Cyclocross - anybody use a 42/53 crankset with an 11-32

for cross racing and road riding? or is that just silly? its a toss up between that or a 1x9 with the 11-32

I am currently running a 39/53 with a 11-32 cassette on my cross bike when commuting. I will probably be going to a 1x9 for cross. The 42 would be fine for cross but I do not think you will be using the 53 much in a race.

I dont think its silly, you just wont have as tight of spacing between gears but you will have the exact same range. If this would be an all out race bike I would say do a more traditional set up but if this is more a do everything kinda bike (road, cross, commute, maybe light tour) bike keep with what you are thinking and it will make for a super versatile bike.

I personally am running a compact crankset on the front and am about to put a 11-34 mtn cassette on the rear to ad another level of versatility to my bike despite the fact it race it quite a bit. (it also see's alot of commute's some tours, and long gravel grinders where a 34 would be nice)

53-39 + 11-34 here...so far (3 months) it's been great for mix of cross, light trail and commuting (lots of steep stuff in my neighborhood).
http://www.snortingbullphoto.com/photos/753323571_xynEk-M.jpg

thanks for the responses guys, the only thing im worried about if i were to do a 1x9 with a 42 ring would be spinning out going down hills..would i lose much if anything by doing the single 42 ring? it would also be possible for me to drop down to a 39 for the small ring if i kept it as a double. i have just always liked the idea if a 1x9 and 42x 11-32 gives a great range..

nice masi btw

As long as you don't mind the gear jumps I'm sure it wil be fie. I'm thinking about doing a single 44 ring with an 11-32 cassette on my cross bike for a good gear range for cross and solo road/dirt road riding.

Also for you 10 speed folks XT and XTR are going 10 speed for '11, and of course there's SRAM XX, and now X0 is maybe going 10 speed, so along with IRD there should be cassette options.

What cassete are you using on the Masi BTW? Is it 10 speed?

nice masi btw

Thanks.


As long as you don't mind the gear jumps I'm sure it wil be fie. I'm thinking about doing a single 44 ring with an 11-32 cassette on my cross bike for a good gear range for cross and solo road/dirt road riding.

Also for you 10 speed folks XT and XTR are going 10 speed for '11, and of course there's SRAM XX, and now X0 is maybe going 10 speed, so along with IRD there should be cassette options.

What cassete are you using on the Masi BTW? Is it 10 speed?

It's a 10 speed IRD...been great so far.
http://www.interlocracing.com/cassettes_steel.html

44 with an 11-32 works great as a 1x9.

There is ZERO need to be worried about spinning out. I run this gearing on my C/X bike and hit plenty of roadie training rides with it. Not enough gear has never been a problem.

Check out a gear chart. a 44/11 is about equal to a 52/13, which at one point was considered a pretty stout gear.

If you are going down a VERY steep hill by yourself, it is possible to spin out. If you are going down in a group, you can simply draft and freewheel.

-Z

will i likely have problems with the spacing between gears on road training rides? if i do i suppose i could throw on a 12-25. lose a little top end but i t shouldnt matter..

Or, you could just get a triple crankset, have the same range AND have tightly spaced gears. Triples give you the best of all worlds, I don't know why people are so against them.