My two cents is to get the 12/27 cassette and use it if you need it, and keep the 25 for more rolling rides or racing. I recently went from a triple to a double and have an 11/26 SRAM on the rear. We have lots of steep hills surrounding us - so I rarely have a ride that is all rolling - matter of fact - you have to try really hard to get a totally rolling ride around here!! I like having the 11/26 no matter how strong of a rider you might be - sometimes you hit a steep grade and rather than "wrestle" your bike up - with the lower gear you can keep your momentum and cadence going - your technique suffers less and you don't hurt yourself!! If you can - get another wheel and mount the other cassette on it - then it is a quick change between the two cassettes! For me - I just kept my triple Trek and use it for really really long hilly stuff like the Assault on Mount Mitchell kinda hilly and long.

Debi (also a native New York Stater)

Anyone from NY done the Highlander 100 out of Bristol??? I am thinking of going up this year.