Review (sorta): SRAM Red 11-26 cassette

Coach Rich

So on the recommendation of Rich Sawiris of Wheelbuilder I bought and installed a SRAM Red 11-26 cassette. I've been running a compact 50/34 crank with a 12-25 cassette forever on all kinds of terrain. Notes:

• The climbing today was steep or sustained enough for me to really sit on the 26 and notice the difference. My Tues route would have been better (2 x 5k @ 6-7% grade). Still, when I did go to the 26, it definitely added some RPM's
• The 11 was very tasty on the downhill though. Good for about 5mph without spinning like a fool. Was spinning out at about 43mph vs 36-37ish with the 50/12 combination.
• Can't really say anything yet about the cadence gap with the new cassette, as the bike was shifting like crap after the change. Likely a function of my crap cables and an overdue RD tune. Getting that taken care of today.

Bottomline, if you have lots of long, sustained climbing with high speed descents, might want to check out the 11-26. They make a non-Red 11-26 but Red/high end is just how I roll, yo.

mancona

Like Rich, I like having the extra range. I've personally settled on the SRAM Force PG-1070 11-25, however I believe they also make 11-26 and even 11-28 in the Force line as well.

The price of the Force ~$80 vs the Red ~$200 or more wasn't worth it to me at the time when I was still trying to figure out what ratio worked for me. Now that I have used an 11/25 for a while with success I may get a Red version some day.

Shimano now also makes both Ultegra and DA cassettes in 11-25,26,28 combination as well... so there are now tons of options out there for folks.

DocHoffart

Rich,

43 mph? Nice. I also switched the Red 11-26 and like it over my 12-25 DA. It's noisy compared to DA but a good.

I went to the 7900 chain and it shifts better then the 7800 I've noticed. The 7900 is directional I guess.

Vince

Coach Rich

I'm fortunate enough to get a good deal for Rich on parts so it was worth it (I hope) to go with red. I had them both side by side, told Rich that even at his price it's about 3x my frame of reference for a cassette, but decided to pull the trigger anyway.

Yeah, I noticed the noise but my drive train is so poorly tuned right now I don't know if thats it. But I like the anodized red on the inside of the inside cog

DocHoffart

Rich...just need some matching red nipples: on the wheels that is.

V

[Deleted User]

I used the DA 7900 11-28 with a compact crank in France last summer and had plenty of opportunities to sit on both ends...great combo...I was planning on using a standard crank and this cassette for IMLP this year. Unfortunately, no cool anodizing

Chris G

I have had an 11-26 for a couple of years. It was the cheap one, around 80 bucks IIRC. It seems to match up with the 50/34 great for the riding/racing I do. Even for shorter/flatter races where I do not need the 26 I usually don't bother to change it as THIS ONE GOES TO 11!

@Rich - I thought you dug that 39/21 combo you had on Whiteface last year?

Tomer T

 in Texas, you don't need anything more than 12-23x39-53 but when it comes to triathlons, 11-26 cassette lets you stay in your aero position longer and it's easier to stay inside your power range.

I was looking at the Red Powerdome but decided against it as many people said it is very noisy and since I'm running Shimano, I figured it's best that I'll stay with D/A cassette.

Rich,  are you running a full Red grouppo? did you notice any shift issues or annoying noise? 

  

charris

Anybody play with this?  Nice intuitive way of visualizing various combos:

http://public.tableausoftware.com/v...cleGearing

 

This is a good starting point for people whose eyes start to glaze over when they look at a table of numbers.

kathleennelson

Posted By Craig Harris on 18 Jan 2010 02:12 PM

Anybody play with this?  Nice intuitive way of visualizing various combos:

http://public.tableausoftware.com/v...cleGearing

 

This is a good starting point for people whose eyes start to glaze over when they look at a table of numbers.

My eyes are glazed over just reading this thread, but I am intrigued.  How bout schooling me on what does 11-26 mean and 50/34?  I am always interested in learning more about my bike;how it works and how it is put together.  Not sure, but maybe this question should be in a thread of its own?

Coach Rich

I'm running DA drive train, that Red cassette, Ultegra brakes...bit of a frankenbike. I want to upgrade the groupo in time for ToC. Lots of my friends are riding red and like it.

I have some other weird noises coming from the bike (creaking BB, Ergomo, afraid to touch it) so hard to isolate cassette noise from anything else.

Kitboo

Posted By Kathy Nelson on 18 Jan 2010 04:05 PM

Posted By Craig Harris on 18 Jan 2010 02:12 PM

Anybody play with this?  Nice intuitive way of visualizing various combos:

http://public.tableausoftware.com/v...cleGearing

 

This is a good starting point for people whose eyes start to glaze over when they look at a table of numbers.

My eyes are glazed over just reading this thread, but I am intrigued.  How bout schooling me on what does 11-26 mean and 50/34?  I am always interested in learning more about my bike;how it works and how it is put together.  Not sure, but maybe this question should be in a thread of its own?

Kathy: 11-26 refers to the cassette, which is the cluster of sprockets and spacers attached to your rear wheel. 11 is the number of teeth on the smallest sprocket; 26 is the number of teeth on the largest sprocket. 50/34 refers to the chainring which the front sprocket attaced to your cranks. 50 and 34 are the number of teeth on each ring/sprocket.  More info to be had here: http://sheldonbrown.com/gearing/index.html I would suggest reading the beginners articles and check out the bike glossary: http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html



 

kathleennelson

Posted By Kitima Boonvisudhi on 19 Jan 2010 09:59 AM

Posted By Kathy Nelson on 18 Jan 2010 04:05 PM

Posted By Craig Harris on 18 Jan 2010 02:12 PM

Anybody play with this?  Nice intuitive way of visualizing various combos:

http://public.tableausoftware.com/v...cleGearing

 

This is a good starting point for people whose eyes start to glaze over when they look at a table of numbers.

My eyes are glazed over just reading this thread, but I am intrigued.  How bout schooling me on what does 11-26 mean and 50/34?  I am always interested in learning more about my bike;how it works and how it is put together.  Not sure, but maybe this question should be in a thread of its own?

Kathy: 11-26 refers to the cassette, which is the cluster of sprockets and spacers attached to your rear wheel. 11 is the number of teeth on the smallest sprocket; 26 is the number of teeth on the largest sprocket. 50/34 refers to the chainring which the front sprocket attaced to your cranks. 50 and 34 are the number of teeth on each ring/sprocket.  More info to be had here: http://sheldonbrown.com/gearing/index.html I would suggest reading the beginners articles and check out the bike glossary: http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html



 

Thanks Kit!  I will look at the info!

Coach Rich

So I've gotten in quite a few miles with this cassette. Buys me some rpm's on climbs, and I don't spin out until about 39mph. All of my rides are very hilly right now so, while there is a bigger cadence gap than the 25-12, I don't notice it because I'm rarely going my normal cruising speed of 22-23mph very long to notice it.

However...it's noisy. I gotta have the tune looked into because the new cables have likely stretched, so I might be experiencing a bit more friction than normal, but, at least to me right now, the damn thing just rattles a lot. I'm riding a Shimano DA crain. I'll still keep it but today while riding easy and solo at the end of the ride I thought the bike sounded kinda Fred. Oh well.

DocHoffart

The DA/shimano spacers between the cogs act as buffers for sound relative to the hollow aluminum cone that the SRAM is cut from. My 11-26 Red is noisy also....just get used to it. I notice that when I run a heavier chain lube (wax or K9)...it gets a little quiter...not much though.

V