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Compact Cranks
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Chris G
Jul 3, 09 12:38
Post #26 of 39 (250 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [phog]
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Go 50-34. You will be happy. I run one on my tri bike with either an 11-23 or 11-26 depending on the race. LP is 11-26 for sure. 50/11 is a "taller" gear than a 53/12. Unless you are throwing down pre bike splits a compact is likely the way to go. Those that are too "manly" for one, good for them. Putting a 12-27 on a 53-39 is not the same thing as having a compact. There is no way that having "easier" gears on your bike can make you "weaker". You can always shift :-)
pcombs22
Jul 3, 09 13:20
Post #27 of 39 (239 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [phog]
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Can someone explain to me why anyone rides anything other than CCs? (This is not rhetorical--I really am curious).
Both of my bikes have CCs. At 100 rpm the top speed in the 50x12 is a little more than 33 mph. According to Analytic Cycling on the flat that would take me 556 watts to reach--I don't think so in this lifetime. Yes, I run out of gears going down steep hills. But, that is more than offset by having the 34x25 to get up the hill (I live in WV and everyplace I ride has steep hills--I can't imagine wanting to climb the steepest hills around here in anything bigger than a 34.
Seriously, what is the advantage of the 53/39? Does it eliminate gaps in gearing or give you more closely spaced options in the sweet spot?
tjs
Jul 3, 09 13:26
Post #28 of 39 (231 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [pcombs22]
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I think it has to do with bike manufacturers specing them on their bikes. Up until a couple of years ago (maybe even last year....) you couldn't find a bike with compact cranks. Road or tri. They just weren't available.
I am with you on this issue. No real reason to run standard cranks unless you're a pro .....or ride a pro like bike split :).
jsquared
Jul 3, 09 13:28
Post #29 of 39 (228 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [pcombs22]
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In Reply To:
Can someone explain to me why anyone rides anything other than CCs? (This is not rhetorical--I really am curious).
Both of my bikes have CCs. At 100 rpm the top speed in the 50x12 is a little more than 33 mph. According to Analytic Cycling on the flat that would take me 556 watts to reach--I don't think so in this lifetime. Yes, I run out of gears going down steep hills. But, that is more than offset by having the 34x25 to get up the hill (I live in WV and everyplace I ride has steep hills--I can't imagine wanting to climb the steepest hills around here in anything bigger than a 34.
Seriously, what is the advantage of the 53/39? Does it eliminate gaps in gearing or give you more closely spaced options in the sweet spot?
I suppose if you're a super stud and a grinder the standard cranks might be better. Also if you care to actually pedal at 65 kph instead of just hanging on for dear life like most of the rest of us.
JJ
A Cake???
I don't even have the ingredients for the batter right now!
jackmott
Jul 3, 09 13:28
Post #30 of 39 (226 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [pcombs22]
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if you have hills you can go a lot faster than 33mph on the downhills
if you are in flat regions, it doesn't matter at all which you go with.
In Reply To:
Can someone explain to me why anyone rides anything other than CCs? (This is not rhetorical--I really am curious).
Both of my bikes have CCs. At 100 rpm the top speed in the 50x12 is a little more than 33 mph. According to Analytic Cycling on the flat that would take me 556 watts to reach--I don't think so in this lifetime. Yes, I run out of gears going down steep hills. But, that is more than offset by having the 34x25 to get up the hill (I live in WV and everyplace I ride has steep hills--I can't imagine wanting to climb the steepest hills around here in anything bigger than a 34.
Seriously, what is the advantage of the 53/39? Does it eliminate gaps in gearing or give you more closely spaced options in the sweet spot?
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if poor
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pcombs22
Jul 3, 09 13:41
Post #31 of 39 (220 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [jackmott]
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Well, I'm not a bike stud and when I am going more than 33 downhill I am usually trying to ensure that I survive to the next up hill! ;)
I did buy a 11/28 this year to use for one very hilly race I am going to do in September. I've ridden it on some training rides and you really can bomb down the hill on it. But, I hate the absence of the 17 tooth cog. I mean that is right in my wheel house and leaves a huge gap (at least for me). However, being able to spin on big grades is really nice--I was never able to do that until I rode the 28 and it has amazed me how much that helped me on big climbs.
jackmott
Jul 3, 09 14:09
Post #32 of 39 (214 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [pcombs22]
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that is why I always say
"if where you ride you find yourself running out of gear, get more, otherwise don't"
haha
gearing selections are a very simple process confused by mythology and lore.
if you get up hills and can't get to your optimum cadence, you need an easier gear
if you do down hills and can't pedal fast enough, you need a harder gear
In Reply To:
Well, I'm not a bike stud and when I am going more than 33 downhill I am usually trying to ensure that I survive to the next up hill! ;)
----
Sunglasses:
http://www.framesdirect.com/sunglasses
Tri Gear:
http://www.atctrishop.com
rear wheel
disc ALWAYS
http://www.wheelbuilder.com
if poor
front wheel
whatever torodial rim wheel you want, or H3. deeper if yer faster shallower if yer slower
tires
-
http://www.biketechreview.com
has crr data, use it
frames
- position trumps aero trumps weight trumps paintjob trumps stiffness
water bottle
between your arms or not at all if its a sprint
swim
get some swim lessons, its cheaper than buying bike speed
train more and HTFU
skavoovie
Jul 3, 09 14:35
Post #33 of 39 (211 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [FatandSlow]
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For the poster claiming that using compacts weakened him, that sounds more like climbing in too easy a gear. htfu.
Well, yeah, that's my point. If the easy gear is available I'm more likely to use it.
Isn't that the reason for the fixed gear craze? You force yourself to pedal a certain way. Even though it's true you could get the same effect by just choosing a single gear on a regular bike, people want a system which gives them no choice.
JollyRogers
Jul 3, 09 18:37
Post #34 of 39 (191 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [skavoovie]
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In Reply To:
Well, yeah, that's my point. If the easy gear is available I'm more likely to use it.
Using the easier gear doesn't make you weaker. Riding slower makes you weaker. It's all about how much work you do per unit time i.e. watts.
Longboarder
Jul 3, 09 18:41
Post #35 of 39 (190 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [phog]
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I run CC 50/34 and love them. I have them on several bikes road and tri.
note: I do spin out on some down hills but it's worth the trade off.
Train safe & smart
Bob
"Then the thought came back- f^*k you, keep moving. The little train that could, could. I'm moving forward again." Doug Stern
(This post was
edited
by Longboarder on Jul 4, 09 7:58)
skavoovie
Jul 3, 09 19:12
Post #36 of 39 (178 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [JollyRogers]
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In Reply To:
Well, yeah, that's my point. If the easy gear is available I'm more likely to use it.
Using the easier gear doesn't make you weaker. Riding slower makes you weaker. It's all about how much work you do per unit time i.e. watts.
Thank you Einstein. If you're in an easy gear, unless you crank up the rpm, you'll go slower. And then according to your formula you'll become weaker. Why don't you use the 34x25 on the flats all the time? In principle you can go just as fast as in a bigger gear, right?
JollyRogers
Jul 4, 09 3:44
Post #37 of 39 (151 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [skavoovie]
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Thank you Einstein. If you're in an easy gear, unless you crank up the rpm, you'll go slower. And then according to your formula you'll become weaker. Why don't you use the 34x25 on the flats all the time? In principle you can go just as fast as in a bigger gear, right?
Well, genius, the point is that it may be easier to achieve an ideal cadence when climbing with a compact crank while maintaining or improving gear spacing. Bogging cadence down on a climb doesn't make one a stronger rider (as you implied in one of your posts) and a 50x11 is a big enough gear to cruise along at 30+ mph without spinning out.
Rahzel
Jul 4, 09 6:09
Post #38 of 39 (133 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [phog]
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50/34 is the way to go. An 11-23 cassette gives a nice selection of gears, a high top speed and a nice small gear to spin up hills. An 11-26 (my choice for Ironman Wisconsin) is even better, as 50x11 is great for "working downhills" and 34x26 can push 80+rpms up just about any short grade (and definitely all the short grades on the MOO course).
Even in the local fast time trials I use the compacts, because I can spend most of my time in the 50x11-15. This is nice because all of the cogs have one tooth spacing in that range. If I were using 53/39 (or worse, 55/42) I'd have to use bigger cogs which in certain cases means the difference between cogs is larger, and the change in gear inches more significant.
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JoeO
Jul 4, 09 6:30
Post #39 of 39 (127 views)
Re: Compact Cranks [phog]
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It took me only a few months on a standard 53/39 crank to realize it wasn't for me. I found myself having to switch rings up front too often and my granny gear 39x27, still seemed too hard on some hills
Went to a compact with 11/26 SRAM cassette on the back and that proved a great choice. I can climb tougher stuff yet I have a bigger highest gear. The jumps between gears on the back can be a little larger but I find it doesn't bother me.
I now have compact cranks on all of my bikes. I love being able to stay in the big ring for most of my riding.
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