Junior Gearing

[Thorn Cycling]

In preparation for next season, I've decided to build up my gearing to meet the Junior requirements instead of just adjusting the derailleur to lower rollout. With a rollout of 26ft (around 7.9m), which of the gearing options listed in the poll would you go with?

45-12 (custom 45 chainring)
45-12 (non-custom chainring)
50-14
52-14
53-15
48-13
other (please specify)


Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Hawkwood]

I'm going to show my age now! Back in the 70s my set-up for junior road races was 52/42 and 16,17,18,19,20 on the back. The freewheel was a Maillard, you could get these built up with virtually any combination of sprockets.

 

[twothirds]

53/15. You can then use a cogset that gives you a straight 15-23 on a 9 speed set up.

 

[Master50]

One challenge for racing will be wheel changes. You want to use the most popular gearing which is 52-14. If your bike is legal with a 12 or 13 but all the spates are 14 you will lose a cog or 2 if you get a wheel change from neutral.

Often spares come from the pool of riders an if you put a wheel with a 12 or 13 in and some other guy gets your wheel from the service car or pits the other rider may get an unfare advantage from you. Maybe they get caught and get DQ. Find out it was your wheel. Now you are a putz for putting a wheel with a smaller cog.

At international races there will be no blocked gearing either and most use a 14.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

52-14, easiest to come by

 

[Notso Swift]

This road or track?

 

[Thorn Cycling]

Thanks for the responses everyone!

@notso road, mostly rolling hills

 

[42x16ss]

If you are racing a lot of more undulating races I'd be tempted to go for the 48x13 for a bit more punch. If you a racing a lot of crits and flat road races I'd go for the 52x14.