Road cassettes

How to choose a road bike cassette

The cassette determines the range of gears available to you. Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo and Miche now cover 10-, 11- and 12-speed systems, with large sprockets commonly reaching 34 or 36 teeth.

Which freehub body for my wheel?

This is the first criterion, and the one most often overlooked: it is your wheel that determines the standard, not your drivetrain.

• Shimano HG : 8- to 11-speed cassettes, the historic standard.
• Shimano Micro Spline : Shimano 12-speed cassettes.
• SRAM XDR : SRAM cassettes starting with a 10-tooth sprocket.
• Campagnolo N3W : recent 12- and 13-speed Campagnolo cassettes.

Which gearing for my terrain?

• 11-28 or 11-30 : regular tooth jumps, ideal for flat and rolling terrain.
• 11-34, 10-36 : wide range for mountains and long distances.
• Close ratios preserve cadence, while a wide range saves your legs.

Will my derailleur accept this cassette?

• Each rear derailleur specifies a maximum compatible sprocket : exceeding it causes rubbing and imprecise shifting.
• The number of speeds must match that of your shifters.
• With an electronic drivetrain (Di2, AXS), stick to combinations approved by the manufacturer.

When should it be replaced?

Chain skipping despite a properly adjusted derailleur and rounded teeth indicate a cassette at the end of its life. Replace the chain and cassette together: a new chain skips on a worn cassette, and a new cassette wears out very quickly behind a worn chain.

To find out more: How to choose your road bike cassette

See also: Road chains · Road rear derailleurs · Chain and cassette tools