Cassette swap

[Nearly there]

Im thinking of changing my cassette on my cannondale synapse current set up is 12-26 compact tiagra however this summer I fancy a crack at some of the passes in my neck of the woods Honister pass Kirkstone etc but think ill struggle on my current set up whats the best 9 speed cassette with a lower gear I could get?If there are current threads on this apologises a link will do thanks.

 

[lejogger]

You can get an 11-28 here. That's probably the highest you can go without needing to change your rear mech (others may know otherwise). Oh and you'll need a chain too.

 

[Nearly there]

will there be much notable difference over 12-26 or should I just train harder on hills?

 

[just jim]

will there be much notable difference over 12-26 or should I just train harder on hills?

A 28t would get you up Kirkstone a bit "more spinnier" but the second part of your sentence is the key!

 

[Tomba]

Im thinking of changing my cassette on my cannondale synapse current set up is 12-26 compact tiagra however this summer I fancy a crack at some of the passes in my neck of the woods Honister pass Kirkstone etc but think ill struggle on my current set up whats the best 9 speed cassette with a lower gear I could get?If there are current threads on this apologises a link will do thanks.

We've got the same bike and I changed the cassette to a 11-32 but also had to change the rear mech to a MTB one (SLX) and also changed the chain. I think in total the parts cost roughly £60-70 but that included a chain whip and cassette tool.
If you're half way decent with diy then its doable.

Did it make a difference, too right. I done a sportive on Sunday that had three pretty hard climbs (one cat 3 and two cat 4). No way I would have done it in the 26. The 11-32 has a 28 on it and I still had to rely on the 32.

However, my level of fitness/age/weight/hair loss might be different from yours.

 

[Nearly there]

We've got the same bike and I changed the cassette to a 11-32 but also had to change the rear mech to a MTB one (SLX) and also changed the chain. I think in total the parts cost roughly £60-70 but that included a chain whip and cassette tool.
If you're half way decent with diy then its doable.

Did it make a difference, too right. I done a sportive on Sunday that had three pretty hard climbs (one cat 3 and two cat 4). No way I would have done it in the 26. The 11-32 has a 28 on it and I still had to rely on the 32.

However, my level of fitness/age/weight/hair loss might be different from yours.

Im hopeless at diy I would probably end up taking to lbs I might just live with it and train harder for a few more months and see how I get on,12-26 is adequate most of the time its only when I hit big hills i sometimes wish for a slightly lower gear.