Cyclocross - CX gearing...is this ok?

I'm running a 44/38 with a 12-27 cassette. too short? too tall? just right? it seems fine...so far...

just curious what you guys think a good, versatile cx bike generally run...

I've a 46/38 and 12-25 or 12-27, depending on wheels/course. I suspect the 46 is too much gear for me, but I'll have to wait until next season to put a 44 on.

I run a 42 single with an 11-30.

I'm running a 48-39 because they're cheap, readily available when I was looking and the 48 is only there for road work with a tailwind.

I have a 48-39 with a 11-30. I never use the big ring.

48/38 with an 11-28

compact double here. 34-50 with a 12-25.

compact double here. 34-50 with a 12-25.

wow...do you ever use that 50?

wow...do you ever use that 50?

not often. i don't race, this is my commuter so maybe going down a big hill. I also find the low gears to be great when i'm riding up big hills offroad with my MTB friends.

44 with a 12-28. Haven't had any muddy races yet this year, I don't think I've even gone into the bottom 3 gears.

42/34 with a 12-23.

I don't usually shift the front when racing, I just pick one and leave it.

I've noticed a lot of CX bikes come stock with compact 50/34.
Does anyone even race with this setup? Are they just marketing to the all-rounder/commuter?

I have a 50/34 laying around and I was thinking of swapping my 50 to 44 for my dedicated race bike I'm building. Do you think I should go 46 instead? Is there a big difference?

48/38 with an 11-28

ditto here. 48 doesn't get used when racing though.

single for me. 42T 12-27


I suppose a 39 would work just as well. I had the 42T spot sitting at home.

Single 44 with 11-32

It does everything from fast roadie training rides to C/X races.

48/36 with a 12-27

i only use the 48 on a hard packed flattish course
it came with the crank so it stays for now =]

I run 46/36 with a 13-26. I generally dont use the 46. I've noticed this year racing that I could probably go single ring and run a 42.

nitro

I was in the same boat. do it, you will never go back to that double ring set up. :)

Now I just wish I could justify it on my road bike!

I can't imagine needing a biger gear than 42 x 12 for our local courses, but in muddy conditions sometime syou can park the chain in the upper part of the cassette and just shift the fornt more reliably than the rear. Your gearing sounds pretty good.

Those of you with single chainrings, what cassettes are you using? I'm going to lose the front shifting and am looking at the IRD 12-30 with a 39 up front. How does it shift compared to Shimano stuff? I'm running a 12-25 right now and never need big ring and only occassionally wish for an easier gear. Are there any other manufacturers of 10 spd shimano compatible cassettes?

40t single with 11-28 9s cassette.

1x9 on my geared mtb as well (34t with 11-34 9s cassette). I'm a strong advocate of the 1x9 setup. It's simpler, lighter weight, and with smart gear selections, can cover just about anything.

i don't race, but: 48/38 with 12-25. i only use the 48 riding to and from trailheads.

Wow - I'm very unique. I don't race - just ride my cross bike on gravel roads, simple trails, nothing too technical. Anyway, I have triple front 48/36/26, and a 12-27 cassette in the back. I'm not that fit, almost middle aged, and found the 26/27 very useful two days ago as I rode up a gravel hill...

I had a 46/36 with a 12/25 in back.
I put a 34 on instead of the 36 for more range (mostly for my wife, she races on my bike too)

When cross season is over I'll probably put a 50 on the front for road riding.

wow... i see a lo of low gearing.. so a 53/44 front and a 12-25 in the back would work? or no?

+1 to the suggestions for a 1x9 set up.
Don't race, but live in a very rural area with our normal dirt roads a lot like CX; have ridden my
CrossCheck set up with a 34 t chainring, 11-34 cassette and 42x622 tires all over the place, on logging "roads", on ice, in mud, etc. Use a Salsa Ringer on the outside and Dog Fang on the inside, cannot recall the last time I dropped the chain. I know my gearing is considered pretty low, but I'm an old geezer according to my teenage son. His 1x9 CxCk set up is with a 44 t chainring, 11-34 cassette and some 32 mm road tires; he seems pretty happy riding this about a hilly campus.

I've noticed a lot of CX bikes come stock with compact 50/34.
Does anyone even race with this setup? Are they just marketing to the all-rounder/commuter?

I have a 50/34 laying around and I was thinking of swapping my 50 to 44 for my dedicated race bike I'm building. Do you think I should go 46 instead? Is there a big difference?

I put a SRAM S300 Cross GXP 175 mm 38-46t crankset on my Soma with good results. the GXP bottom bracket along with the ring set sold me: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=460260

wow... i see a lo of low gearing.. so a 53/44 front and a 12-25 in the back would work? or no?

Not for cross.

46/36 and 12-25 for for a commuter/fire road cruiser. I'll probably run the same gearing when I start racing again, though I doubt I'll use the big ring often.

I recent changed my big chain ring for a 40t. I'm now running 40/34 and 12-27 and have not had to use the small ring in my last two races since going to the new ring.

I have a 50/34 front with a 12/25 rear. As far as using the 50, I do use it, although I haven't yet used a cog smaller than about 17 when in the 50. I am keeping the chainring as it is because I might use the cross bike as a winter bike on the road. FWIW If I had a cross-specific crankset lying around I would have used it when I built the cross bike. I did not, but I did have a compact road crankset.

One guy who races quite a bit around here (he won States in Masters for 3 years straight) uses a 50-34 front. I say use what you have. If I get to the point of potentially winning a race, then maybe I'll change to a tighter crankset like a 46-36 if it will help. Generally I don't get beat so much on the long straight stuff (where you use your big ring), or on the climbs, but I lose a lot of time on the technical parts.

My 48/36/26 front, and 12-27 back. I love the low gears, especially when I see a long gravel hill in front of me. Unless you race, why suffer with not enough gears?

If I were to run a double, I would probably leave the front 48/36, but get mtb rd to run 11-32, or 11-34 in the back.


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_f9gvdVE6eWE/SSC8Y4xTIsI/AAAAAAAAApw/sE-BPe7pZqs/s512/IMG_5268.JPG

44t single up front and 12-27 in back. Race every weekend right now.

the 48 will go back on when the cross racing is over.

I'm running a 44/38 with a 12-27 and I love it, mostly staying in the 44 except for any climbs.