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The Noob’s Guide to Choosing the Right Cassette for Learning the Basics and Beyond



Hi what a brilliant article thank you.Our son rides an old bike (Pinarello FP5 about 13 years old) 10 speed. 12-25 cassette. Struggles on hills. Recent bike fit found he needs a longer crank. So I am thinking of replacing crankset and cassette to fix a number of problems in one go.Would it be right to go for a 50/34 crankset and 11-34 cassette? I will need to check if it will fit ok.He does 50-60 mile training rides and races weekly but he is only 16 yo so am trying to get balance right.Thank you in advance.


Hi,I have a 52/36 crank with 12/25 cassette (10 speed) I ride a combo of flats and moderate hills (2000ft) tops. Is this a good combo or should I go with some other combination? Thank you for your advise.Ken




The Noob’s Guide to Choosing the Right Cassette for How You Ride



Hi. I ride a Ventum One with Di2 and a 53/39 and 11-speed 11/25 rear cassette. This setup has worked well for flat races such as Ironmans Maryland and Florida. My next two races, Ironmans Lake Placid and Hawaii, have much more climbing. Question: Is this setup adequate or should I consider swapping the cassette (maybe an 11/32?), crankset, both? Thanks much!


"I have 53/39 crank and 11/28 rear derailleur is this a good combination?" - ChristianHi Christian. Yes this combination is great. This would very common amongst pro riders. If you put a bigger cassette on, you will need a longer chain. This would result in slack in the chain in the small ring and harder gears at the back. This can rattle around on bad roads and be quite annoying.


"Question for you on this one. I have a bike from when I was younger and able to ride it that had 53/39 to 11-23. I have changed out the cassette to 12-27 and was wondering can I get away with just changing the front chain ring to a 34 making it 53/34 or is that too big of a step, to make going up the hills easier. It is on an old 90's KHS with Shimano Ultegra FC 6800 crankset, thanks!!!" Hi Frank, It's not recommended as when you drop the chain from the big ring to the small, 8 times out of ten it will always come off the chainring. If you are going to a 34t you will need a 50t. And if you choose 36t then a 52t is recommended.


Question for you on this one. I have a bike from when I was younger and able to ride it that had 53/39 to 11-23. I have changed out the cassette to 12-27 and was wondering can I get away with just changing the front chain ring to a 34 making it 53/34 or is that too big of a step, to make going up the hills easier. It is on an old 90's KHS with Shimano Ultegra FC 6800 crankset, thanks!!!


"Hi, I have 2 bikes - one 10 speed with an Tiagra11-28 (my winter bike) and one with 11 speed Ultegra11-32 - looking at the above I should be able to get the same speed out etc. although I appreciate the jumps between gears is wider - is that correct? If so I'll stick with the 11-28 and just work harder up the hills! :-) ThanksJoe"Hi Joe, Yes there will be wider jumps in the gears towards the lower climbing gears. 28t is more than enough for most rides especially if there is compact chainset on. 32t cassettes are great for longer sportive or very hilly long routes. So, yes I'd recommend leaving the 28t to keep you working harder and keep you warmer in the winter.


"I find it difficult to climb hills, like most people. So with a new bike I was thinking of specifying a 34/50 (172.5 dia crank) chain set and 11/34 cassette (Shimano 105 gear set). Question is should I also look increasing the crank diameter as well i.e. getting a 175dia crank with 34/50 or would 172.5 dia crank with 36/52 be easier or maybe with 39/53? Or am I wasting my time with these last 3 options."Hi Cash. Crank length is usually based on the riders height. Nowadays there is a big debate on which length is the correct length. Previously it was though that if you were 6ft or higher you'd choose 175mm. But for example Bradley Wiggins rode a 165mm to a gold medal at the rio olympics and he is 6ft 4. So to summarise, I would highly suggest getting a professional bike fit done before going and changing your crank length.


Adding a power meter to your bike is the key to answering these questions. Power meters provide a quantitative evaluation of the intensity of your workouts. Instead of basing your rides on perceived exertion or other qualitative factors, a power meter will provide you with real-time numbers that can be immediately displayed on a bike computeror head unit. This instant feedback can help guide you to work less, hold the line, or increase your workload.


Learning how to use cycle gear may seem basic. However, gearing and shifting can be a daunting task. Proper shifting will improve your speed and make you more comfortable throughout your ride. This ultimate guide will take you through bike gears and how to shift gears on an electric bicycle.


Regardless of the combination of front and rear gear you use, your ebike will work. However, choosing the right combinations ensures smoother rides and an enjoyable experience. Using the following combinations will ensure smoother gear changes.


As with anything you do, practice, practice, and more practice. Spend some time practicing what you learned in this guide. Get used to changing gears and ride on different terrains. Make sure to use free, quiet roads for your practice until you are comfortable with shifting gears.


The right shifter controls the rear derailleur and swaps the chain between the cogs on the rear cassette. This type of shifting is for small adjustments in gearing to use during slight changes in terrain and slope.


Choosing between long wheel base, short wheelbase, rear wheel drive and front wheel drive will be the most important decisions you make as you choose the best recumbent bicycle for your needs. Each has advantages and disadvantages to consider for the type of riding you hope to do. (More on choosing the right recumbent bike for the type of riding you love and how and where to buy below). But first, a quick primer on recumbent bicycle steering styles.


Finally, enjoy the process! We hope this guide to choosing the best recumbent bicycle for your needs has been helpful. We included as much information as we could to help you understand your options and make a great choice for your next recumbent road bicycle. Reach out with any questions or comments. We love to hear from you!


The Ragley Marley really shows how good affordable bikes have become, opening up tech and features to entry-level riders without having to fork out a serious investment. The progressive geometry along with the smooth Marzocchi fork will instill confidence on rough trails allowing new riders to experiment with line choice and learn new skills. The Shimano Deore drivetrain has already proven itself as the go-to budget groupset with dependable performance and a wide range 11-speed cassette.


Vitus is known for producing bikes that ride great at impressively competitive prices yet Vitus has truly outdone itself with the Escarpe 29 CR. The 140mm trail bike is staggeringly good value with a solid spec list. Not only are you getting front and rear suspension from Marzocchi and RockShox, a Shimano Deore 11-speed drivetrain and a dropper post, but the front triangle is carbon - that's right - carbon on a full-suspension trail bike for sub $3,000.


You must be living under a rock to be a mountain biker and not have seen 50-01's videos of them hitting huge jumps and tearing down trails. Cannondale's Habit might be marketed as a trail bike but in the right hands, it's clearly far more capable. This is down to Cannondale's superb suspension platform which absorbs trail trauma and allows you to ride as hard as you can rather than punishing you when your talent runs out.


Most road cassettes will feature a 12-tooth sprocket as the highest gear with a low gear of between 25 and 32 teeth. A 12-25t road sprocket is regarded as standard, but lower gearing (e.g. 12-32t) is increasingly being specced on bikes aimed at beginners, endurance/sportive riders or just anyone who wants an easier time in hilly terrain. If you do want to avail of a lower gear when replacing a worn cassette, check that your rear derailleur is compatible as larger sprockets may require a long-cage model.


In addition to its impressive specifications, it has many color options for any man or woman who wants to ride it. Honorable mention goes to the Vitus Zenium CRW Road Bike, which is the best women-specific bike on the list. This bike has a powerful cassette, great rideability, and a female-forward design, all at an affordable price!


There are a few things to consider when choosing the right bike size. First, you need to know your inseam measurement for the perfect fit. This is the distance from your crotch to the ground. You can find this measurement by using a tape measure.


There are many different types and sizes of bike saddles, and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. However, choosing the right saddle for your body type and riding style is important to enjoy your ride and avoid discomfort.


There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding what gear to use when going on flat roads. This can include your height, weight, and ride type. Ultimately, you should know what right gear is best for your body.


For example, a small bike might come with a 170mm crank; however, on a Large bike, it might come with a 175mm crank instead. It's the same with the stem, handlebars and various other components, so not only will it be an uncomfortable ride, it might cost more money than you think to try to put it right by swapping for smaller or larger components.


While we offer a general size guide, we always advise brand new riders to go and try the bike before committing to any purchase. The only way to get a feel for a bike is to ride it, so contact your local Giant retailer, and they will be happy to assist you on your journey into road cycling. 2ff7e9595c


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