With over 150 options to choose from on JensonUSA.com, sorting through the various bike cassettes and cogs can feel like a confusing process. But with a little basic background information, you will be able to make an informed (and correct) buying decision.

For starters, it helps to understand the difference between bike cassettes and cogs. Essentially a cog (also sometimes called a sprocket) is a single machined wheel of metal with teeth that engage with a chain, helping propel your bike forward. A cassette (aka cogset) is simply a group of cogs clustered together, which conspire to provide the array of gearing choices that allow you to pedal your bike efficiently without having to mash on the pedals or be totally spun out depending on the terrain.

Cassettes typically also feature a series of splines that facilitate the secure connection between the cassette and hub, which is the part of your bike that transforms pedaling power into the forward propulsion of your rear wheel. The cassette is usually held in place on the hub by a threaded lockring.

Those seeking a single cog will most often be looking to set up a singlespeed bicycle, while the majority of cyclists will be looking for a cassette because of its multi-gear functionality. Remember that the smaller cogs (with fewer teeth) make it harder to pedal but produce faster speeds, while larger cogs (with more teeth) are easier to pedal, making them ideal for climbing at slower speeds.

Cassettes are typically represented by the highest and lowest number of teeth in the cluster. Common examples for road bikes are 11-25, 11-28, and 11-30, which are among varied options with the Shimano Ultegra series. For mountain bikes, the 10-50 SRAM Eagle cassette is a popular choice.

Of course not all cassettes will work with all bikes and their respective drivetrains. Distinctions include mountain bike (think Shimano XT, Shimano XTR, SRAM Eagle) versus road bikes (SRAM Red, SRAM Rival, Shimano Dura-Ace, Shimano 105), and also the number of speeds (or cogs), which these days is usually 11 for road bikes and 11 or 12 for mountain. Call one of our expert Gear Advisors today at 951-234-7554.