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Newbie question: Which cassette for climbs 11-32T or 34T

5K views 9 replies 9 participants last post by  JonathanGennick 
#1 ·
Hi can someone help me out here?

What is the difference between 11-32T and 34T besides the teeth?

What are the pros and cons?

Which is suited for climbs?
 
#2 ·
Besides the number of teeth,

1) the 11-34T version would be heavier (other factors being equal)

2) the 11-34T might require a little longer chain, so you've got enough chain to go around the 34 and your biggest chainring in front at the same time

3) the 34T will be about 6% lower of a low gear, so it'll be easier on climbs than the 32T because you go slower.

4) there are some instances where the rear derailleur will not handle the 34 as well as it would handle the 32. Depends on your rear derailleur.

5) cost should be the same, if they're the same model of cassette.

6) the typical 11-34 has a two-tooth jump for the two highest gears (they go 11-13) and the typical 11-32 has a one-tooth jump (they go 11-12). I know most mountain bikers don't care too much, but the two-tooth jump on the 11-34 is a whopping 18% change and I don't like it, so I use an 11-32 partly for that reason.
 
#3 ·
Go with the 11-32. The 34 tooth cog is heavier, too slow moving (as in the bike moves too slow to climb with) and like mentioned above, too big a jump from the next gear. I recommend not even getting used to that low a gear. Start with the smaller cassette and and you will adjust if it's not enough gear for you right off the bat.
 
#5 ·
What size chainrings are you running? What type of terrain? I run a 1x9 so I need the 11-34, but if I were running a double or triple, I would go with the 11-32.
 
#8 ·
They're both suitable for climbs. 34t gives you a slightly lower end and typical Shimano cogs for an 11-34 are 11,13,15,17,20,23,26,30,34. Shimano 32t cassettes are typically 11,12,14,16,18,21,24,28,32. Differences are slight, but if you think you need a bit lower gear go for the 11-34. If you don't have much in the way of climbing you could do with a tighter range like a 12-28 that might give you something like 12,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,28 (that's an Interloc cassette in this case).
 
#10 ·
jw8725 said:
Which is suited for climbs?
Everything depends upon the bike, your legs, and the hills you're trying to climb.

On my 29er, I find a 34-tooth cog in the back to be helpful. There are hills I'm not sure I could get up with only an 11-32 cassette.

OTOH, I'm pretty sure that I am running 11-32 on one of my 26-inch bikes, and that's been ok for me. The smaller wheel size makes up for not having a 34-tooth cog in the back.

(As an aside, I believe Shimano is coming out with an 11-36 cassette to help us weak-legged, 29er riders)

Sometimes I do wonder about the interval between gears. I really don't notice the difference in tooth-intervals between 11-34 and 11-32 cassettes. But I do want to someday try something like a 12-28 on the Fargo that I just built up for running errands around town.

Are you running 11-34 now? Try riding some of your trails without ever shifting into the 34 tooth cog in the back. See how that goes.

If you're running 11-32 now, then I guess the question to ask is whether you are struggling on the uphills.
 
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