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Message: [QUOTE="truespode, post: 1356027, member: 29329"] I just picked up a 2005 GT Series 2.0 that has a 50/34 Compact crank with a 9 speed 11/23 rear cassette (Shimano). I will keep it in TN mostly to ride when I am at my girlfriend's house (got it for $415 on fleaBay... should be here next week). I currently run a 50/34 Ultegra Compact on my Bianchi with a 12/27 10 speed rear cassette (Shimano). I am starting to venture out to more hilly terrain. Some of it is rather steep and a few new hills I found in TN are not as steep but are more long and hurtful :D Anyway, I want to upgrade the rear cassette on the GT and figure I will put similar gearing for the rear cassette on the Bianchi as well. My LBS has a few options using SRAM components. The one I'm liking right now is a 11/28 9 speed for the GT and a 12/28 for the Bianchi but I also have the option of a /32 or /34 but would have to upgrade the rear derailer as well. What recommendation do you guys have about it? I struggle on steep hills with my /27 but can get up them. Problem is the more mileage I venture out on the more and steeper the hills. I think the /32 is overkill but when I'm struggling I'm begging for another gear. However, as I keep improving I don't want to get to where the /32 is not used and a pain when the /28 would be sufficient at that point. For the most part I am most comfortable when I can maintain an 75-80rpm cadence going up hill and a 90rpm cadence on flats. I want both bikes to have as similar gearing as possible for hills so I will upgrade both to be as similar as possible in the highest gear. I am also going to have both bikes fitted by the LBS for me and see how that goes. Thanks Ivan [/QUOTE]

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