Swapping sprockets....hmmm

[dellzeqq]

I've always thought of an 11 as a bit of a dead loss. You can pedal yourself up to 40+mph on a 53/12, and anything faster than that you're on a downhill with not much need for pedalling (there's a road outside Inverness where an 11, or even the mythical 10 might be useful, but I've not been there for a while). Having gears on the back that are at one tooth intervals smooths out your ride, so losing the 11 has an advantage.

Are you standing on the hills? I get by on 39/21 lowest gear, and there's only the occasional 1 in 5 that defeats me. There's not many of those south of the Pennines.

I didn't know that Merckx used a 23 on the back. What a girl!

 

[bonj2]

It is when a group is climbing a hill slowly that I struggle spinny/grindy wise....I need to grind more than I am comfortable with to stay with the group (of course this is a slower speed, therefore not as tiring....but it gets to my legs!)

Also...if my knees are in for a long recovary, then I would definately look into this.

if you've got bad knees then don't do running, at all, ever! it'll only make them worse

 

[bonj2]

I've always thought of an 11 as a bit of a dead loss. You can pedal yourself up to 40+mph on a 53/12, and anything faster than that you're on a downhill with not much need for pedalling (there's a road outside Inverness where an 11, or even the mythical 10 might be useful, but I've not been there for a while). Having gears on the back that are at one tooth intervals smooths out your ride, so losing the 11 has an advantage.

Are you standing on the hills? I get by on 39/21 lowest gear, and there's only the occasional 1 in 5 that defeats me. There's not many of those south of the Pennines.

I didn't know that Merckx used a 23 on the back. What a girl!

i agree, there isn't a whole lot of point in an 11.
on the MTB i've got an 11 'cos my top chainring is only 36, but even then it's quite rare that i feel the need to use it - if i do, then at the skill level of a mere mortal it usually means it's a road descent, which means it's a badly planned route.

 

[Amanda P]

Is it not possible to screw one sprocket off and then replace with another?...rather than replace my who casset?

Don't think anyone answered this directly, so...

Yes, it is possible. Undo the lockring. On some cassettes, the sprockets and spacers will then all come off, and you can replace sprockets as you like.

On others, the sprockets are rivetted together. But don't worry - just drill the heads of the rivets, and they can be separated. The rivets are only there to keep the sprockets together for convenience. Once the lockring is back on, the rivets are not necessary.

If you want to replace sprockets, your problem is likely to be sourcing them. The likes of Miche sell individual sprockets, but at a hefty price. Otherwise, buy a cassette that contains the sprocket(s) you want, split it, and share the redundant sprockets amongst your cycling friends, use them as ninja throwing stars, etc.

I have a bag full of redundant, unused sprockets if anyone's interested. I'll happily swap one for a spare 28 or 30 toother - I've got mostly unwanted small ones. (As you may have guessed, I don't race).

 

[Flying Dodo]

I've always thought of an 11 as a bit of a dead loss. You can pedal yourself up to 40+mph on a 53/12, and anything faster than that you're on a downhill with not much need for pedalling (there's a road outside Inverness where an 11, or even the mythical 10 might be useful, but I've not been there for a while). Having gears on the back that are at one tooth intervals smooths out your ride, so losing the 11 has an advantage.
I didn't know that Merckx used a 23 on the back. What a girl!

I'd disagree with that (and also about Eddy as well).

On the flat, if I'm going well, I'll often be on the 11 (I've a triple at the front so that's a 50 on the big ring). I find the cadence suits me just right at that gearing. If I get to a small hill then I'll flick to the middle chainring, zoom up, and then flick back to the big ring again going down the other side. It saves having to change down 2 gears, and then 2 more, and then having to change back down twice again.

 

[Dave5N]

Aren't
you on a restriction?

 

[alecstilleyedye]

didn't armstrong spin a low gear?

 

[Crankarm]

......... share the redundant sprockets amongst your cycling friends, use them as ninja throwing stars, etc.

LoL . What to silence any one who tries to start a break away or ride off the front or chavs that come too close? Shouldn't really laugh but I thought it funny .

Campag cassettes have individual sprockets, Shimano tend to link the larger sprockets on carriers apparently for added strength.

 

[Crankarm]

didn't armstrong spin a low gear?

Apparently, he likes to keep his cadence high and not push heavy gears.