Gearing question > cassette help needed

grosso27

All,

Fully aware of the recommended EN gearing, but the reality is that I live in pancake flat Chicago & have no intention of doing IMWI anytime soon.  In the past I survived with a 53/39 11/23.  Heck, I even did super hilly (for Chicago) Galena on it.  Though I wish I had thought to bring the 12-27.

So now I have had a few gallons of KoolAid & am the proud owner of a 50/34 compact.  I really feel like I should be running an 11-21 or worst 11-23 in the back, can anybody argue with that? 

My A-races are Racine & Rev3 CP, both pretty flat.  100% of my training is in Chicago, flat. 

Last year on standard cranks I rode OLYs in 1:04:xx & Rev3 (my first half) in 2:35.

Pretty sure I did the olys on 11-23 & Rev on 12-25.

Thanks,

Ed

Coach Rich

Nope, those are good gears for where you live and the races you do. And if you do decide to do more hilly, not a big deal to purchase a 25-12 if you feel you need one.

jwpicciotto

The only thing that might also drive you to get a larger cassette is to have an option for days when the winds are very high. Living in the flatlands, I don't usually ride anything above a 21 (or 23 if I foget to swap out cassettes between wheels). However, for my long course training when the head winds are blowing 20+ mph, I will switch to a 27 so that I can stay true to the Koolaid.

MattAaronson

I'm also 100% flatland Chicago, and about the same bike split in an olympic distance. All last year I used a standard 53/39 with a 12-23 or a 12-25. This year I got the quarq and went to a compact. I don't intend to change any of my cassettes. The only reason I wouldn't run an 11-23 is because I'd prefer the 12-23...I value the fineness of the gearing gradations a lot and don't value the 11 at all (I rarely use the 12...although that was with a 53 big ring so maybe this year it will be different).