Copmact Vs regular Cranksets

[winkybiker]

I've just switched to compact (again) for the upcoming season where I have few trips planned to steeper locales. I again realise that it is a necessary evil for steeper routes, but that I still prefer the way the regular crankset works. It is that I find the gear spacing between the chainrings on the compact set too large, often requiring double shifts. With a regular crank-set, on undulating routes, I can fairly easily "bridge" the gap by adjusting my cadence momentarily. For example with a regular crankset, when starting a rise in the big ring, I can push it harder and slower for a few pedal strokes until I just drop into the small ring. A few more pedal strokes at a high cadence until the gradient slows me to the right pedalling speed. With a compact, the increase in cadence when dropping onto the small ring is too great, and I find I often need to shift at the back simultaneously. Fortunately, this isn't a big deal and I get used to doing it, but other than access to the low gear for steep climbs, I find no advantage in compact at all. I know some people like how the compact lets them ride in the big ring more of the time, but for me I couldn't care less about that.

 

[ray j willings]

I ride/ climb in my big ring "53t" all the time no matter where or how steep. I feel no benefit what so ever when I drop onto the small ring.
It's just the way my legs seem to work. What about going for Sram wi fli like Bertie.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I ride/ climb in my big ring "53t" all the time no matter where or how steep. I feel no benefit what so ever when I drop onto the small ring.
It's just the way my legs seem to work. What about going for Sram wi fli like Bertie.

No matter how steep?!?!
I'm impressed. I have no problem using my "granny" gears if the terrain is very steep (over 20%) for long periods of time. If it is a short effort I could understand staying in the large chain ring. How long/steep are the climbs that you climb?

 

[winkybiker]

Re:

I ride/ climb in my big ring "53t" all the time no matter where or how steep. I feel no benefit what so ever when I drop onto the small ring.
It's just the way my legs seem to work. What about going for Sram wi fli like Bertie.

I'd rather stick myself in the eye with a fork than ride SRAM.

I can't imagine only riding in a 53. You're joking, right? Or do you live somewhere that has no hills?

 

[ustabe]

With a compact, the increase in cadence when dropping onto the small ring is too great, and I find I often need to shift at the back simultaneously. Fortunately, this isn't a big deal and I get used to doing it, but other than access to the low gear for steep climbs, I find no advantage in compact at all. I know some people like how the compact lets them ride in the big ring more of the time, but for me I couldn't care less about that.

Yah, I've been there too. The drop in rollout from 50 to 34 is annoying, but I've learned to live with it--first, by learning to shift two or three rear cogs immediately after shifting chainrings, and then by using the big ring a lot more.

I've tried "simulshifting," but that's resulted in a few chain drops. Waiting a split second for the chain to hook up in front is safer, and I'm usually in the right gear before losing much speed or cadence. I'm also attacking short hills on the 50, relying on short bits of cross-chaining if necessary. Then the 34 then becomes the tool for long climbs and bailouts.

My last bike with a compact had 50/36 rings, which were considerably less disruptive. If I wear this chainset out, I'll consider this for the replacement. And if I weren't 62 and somewhat overweight, and living in Colorado, I'd be using a standard 53/39 chainset, too. Compact allows me to do the climbs I did 30 years ago at a reasonable old man's pace, nothing more.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re: Re:

I ride/ climb in my big ring "53t" all the time no matter where or how steep. I feel no benefit what so ever when I drop onto the small ring.
It's just the way my legs seem to work. What about going for Sram wi fli like Bertie.

I'd rather stick myself in the eye with a fork than ride SRAM.

I can't imagine only riding in a 53. You're joking, right? Or do you live somewhere that has no hills?

Hear, hear..I'd rather walk but I think the 'mid compact', 52/36, is a good compromise with an appropriate cogset for conditions. Like a 12-30...if the 36 ia too low, a 38..back to the future..52/38

 

[JayKosta]

All gearing setups are a compromise. And it depends on what the rider: needs, wants, and prefers.
Acceptabe high - low gear range
Ease of shifting
Simplicity of shifting
Precise gear choice
Number of useable gears
etc.

Compact gearing makes cycling accessable to more people because it makes low gears available without the complexity of triple chainrings.

Old 'half-step' gearing with 5-speed freewheels (47X52 rings) was great for flat terrain, but lousy for hills.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[King Boonen]

50/34 out front then 11-25 at the back will cover 99% of what I ride, I could probably get away with 11-23 too but I see little point in accumulating cassettes as I don't race and can cope with the gaps ok. Got a 12-28 for longer rides, climbing in the Highlands etc. when needed.


If I ever get strong enough to spin out a 50-11 on the flat I'll think about racing

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Re:

I ride/ climb in my big ring "53t" all the time no matter where or how steep. I feel no benefit what so ever when I drop onto the small ring.
It's just the way my legs seem to work. What about going for Sram wi fli like Bertie.

I'd rather stick myself in the eye with a fork than ride SRAM.

I can't imagine only riding in a 53. You're joking, right? Or do you live somewhere that has no hills?

No, 53t x 11x 27 "right now" I have climbed most of the French climbs with that set up. I did try riding on the small ring "39t" but I felt like I was just spinning and going nowhere.
I climb swine lane which has a 25% bit quite easy.
I only suffered once when I was sick riding the ventoux and changing down onto my 39 made no difference.
I think its more about the way my legs work. The way they turn over the pedals.
I am going to Italy this year. Hoping to ride some of the crazy steep climbs, I no doubt will have to change my front chain ring. My bike is very light that helps I'm sure ...you can see it on the weight weenie thread.

 

[kuoirad]

Would this be the wrong time to mention I prefer a triple?

 

[King Boonen]

As long as you spell it tripel it's all good

 

[kuoirad]

:thumbsup:

(Really only drink cider myself, but that was still good for a laugh...)

 

[ray j willings]

Re:

Would this be the wrong time to mention I prefer a triple?

Really good. thumbs up.

My friend " I do have one " who I ride with the most, rides a compact set up and we have some pretty decent rides in the summer. I think there is a benefit for compact also on the longer rides for some.
Its certainly not a macho thing riding in the 53t more of a "suits me" thing. A lot of pros ride compact on stages.
If I could get up alp d huez in under 40 minutes on a compact I would ,who would not.

 

[winkybiker]

Re: Re:

I ride/ climb in my big ring "53t" all the time no matter where or how steep. I feel no benefit what so ever when I drop onto the small ring.
It's just the way my legs seem to work. What about going for Sram wi fli like Bertie.

I'd rather stick myself in the eye with a fork than ride SRAM.

I can't imagine only riding in a 53. You're joking, right? Or do you live somewhere that has no hills?

No, 53t x 11x 27 "right now" I have climbed most of the French climbs with that set up. I did try riding on the small ring "39t" but I felt like I was just spinning and going nowhere.
I climb swine lane which has a 25% bit quite easy.
I only suffered once when I was sick riding the ventoux and changing down onto my 39 made no difference.
I think its more about the way my legs work. The way they turn over the pedals.
I am going to Italy this year. Hoping to ride some of the crazy steep climbs, I no doubt will have to change my front chain ring. My bike is very light that helps I'm sure ...you can see it on the weight weenie thread.

So you climb the Tourmalet in the big ring? The Aubisque? What about the Aspet from the steep side? It's only 14%-15% iirc. And short 25% gradients in a 53x27? The Ventoux in the big ring of you're feeling strong? Hautacam, Luz Ardiden? All in the big ring? Even Nibali and Contador climb all these in the small chainring (although I remember the shock of seeing the doped-to-the-eyeballs "cobra" and "chicken" going head-to-head on the Aubisque above the ski village in the big ring).

Respect. What sort of cadence can you maintain?

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Re:

I ride/ climb in my big ring "53t" all the time no matter where or how steep. I feel no benefit what so ever when I drop onto the small ring.
It's just the way my legs seem to work. What about going for Sram wi fli like Bertie.

I'd rather stick myself in the eye with a fork than ride SRAM.

I can't imagine only riding in a 53. You're joking, right? Or do you live somewhere that has no hills?

No, 53t x 11x 27 "right now" I have climbed most of the French climbs with that set up. I did try riding on the small ring "39t" but I felt like I was just spinning and going nowhere.
I climb swine lane which has a 25% bit quite easy.
I only suffered once when I was sick riding the ventoux and changing down onto my 39 made no difference.
I think its more about the way my legs work. The way they turn over the pedals.
I am going to Italy this year. Hoping to ride some of the crazy steep climbs, I no doubt will have to change my front chain ring. My bike is very light that helps I'm sure ...you can see it on the weight weenie thread.

So you climb the Tourmalet in the big ring? The Aubisque? What about the Aspet from the steep side? It's only 14%-15% iirc. And short 25% gradients in a 53x27? The Ventoux in the big ring of you're feeling strong? Hautacam, Luz Ardiden? All in the big ring? Even Nibali and Contador climb all these in the small chainring (although I remember the shock of seeing the doped-to-the-eyeballs "cobra" and "chicken" going head-to-head on the Aubisque above the ski village in the big ring).

Respect. What sort of cadence can you maintain?

If I am riding with friends then I just ride with them at a comfy pace. If I feel good then I will try and give it some stick "riding solo" but when I climb the enjoyment comes from riding without putting myself in the red.
It really is just the way my legs work it's not a big deal. I used to be a cycle courier and I rode quite a big ring on my courier bike for a few years so when I got my first racing bike "caad 5" it just sort of went that way.
I have tried to do the spinny thing but so far it's not really worked.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re:

Would this be the wrong time to mention I prefer a triple?

I think triples are great, too bad 2 out of 3 component makers have abandoned them(well spam never had one. They have enough trouble with fders). BUT this idea of 11s and giganto cogset for the 'extremes' of the range makes no sense. Not as low as a triple, 30/28/26t, low and lots of big gaps and missing 'essential' cogs.

At least Campagnolo still makes 2 triples, one 11s and one 10s..good on them.

 

[winkybiker]

Re: Re:

Would this be the wrong time to mention I prefer a triple?

I think triples are great, too bad 2 out of 3 component makers have abandoned them(well spam never had one. They have enough trouble with fders). BUT this idea of 11s and giganto cogset for the 'extremes' of the range makes no sense. Not as low as a triple, 30/28/26t, low and lots of big gaps and missing 'essential' cogs.

At least Campagnolo still makes 2 triples, one 11s and one 10s..good on them.

I don't mind larger gear-ratio gaps when riding solo, as I can just slightly adjust my speed, but I find the close-gapped 11s to be nice when in a bunch and your speed is dictated by others. I can get my cadence "just so".

And I agree on triples. For a slight weight penalty, very versatile indeed. I have a triple on my tourer and it is essential when fully loaded. My ego precludes me from running a triple on other bikes . I think that this is an issue for many other Freds, too.