Road Cycling - when do you use the 52 crank?

what is the combination do you usually use 52 chainring with? and in what application?
Thanx!

When the road is flat and I want to go fast!!! My shift pattern is based on cadence. I'm comfortable in the mid 90's, so when it gets higher than that, I shift up, when it gets lower due to an incline, or traffic, I downshift.

Generally speaking, and only for myself, I let the expected lowest speed determine whether or not to use the big chainring and the expected highest speed determines if I shift into the 42 or 39 chainring. Most all of my rides are done over routes that I've ridden dozens of times, this makes it easy to select the chainring. For any of my routes where the speed seldom falls below 15 mph, I select the 52 chain ring (or 53 chainring when on my double). If I'm doing a route where my expected speeds won't be above 23-24mph I select the 42 or 39 ring.

depends what you're going for. i find much of my moderate speed distance riding on flat terrain tends to happen on the 53 and one of the larger cogs in back, 22, 23, 24. whatever.

strength training and muscle building as well - try shifting into 53x12 or whatever your toughest gearing is and riding by only pulling up on the pedals. feel those quads burn!

Like Don Cook, I do the same..

If my ride would be generally fast, less or no road traffic and flat, I would use the big ring since I can ride and maintain my speed at the 18~25mph (29~40kmh). Likewise, I would maintain a cadence of 90~95rpm.. I do the fine tuning at the rear ;)

If my ride is has lots of hills with painful grades, I'de use my 42 or 39 even if I would go up to 20mph(32kmh) at some point if there is a short decent.. :)

what is the combination do you usually use 52 chainring with? and in what application?
Thanx!

Whoa. You're looking at dropping a thousand bucks on a new pair of wheels, but you don't grasp the basics of gearing yet? No offense, but you might want to just ride a bit more before you go for the fancy new wheels.

Boy, I don't even consciously think about what chainring I am in. If I am in the big chainring and I start to slow down, I automatically shift to a larger rear cog to keep my cadence up. When I get to somewhere in the middle of my cogs, I will shift to the smaller chainring. If the slope isn't too steep, I might do a double shift -- small chainring, one smaller cog.

Whoa. You're looking at dropping a thousand bucks on a new pair of wheels, but you don't grasp the basics of gearing yet? No offense, but you might want to just ride a bit more before you go for the fancy new wheels.


LOL, on a thousand dollarbike.

what is the combination do you usually use 52 chainring with? and in what application?
Thanx!

You shouldn't be thinking about the big ring yet don't hurt your self, you gota spin before you can fly get some hours on them legs.

You shouldn't be thinking about the big ring yet don't hurt your self, you gota spin before you can fly get some hours on them legs.

In my old age...I'm 42 now...I've decided to get rid of the 53! I have gone compact, with a 48/34 with a 11/23 in the rear. This gives me a high gear that is the same as a 52x12, but I can keep the chain on the 48 on most of my ride. I like to spin and I also like to power the small hills. The 34 is great on the longer hills, the 34x23 gives me the same as a 39x27 or about the same as a 30x21. :p

I stay in the 39 and have enough speed for me when i need it but i dont need it much. I dont need 25 mph.

what is the combination do you usually use 52 chainring with? and in what application?
Thanx!

I usually shift to the 52 ring at about the 16 cog level on a 12-25 set up. Which means, as other have pointed out, I am on pretty much of a flat, level surface and accelerating. Personally, I found that in learning my bike's set up, I would upshift right after I started "pogoing." It takes a while to learn this, but after a while - I am told, as I am still learning - it becomes second nature.

I almost never touch the 52. I'm the 39T 90% of the time. I'm just really comfortable with higher cadences. I'm think of going with a 50T big ring, but I'm not sure...

It leave a very nice scar.. ;)

In my old age...I'm 42 now...I've decided to get rid of the 53! I have gone compact, with a 48/34 with a 11/23 in the rear. This gives me a high gear that is the same as a 52x12, but I can keep the chain on the 48 on most of my ride. I like to spin and I also like to power the small hills. The 34 is great on the longer hills, the 34x23 gives me the same as a 39x27 or about the same as a 30x21. :p


42 is not old, high spinners most times stay in no mans land. nothing is wrong with spinning it just shouldn't be an every ride routine if one is serious about training. pushing big gear at low cadence builds power.

42 is not old, high spinners most times stay in no mans land. nothing is wrong with spinning it just shouldn't be an every ride routine if one is serious about training. pushing big gear at low cadence builds power.
As I said, with a 11 cog mated to a 48 chainring, its pretty much the same gearing as a 52x12. I find that the 48 gives me a better range with the other cogs most of the time. I can push a big gear without a problem, but on long hilly rides, the 48 chainring works really well for me. I find that I recover much better the next day from long rides too. :rolleyes:

I've found it much easier to get the rear wheel off if I'm in the 52/11. :D

what is the combination do you usually use 52 chainring with? and in what application?
Thanx!
I seldom use the 53 on my bike, coz, I like to spin, this way I built a lot on my leg muscle and my lungs and my heart, out on a weekend ride, (club Ride) would used the 53 once I notice that I am being drop on the ride, otherwise I would stay on my 39, its another story if I will be competiting, then I will be using the 53.................

Whoa. You're looking at dropping a thousand bucks on a new pair of wheels, but you don't grasp the basics of gearing yet? No offense, but you might want to just ride a bit more before you go for the fancy new wheels.
Jim,
dude give him a break, he might just be thinking aloud,
oscar

I had a Specialty TA 51X38. I only used the 51 on flats and on downhills. When I used it for too long a time it caused pain under my kneecaps. About a month ago I changed the 51 to a 46 and it's awesome. I rarely use the 38 except for hill climbing. Small hills I can climb in the 46. I have a greater range of gears to use and best of all my avg speed has increased 1-2 mph. Also, no kneecap pain.
Kathi

Whoa. You're looking at dropping a thousand bucks on a new pair of wheels, but you don't grasp the basics of gearing yet? No offense, but you might want to just ride a bit more before you go for the fancy new wheels.

Let the man get fancy new wheels. It's all about what's in your head. The more you like your bike, the better you ride. It's a mental thing. Besides, you can always move a choice wheelset to a better bike down the road.

my training for fast group rides and on these fast group rides, i begin in the 39 on rides and only use the larger 53 when either there is a tailwind, the road turns downhill, both tailwind & downhill, or i am getting a good draft.
on a typical 50+ mile fast ride, i'll go 39 on the first 1/3 of the ride then use the larger gears when i am fully warmed and have a good rhythm going.

i use a 11-21 cassette, so even a 53-19 is a big gear.

i also find it more comfortable to use the larger 53 when the road is hilly (rolling) so i can stand intermitantly. obviously on steeper or longer climbs, a 39 is in order.

I usually go to it at around the 20 - 21 mph point. I shift for cadence, but that is where it work out.

On my group rides, if your not on the big ring in the first mile, you have been dropped.

I stay in the 39 and have enough speed for me when i need it but i dont need it much. I dont need 25 mph.
The old saying is "Life begins at 40" they are right, 40 kph!:D Sitting in a paceline holding +50 kph is what cycling is all about for me.

CHEERS.

Mark