▲ 8 r/bicycling
Been riding a Cannondale CAAD4 with an 11–25 cassette for years
Didn’t even know what gear ratios were, I just rode it, in a very hilly European city.
Now I’m almost 50, ~90 kg, and started riding with local clubs. Everyone keeps telling me that 25T is a knee‑killer, get a 32 or 34.
Picked up a new bike with an 11–32 cassette and… wow. Total uphill revolution. For the first time I can spin instead of grind.
So here’s my question: should I retrofit the old CAAD4 with a bigger cassette and maybe an MTB derailleur, or just keep it as the “pain machine” for nostalgia?
What do you all ride if you’re in the same boat, older, heavier, hilly terrain?
u/manceBre — 14 hours ago