Cassette advice for newbie!

[Degsie73]

Recently purchased a Planet X RT 58 bike which came fitted with an SRAM 11-26T cassette and a FSA gossamer compact 50-34T chainset. Apologies for my ignorance on this but I'm fairly new to it all - I've been struggling somewhat on the steeper climbs around me! Am I right in thinking that I can change one or both of these components to make life a little easier - if so what would people recommend?

It also has Shimano Ultegra 6800 shifters - if that makes any difference. I appreciate that I need to work on my hill climbing/ fitness also, but I can't help but feel like I need a lower gear or two on the steeper climbs (bury hill - West Sussex destroyed me last week).

Any advice appreciated thanks!

 

[lpretro1]

if you are new to cycling then it may just be a question of fitness mostly - you just need to build up gradually and accept it will be hard on the hills - it always is!
If you have the 6800 then you should be able to fit a cassette with a big sprocket of 30t or even 32t which would give you a little bit extra on low gears. You may have to lengthen chain however

 

[mrbikerboy73]

@Degsie73 Bury hill is a killer no matter what gears you have. I can get up there with a 34/28t but I'm nearly dead when I reach the top!
New cassette and maybe a longer chain is the way forward. The rear mech will only take so much before it needs to be replaced with a longer cage type. Any more than 30t (I think) and you'll be looking at a new rear mech too. Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong

 

[youngoldbloke]

Short cage (SS) max 28T, medium (GS) 32T, (officially).

 

[wayneo]

I bought the same bike a couple of months ago and had the same issues...i bought a 11-32 cassette and had to buy a longer cage ( medium ) but the chain was fine. Lbs fitted them for me for £20. Sold the ones that came off on ebay. Hope this helps

 

[DRHysted]

None of my bikes have anything smaller that a 30 as the lowest gear on the cassette. I find it frustrating when reading reviews and they write "you can get up any hill with this" talking about a 26. Well yeah you maybe able to get up them but us poor amateurs need to be able to proceed with the ride afterwards, and not lie in a heap hyperventilating.

As you may guess I struggle with hills. The Roubaix has 12-32, Allez 11-30, Boardman 11-32, MTB 11-32.

 

[andyfraser]

I do.

 

[RebornBumbler]

Me too

 

[Nigelnaturist]

None of my bikes have anything smaller that a 30 as the lowest gear on the cassette. I find it frustrating when reading reviews and they write "you can get up any hill with this" talking about a 26. Well yeah you maybe able to get up them but us poor amateurs need to be able to proceed with the ride afterwards, and not lie in a heap hyperventilating.

As you may guess I struggle with hills. The Roubaix has 12-32, Allez 11-30, Boardman 11-32, MTB 11-32.

I ride a 12-23 rear with a 26/38/50 front gets me up most things on the middle ring, but then the riding here isn't very difficult in terms of climbs. Just a couple of short climbs worthy of note.

 

[TheJDog]

28 is quite a bit lower than 26. I'd get an 11-28 first and try that out before thinking about a new rear dérailleur. if it's 11 speed, SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo are all compatible. 10 speed SRAM and Shimano are compatible. Find the cheapest cassette to try out?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

as @TheJDog says a noticeable difference, 2.5" doesn't sound a lot but makes a world of difference.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

None of my bikes have anything smaller that a 30 as the lowest gear on the cassette. I find it frustrating when reading reviews and they write "you can get up any hill with this" talking about a 26. Well yeah you maybe able to get up them but us poor amateurs need to be able to proceed with the ride afterwards, and not lie in a heap hyperventilating.

As you may guess I struggle with hills. The Roubaix has 12-32, Allez 11-30, Boardman 11-32, MTB 11-32.

I'm with you on this nonsense for those of us that live in the real world.

I have switched from 46/36 - 12/28 to 46/34 - 12/30 and the lowest gear makes a massive difference to me.

It's pretty hilly where I live and no way could I get up many of the local hills on a 34/26 combo. Even with 34/30 once I get into gradients of 10%+ I can only get up short-ish climbs before I am really feeling it eg 4-500m and really long 6/7/8%'s whilst do-able take a fair bit of twiddling and puffing. I wouldn't even begin to attempt the mid to high teens and and beyond that are evident on the local mountain passes but no doubt someone can get up them on 39/23 without breaking sweat.

Each to their own ability of course but there has always been a little bit of macho-ness in cycling.

 

[Tojo]

Me too

Me also, especially if you use a compact chainset.......

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Each to their own ability of course but there has always been a little bit of macho-ness in cycling.

Me I ain't macho, , just don't get conned into only real riders, ride doubles, otherwise the compact double would never have come about, I can get up some 15% on my 38th middle but the 23th rear whilst do able on the local ones, I know hills I will be down to 28x23 or 34x28 in new money and wishing I hadn't took that 26th off.

 

[Dirk]

And what of the other end of the cassette, who uses those 11 tooth cogs?

I do. Regularly hit 40+mph down they Devon hills.