I’m considering a 12 speed e13 helix cassette for my new build and I’m torn between their two options. They offer a [9-46](https://www.backcountry.com/ethirteen-components-trs-plus-12-speed-cassette) option and a [9-50](https://www.ethirteen.com/products/helix-r-12-speed-cassette).
Looking at the two it seems like the 9-46 offers slightly better cadence while the 9-50 offers better range. I ride mixed terrain road and gravel in the western carolina foothills so I can appreciate the benefits of either.
I jotted down the tooth counts and corresponding jumps between gears for each. Would you expect the jumps on the 9-50 (especially in group rides with a lot of road) to be noticeably different from the 9-46?
(Edit: I’ll try to format this better on a desktop later when I’m home)
9-46
+1, +2, +2, +2, +2, +3, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7
9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 24, 28, 33, 39, 46
9-50
+2, +2, +2, +2, +3, +3, +4, +4, +5, +6, +8
9, 11, 13, 15, 17 , 20, 23, 27, 31, 36, 42, 50
by thisfugginguy
3 Comments
Whatever your derailleur can fit. I’m going for a 9-52 the next time I ever need a new gravel bike cassette with my XX1 derailleur, since I already dropped money on a 10-52 a while back.
I’m not a cadence nerd, I’m pretty comfy anywhere from 60-110rpm. Would much rather have 578% range being that I live someplace super steep and hilly.
I’m a wimp on hills so I would go 50.
No ego.
9-52
I have 578% now.
That’s 2x range with no chain drops.