Road Bike Racing - Compact to Standard Crank; or I feel really stupid

So every once and a while I have one of those brain fart moments. I replaced the compact crank on my TCR with a standard crank, and when I went to adjust the (braze-on) derailer, I couldn't move it up high enough to clear the chainring. I pondered it for a while and thought about posting here, but finally remembered that there are two holes in the FD to screw into the braze-on slot. Moved down to the lower screw to raise the FD up and problem solved, but I sure felt stupid for taking so long to remember about the other hole. doh.

Dude, why are you posting this here??

Oh, yeah, by the way: http://www.smiliegenerator.de/s34/smilies-34925.png

This thread is useless without pics.





Oh, wait... no, this thread IS useless. ;)

Post the power file.

I meant to post this in the road forum. Oh well.

Flip it.

You ran a compact crank??? Weak.

You ran a compact crank??? Weak.

Its what came on my TCR. I've been racing my Tarmac with a 53/39.

I prefer a compact crankset. Only reason I dont run one all the time is my srm.

He said, "other hole." Tee hee.

Is it Friday yet?

forgot your helmet?

Its what came on my TCR. I've been racing my Tarmac with a 53/39.

(Pssst... don't tell anyone, but I run a 46/36)

50x11 @ 100 RPM = 35.5mph
53x11 @ 100 RPM = 37.7mph

but (in gain ratios):

39x23 = 3.3:1
34x23 = 2.9:1

To me, 6% loss in speed on a downhill is worth a 13% reduction in pain and agony on an uphill... YMMV.

In racing, it there is no reduction in pain or agony on an uphill. With lower gearing, you just go slower.

Even in my on "hilly" race (Tour of Willamette, for the Oregonians), I never (or barely) touched the 39/25 I brought. The pace was too high. I surely did top out the 53/12 on my cassette. I left the race wishing I had run an 11-23 insteady of my 12-25 for the last stage. Wouldn't have helped much though ;).

With lower gearing, you just go slower.

You need to race steeper hills.

Back in the old days, we were real men and ran 53/42, with a 12-21 in back.

You need to race steeper hills.

Can't. I'm a sprinter.

Most of the road races around here, the maximum grade is around 8 or 10%. In the Willamette race, it was 2 miles of 8% on the last stage and the lead group was really flying. I lost contact almost immediately. Smaller gears would not have helped my cause.

Back in the old days, we were real men and ran 53/42, with a 12-21 in back.

My knees remember those days. One glucosamine tablet at a time.

Back in the old days, we were real men and ran 53/42, with a 12-21 in back.

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/penncyclebuy/vint-smoke.jpg

My how things have changed...

Back in the old days, we were real men and ran 53/42, with a 12-21 in back.

I must be older than you: 14-19 in the back with that fancy new 6-cog freewheel. 14-18 before that.

Of course 42 was the smallest inner ring with a 144 mm bcd Campy (or Campy copy, like Sugino) crank. 130 mm bcd cranks were from that weird fishing equipment company from Japan.:)

I remember having my first race bike built. I was chastised for having a 25t rear. Real racing men had a corn cob freewheel. Nailed their cleats to the leather sole,too.

13-17 5 speed regina oro
adidas leather cycling shoes with nailed cleats

I remember having my first race bike built. I was chastised for having a 25t rear. Real racing men had a corn cob freewheel. Nailed their cleats to the leather sole,too.

My trek had a 52/42 superbe crankset.

It's now with a BF member in Texas and has been replaced by a centaur compact crankset. I like being able to stay in the big ring for crits, even those with a hill thrown in.

You ran a compact crank??? Weak.

:(