10 speed midrange gears using 11-32 cassette query

[VeggieRider]

On my bike I currently use 10 speed 11-28 with a 50/34 compact. I've started riding a new route which includes a max 15% climb for approx 1km, a max 18% climb which is about 1.5km long and a max 20% climb which is about 1/2 km in duration.
The first climb is steep but doable for me with my current set up, the second is seriously tough for me at it's 18% ramp and the third is just horrid beyond belief. I know switching my 11-28 for 11-32 will make all three an awful lot easier and that's great, but it's the midrange gears using 11-32 that concerns me. I am very much a spinner, on flats I tend to spin circa 95rpm and I can get good speed combined with comfortable cadence using 11-28. I've never used 11-32 in the 10 years I've been cycling and spinning wildly away like you are pushing thin air when using midrange gears on the flats is a concern.
To those who have used 50/34 with 11-32, did you find it ok on the flats or where you spinning away like crazy with a big drop in speed ?, Thanks for any answers and advice.

[keyboardmonkey]

On my 10-speed road bike I have a 50/34 with a 12-30 cassette. All things being equal I spend much of my time on the 21T sprocket. That works for me. Recently I’ve noticed I’ve been using the 23T sprocket more often. This leaves me with three larger sprockets - unused - whilst on the largest chain ring. That’s cross-chaining more than I believe to be ideal - I can live with it - but for me personally I don’t find myself overspinning, as it were. YMMV, of course, and I would be more concerned with the jumps between sprocket sizes across the middle of the cassette, which is one reason I don’t have 11T as the smallest sprocket.

[Brucey]

the reality is that the 11-28 and 11-32 cassettes are very similar to one another; the main difference is that they will have omitted one of the small sprockets in order to give you a 32T one.

In fact this is the only difference if you are talking SRAM cassettes

http://ritzelrechner.de/?GR=DERS&KB=34,50&RZ=11,12,13,15,17,19,22,25,28,32&UF=2150&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=MPH&DV=gearInches&GR2=DERS&KB2=34,50&RZ2=11,12,13,14,15,17,19,22,25,28&UF2=2150

- they have just omitted the 14T sprocket, which means you will missing a duplicate gear on the small chainring and you will have one less gear on the big ring for going downhill with.

Things are slightly more complicated with the shimano cassettes; there is no 13T sprocket and the intermediate ratios are slightly different too.

http://ritzelrechner.de/?GR=DERS&KB=34,50&RZ=11,12,14,16,18,20,22,25,28,32&UF=2150&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=MPH&DV=gearInches&GR2=DERS&KB2=34,50&RZ2=11,12,13,14,15,17,19,21,24,28&UF2=2150

but in any case you are not 'missing gears' where you are likely to use them most. FWIW I'd choose the 11-32 shimano cassette (I'd use the 50/20 ratio quite a lot) but I'd probably prefer a 12-32 over any of the four cassettes above. The 11T sprocket is -outside racing- nigh-on useless; all it does is it enables you to pedal when going downhill, over a narrow range of speeds where you might as well be freewheeling anyway.

cheers

[KM2]

If you are a spinner, perhaps you can remove all sprockets below 16 and that would solve the problem. 16 to 32 or larger. Buy a cassette,BBB or Ambrosio?? Cost around £30.

[VeggieRider]

Definitely agree 12-32 much more practical than 11-32, I couldn't tell you the last time I was in 50/11 , thanks for the replies so far.

[Ray]

I bought a bike with 11-32 eleven-speed cassette (Shimano) but replaced it with a 14-28, which I find much better for local rides. I have no need for the tiny sprockets, and prefer the closer ratios.

As I'm just about to go on holiday not far from Mt Ventoux, and would like a smaller gear in reserve, I've replaced the 5 bigger sprockets (riveted together in two 'carriers') from the original cassette, but swapped the six loose 11-19 sprockets for the 14-19 from the new cassette. You might be able to do something similar with your 10-speed.

As an ageing spinner, suits me fine.

[slowster]

I think 11-34 is better than 11-32, if your rear derailleur can manage it (which it might be able to do even if the nominal maximum sprocket size is 32t):

- the second sprocket is 13t instead of 12t, which gives 104" and that should be plenty high enough

- two extra lower gears than 11-28

- the 34t sprocket is not at the price of a bigger gear interval in the mid range sprockets.

http://ritzelrechner.de/?GR=DERS&KB=34,50&RZ=11,12,14,16,18,20,22,25,28,32&UF=2150&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=MPH&DV=gearInches&GR2=DERS&KB2=34,50&RZ2=11,13,15,17,19,21,23,26,30,34&UF2=2150

[roubaixtuesday]

I fitted an 11-36 eleven speed for a very hilly tour and didn't really notice any change for later use un laden vs the original 11-32 which I guess is the exact equivalent of your 10 speed set up. So I think you'll be fine.

Just out of interest, where are these three hills- sounds like a great ride!

[VeggieRider]

I fitted an 11-36 eleven speed for a very hilly tour and didn't really notice any change for later use un laden vs the original 11-32 which I guess is the exact equivalent of your 10 speed set up. So I think you'll be fine.

Just out of interest, where are these three hills- sounds like a great ride!

Check out middle braniel road ( max 15.5% ,) Belfast, church road. Holywood ( max 18.2% ) the steep section is just a legs and lungs burner and rocky road , Belfast ( max 20% ) this one is an out and out shocker to behold before you start riding up it. It's a literal tarmac wall in front of you. The 11-32 would make these so much easier but my concern is spinning like a hamster in a wheel when using the midrange gears on flat roads

[roubaixtuesday]

Thanks. I've never been to NI, sounds like fun!

[VeggieRider]

Thanks. I've never been to NI, sounds like fun!

On YouTube check out dromara hilly cornmill, very short but insanely steep 25%, I've been to it and couldn't turn the cranks if riding in a straight line. In the video watch all the bikes grinding to a halt and riders doing a del boy falling over sideways, it's a real brute and then some.

[nigelnightmare]

Try Hardnot in the lake District 30% gradient. Followed by Wryenose pass 25%.

Mind you it's great going down the other side....WHEEeeeee!

[VeggieRider]

Think I'm going to get the 105 med cage and 11-32 next week and give it a go, the discomfort of riding up 18% and 20% grades on 11-28 has piqued my curiosity, just hope the midrange works out.....fingers crossed

[tippo12]

Is there any reason you don't use a triple chainset? I have found that a granny ring solves all climbing problems without needing mtb cassettes with wide ratios at the rear, (unless on the tandems) I use campy 10 speed 13-29 and 50/40/24 triple on my solos which solve the problem while retaining small ratio changes in the mid range "usually used all day" ratios

[Jamesh]

Think I'm going to get the 105 med cage and 11-32 next week and give it a go, the discomfort of riding up 18% and 20% grades on 11-28 has piqued my curiosity, just hope the midrange works out.....fingers crossed

Get a long cage then if you want to go 11 -36 them you have the capacity.

I have 34 - 36 with deore xt on my road bike which is great for the steep Yorkshire dales hills!

Went up Norwood edge, jack hill(new to me) greenhow and blubber houses using the 36 which was a cracking ride last week before the weather broke!!

Cheers James