outofshape

Hey all just wondering, I live in an area (Nor Cal) with alot of hills and I am thinkin about a compact crank. Wondering how much of a difference is it on the sprinting end for racing? I typically sprint in a 53/11, so how much difference are we looking at realistically in a 50/11?
thanks,
Paul

ZeCanon

First off, if you aren't coming into sprints at 40mph, why are you in your 53/11?

Second, 50/11 is about the same as 53/12.

VosBike

Only weaklings sprint in a 53/11. That is for pansy. Men have at least a 55/10. Remember, if you're over 40 rpm, you're not in a big enough gear.

Either that or your e-wang makes you real one look pretty small.

But really, a 50/11 is just fine, I doubt most of us should even be near that ratio in flat sprints.

Edonis13

50x11 is taller than 53x12.

if i remember correctly, 50x11 at 120rpm is like 44-45mph. so unless you can sprint with the big boys, i think youll be ok.

urbanknight

I have only been in one race where my 50/12 was too small, and that was with a downhill finish. Not that I was in contention for the final sprint anyway.

cmh

Like stated previously, 50/11 is pretty close to 53/12. I run a 50/11 on my race bike and have never been undergeared in a sprint, including some slightly downhill sprints. It does depend on your sprinting style, however. I think my max speed I have seen in a race sprint is about 41mph and that is something like 120 rpms in a 50/11.

Edit: I checked after reading other replies and 50/11 at 41mph is 115 rpms.

outofshape

My max sprint has been 40 mph, so i would assume i will be ok then. Thanks guys appreciate the advice.

Idioteque

how the hell do you guys get 120rpm out of the saddle

how do i practice this

i hate sprinting

ridethecliche

Practice on a trainer in an easier gear, then keep increasing resistance till you can't spin over a set cadence anymore. Then pyramid from there to a gear you spin out on.

Idioteque

hmm i don't think anything good would happen out of doing 120rpm trainer out of the saddle sprint workouts... at least on my trainer, i'll probably take off into a wall (laterally take off into a wall) ;d

plus, what the hell... it's too nice out to be on the trainer, i don't think you could pay me money to get on that thing

screw you guys, i'm joining the DrWJODonnell wanna-be club, minus the wattage, maybe i can sandbag a bad cat 5 race after years of training this way ^_^

ridethecliche

Dude, you've got top 10s in the C's.

I finished middle to end of the road in both the D races that I did (granted they were my first races and I hadn't trained well at all) and now I'm hanging well during the 4/5 crits that average almost 25mph.

No idea how I'd do in a 4/5 or 5's road race though, and I won't be finding out this weekend since I can't make sturbridge due to stress and insane workload.

Go for it, you'll be fine.

Then again I can't sprint either. I can hit the high 30's using CDR's downhill technique and the low to mid 30's on flat ground. Just keep at it.

GuitarWizard

I was in a race last year where I was spinning along at 43 mph in the peloton, halfway through the first lap.....wasn't particularly steep...but we were FLYING. If I had a 50x12 that would've sucked; as it was my legs were spinning along pretty well in my 50x11.

I'm about convinced the SRAM 11-26 along with a 50x36 is probably the best all-around combo for around here for a setup that does everything.

Jynx

cmh

No need to do these workouts on the trainer. Just practice sprints in a small gear. Focus on being smooth. That or get a fixed gear to ride through next winter. Spinning up to 120rpms will be nothing by spring.

CastIron

I added a 11t to my race wheels this year (Campy 34/50 in front) after spinning out my 12 a few times last year. Sadly, none of those times were in sprints, rather, long modest downgrades with remarkable tailwinds. It's about the only time I can think of where pedaling north of 40mph proved worthwhile.

I'm pretty sure I've never cracked 40 in a sprint without such assistance.

Idioteque

I guess i will, but i donno

this sunday there was a local practice crit with about 30 people showing (all cat 5). I went off solo on like lap 3 out of 12 and won the race, got half a 0.8 mile loop on the field. It was painful but its so much better than sprinting :|
when i do interval work, which is rarely these days because of nonstop group rides, i always end up doing 20x2 since i just enjoy them... eff sprinting i say, who's with me

Idioteque

oh i do have a fixie, and i can spin to 140-150 if i really want to even if for a short period of time, but out of the saddle during a sprint.. higher than 90.. no way.. i'll try some this saturday though and focus on that, maybe that's what's missing

ridethecliche

While that kind of riding might serve you well during a 5's race. It won't work in crits for the 4's and ups, breakaways in road races are a different ball game.

Did you have to pay for this training race? Or is it just like a spontaneous thing that happens? Does it count towards usac upgrades?

I'm asking because I don't know of anything like this in my area

Idioteque

yeah it probably won't, but then i'll try going off in 3-4 person breakaways in higher up races . It was an organized race, it happens around here every sunday. There are 3 categories, C, B, A. We pay 11 bucks per and it does count towards your upgrades, but points are not awarded, so no like cat 3 upgrade from it. However they served well for my cat 4 upgrades, even though 2/3 times ive done it i was in breakaways and gained absolutely no pack riding experience :|

I really enjoy them though, not a technical course but eh, im doing Bs this week gonna get my ass kicked ^_^

if you want to check out the details look at bostonroadclub.com it's called wells ave race. Hell if youre not too far you should come out

Idioteque

btw cliche, you're going to be around philly this summer? i'm originally from there and will be there all summer, we should go to some races if you are!

waterrockets 

One trick is to lock your ankles at like 100 degrees. Once you get to where you're feeling spun out, lock the ankles, and you're good for another 20 rpm. Just taking that variable out of the neuromuscular pathways allows you to speed up.

You don't need to focus on being smooth as much as just pedaling fast. To get fast, you'll smooth out on your own. I used to think my max RPM was 160 or so, but I've recently hit 228 rpm out of the saddle.

Apus^2

Jeeze. I thought I was good. CDR and WR are both 200+. I can get to 194 rpm, but not higher yet. I need to work on my sprints.

VosBike

+1 to WR's post.

Spinning is crucial to good sprinting. Getting 200+ is not going to happen on the road in actual sprints, but it's worth training to get up there.

At the very least your sprint should break 120, for most people.

If you've already gotten accustomed to such cadences, like riding your fixie (though that's way easier to get high cadence) just suck it up and do it in a sprint, they don't give medals for being in a huge gear.

Idioteque

interesting never looked at it this way, and 228 WR? That's obscene

my next sprint im def gonna pay attention to that, i really am always in the lowest gear for my sprints, too low probably, thanks for all the advice! Even though this wasn't my thread to begin with ;d

JayhawKen

That's not a typo? 228rpm...

I'm just going to sell my bike and give up now to save all the humiliation of running into guys like you.