Triple cassette

pete_9715

Hi quick question whats the best cassette to get with a triple to give the largest range

quozl

Best and largest probably aren't the same here.

If you get a really wide range rear cassette then you'll have masses of overlap between gears.

I'd suggest figuring out what's the lowest gear you want and using that to choose your cassette.

What size is your triples smallest chain ring? 30 would be common but iI've seen smaller. If you have a 30 then a 11-28 would give you a really low gear - almost 1:1. What are you used to climbing with? That might be pointlessly low geared for you or it might not.

You could put a 11-25 on and because it's a triple still have a wide range of gears. Even a 11-23 combined with a 30 front ring would be lower than a standard doubles 39 with a 11-26.

pete_9715

Yup its a 30. I want herself to be able to use it so as low as possible for climbing. I wont be using it that much so once it suits her thats perfect. What cassette would give a really high gear then?

diomed

I have a 12-30 on the back of my Shimano Ultegra 53/39/30 triple. Previously I had a 12-27.
I used the 30 front, 30 back combination once and found it was too low and my peddling was bouncy, but I am not disappointed. There are steeper hills and I will need it.

pete_9715

Which is better the 11 or 12? Am I right in thinking that relates to the harder gears eg downhill

diomed

An 11 small cassette ring at the back will give a slightly bigger gear (faster on the flat or downhill).
With the chain on the big 52 tooth front ring, and on the 11 small cassette ring at the back you get 52/11 = 4.73 turns of the rear wheel for every turn of the pedals. A 52/12 gives 4.33 turns.
But you will seldom get much use out of your biggest combination. You probably will not have the strength to use it for long on the flat, and downhill you will probably freewheel a lot as you concentrate on getting around corners at speed.

pete_9715

Ok thanks that makes sense