road cassette?

[fitbikeco]

I was just wondering what the deal is with running a road cassette on a mountain bike? I'm building up a new bike for myself, and I'm wondering if I should go XT, or something road. Any suggestions?

[Chunk]

Depends on your ridingin style, where you ride, how strong you are ect.

[fitbikeco]

I'd be freeriding mostly...vancouver/squamish/whistler, some lighter stuff as well. I'll be running a chainguide w/1 ring up front, if that makes any difference.

which would require more strength, the road or the mountain?

[Chunk]

the road for sure. By a long shot. If you do any amount of climbing at all, stick with the mountain bike cassette. It will give you the best range of gears.

now if you were just doing resort type riding with a lift, or even DH racing, a road cassette might just be the ticket. But other than that, stick with mountain bike cassettes. I see you are new here, but i assume you have lingered for while right? Remember Rosscofat's bike? The SX trail that got so much attention in the photo's and vids forum? Well, he used a road cassette because that is his whistler bike. No need for climbing ever. Just higher speed resort riding that is great with a road cassette.

[thewalrus]

I'd be freeriding mostly...vancouver/squamish/whistler, some lighter stuff as well. I'll be running a chainguide w/1 ring up front, if that makes any difference.

which would require more strength, the road or the mountain?

more strength = harder pedaling effort?

road cassettes are usually 11-21, 11-23, 12-25, 12-26 (sram) or 12-27. They give tighter shifting ratios but don't go as low as mountain cassettes which are usually 11-32 or 11-34.

[fitbikeco]

ah ok all is clear. thanks!
I have been around for a while, but stopped riding for a few years.
but i missed it too much

[thewalrus]

Well, he used a road cassette because that is his whistler bike. No need for climbing ever. Just higher speed resort riding that is great with a road cassette.

absolutely better shifting with road cassettes for a whistler bike.

mountain bottom end:
11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21 (2 and then 3 tooth jumps)

road bottom end for 12-25 9speed:
12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19

[Timmigrant]

What everyone above said. A road cassette is great for DH racing or Whistler because you never need the 32 tooth rear gear.

If you plan to be pedalling up hills you may want that 32 tooth rear gear.

[baloom]

Anytime you reduce the percentage absolute change from cog to cog, the easier and faster shifting will be. That having been said, you've got to decide whether the loss of range (the total percentage change from largest cog to smallest cog) is worth it. For racing I sure can see the value of it....for the rest of us schleps, I dunno.....

[SkunkworkS]

Anytime you reduce the percentage absolute change from cog to cog, the easier and faster shifting will be. That having been said, you've got to decide whether the loss of range (the total percentage change from largest cog to smallest cog) is worth it. For racing I sure can see the value of it....for the rest of us schleps, I dunno.....

It won't be too too bad if you have a granny ring up front. But climbing with a 36-26 sucks unless you are one of them athletic people.

[Mordax]

It won't be too too bad if you have a granny ring up front. But climbing with a 36-26 sucks unless you are one of them athletic people.

i think the original guy said he was gonna run a single ring up front, but ya that's true

[Dantes Inferno]

Ive got a big ring up front with a guide and use the SRAM road cassete. Its an absolute bitch to pedal (but im fat). Its great for desending and sprinting on DH courses. You can find the perfect gear going down hill. Awsome for riding skinnies too.