 230.
Kate,
Sounds like you have a standard crank on there now, correct? Not worth changing to a compact and losing the ability to race IMCA with power. I think the 11/28 is good enough. For you to get more gears would likely require you to install a mtn bike rear deraileur. I don't think that's necessary either.
sorry to counter Coach. because Coach is Coach. but ...
in my opinion ...
Canada is the hardest bike course I have done. my ftp north of 3.75 watts/kg. I definitely needed a compact and 11/28. there are some steep grades.
my wife, with ftp ratio not quite as good at yours, loved the compact and 11/32 she has.
If you need to keep your power in the crank, at a minimum, do what needs to be done to get 11/32 on the back. new derailleur? you might even consider 11/34 but I do not know if that is possible.
or do you have a newer Quarq that also accepts compact chainrings?
Robin - thanks for the input. Another option - per my bike shop - is to put on a compact crank with the Stages power (which i don't know much about), costing about $500.
I don't think my Quarq will accept a compact chain ring - but will check on that. Thank you for your input!!