Big Chainring goin' for the big chainring!
07-15-16, 06:28 AM
#1
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Big Chainring goin' for the big chainring!
It's been several years since I have attained the fitness to hang with the weekend big boys that scream up Sheridan road in the North Shore of Chicago. Last weekend was a breakthrough ride. I managed to hang on to a fast group but my 50 tooth "big chainring" didn't provide me with a large enough gear. That, and my inability to use my 14 tooth small cog in back, due to a spacing problem, left me spinning a much lower gear than the rest of the pack.
Tomorrow I am unveiling the 55 tooth "Big Chainring"! (Grunts like Tim Allen)
I found the 55 chainring at a winter swap and just couldn't resist. Putting it on the bike tonite. Making necessary adjustments. Then look out Saturday morning bikies, Big Chainring is back!
Tomorrow I am unveiling the 55 tooth "Big Chainring"! (Grunts like Tim Allen)
I found the 55 chainring at a winter swap and just couldn't resist. Putting it on the bike tonite. Making necessary adjustments. Then look out Saturday morning bikies, Big Chainring is back!
07-15-16, 07:31 AM
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Outstanding! Good to hear from someone making their bike go faster among all the talk of compact rings, wide Paselas and such.
07-15-16, 08:51 AM
#4
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Wow, very impressed. I feel I like I'm a pretty strong rider, but my 53 kicks my butt. Especially when I had the 14-20 freewheel. Now that I have a 24t cog on the rear, the 53 still kicks my butt. I can't even imagine riding a 55.
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07-15-16, 08:55 AM
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A couple of my bikes have 52-tooth big rings. Of course, I use those with 15-tooth small cogs--but I like to think that the 52 looks impressive.
I could probably use a 55 if I went to a 16-tooth small cog.
I could probably use a 55 if I went to a 16-tooth small cog.
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07-15-16, 09:06 AM
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I rode the flat 100 mile state championships my post accident year on a 54-44 X 13-17. Oops! Small field, slow race. Inside ring until the last two miles.
Jumped a mile from the line in the 54-15 and went to the 16 once I was clear. That race, a 50 and a 14-18 would have served me far better!
Ben
Jumped a mile from the line in the 54-15 and went to the 16 once I was clear. That race, a 50 and a 14-18 would have served me far better!
Ben
07-15-16, 09:08 AM
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Nice! I have a 58T Sugino chainring lying around but haven't had the guts to put it on any of my bikes yet.
07-15-16, 10:17 AM
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Get your 14 working.
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07-15-16, 11:35 AM
#9
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I guess I live a charmed life. Spinning out in a 50t just isn't something I have to worry about!
Although I am curious to know, when the 14 didn't work, what was the fallback? If you had to go to a 50 x 17 I can kind of understand; a 50 x 15 still sounds pretty stout to these legs. But it's been a while since I rode with a fast group, or any group for that matter.
Although I am curious to know, when the 14 didn't work, what was the fallback? If you had to go to a 50 x 17 I can kind of understand; a 50 x 15 still sounds pretty stout to these legs. But it's been a while since I rode with a fast group, or any group for that matter.
07-15-16, 01:46 PM
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With a 14-16-18-20-22 I will have 103, 90, 80, 72 gear inches on the big ring. That's a nice range.
But the real reason to go with a 55 ring is to strike fear in the peloton. I need any kind of advantage I can muster while putting the hammer down cat.6 style on the Saturday morning "B" ride.
07-16-16, 02:28 AM
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And I thought you were doing it to impress the ladies with those manly 'big chainring' calves and thighs.
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07-16-16, 05:04 AM
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07-16-16, 05:49 AM
#16
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It's Saturday morning, so I look forward to a ride report! 
Sounds like you're having fun.
The only 52 chainrings I've got is on my Nishiki mixte!
Sounds like you're having fun.The only 52 chainrings I've got is on my Nishiki mixte!
07-16-16, 06:15 AM
#17
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The big chainring is all well and good, but if you really want to intimidate them you should wear horns on your helmet and carry a battle axe.
07-16-16, 06:37 AM
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It's been several years since I have attained the fitness to hang with the weekend big boys that scream up Sheridan road in the North Shore of Chicago. Last weekend was a breakthrough ride. I managed to hang on to a fast group but my 50 tooth "big chainring" didn't provide me with a large enough gear. That, and my inability to use my 14 tooth small cog in back, due to a spacing problem, left me spinning a much lower gear than the rest of the pack.
Tomorrow I am unveiling the 55 tooth "Big Chainring"! (Grunts like Tim Allen)
I found the 55 chainring at a winter swap and just couldn't resist. Putting it on the bike tonite. Making necessary adjustments. Then look out Saturday morning bikies, Big Chainring is back!
Tomorrow I am unveiling the 55 tooth "Big Chainring"! (Grunts like Tim Allen)
I found the 55 chainring at a winter swap and just couldn't resist. Putting it on the bike tonite. Making necessary adjustments. Then look out Saturday morning bikies, Big Chainring is back!
07-16-16, 06:48 AM
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I see a max speed PR in your near future. I love the 53/12 on my Cannondale Criterium Series. 
07-16-16, 07:01 AM
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Ouch, makes my knees hurt just reading this! Good luck!
Backup plan, you can try an 11 or 12 tooth small cog. I went with an 11 on my climbing bike with compact so I could go faster on the downhill!
Backup plan, you can try an 11 or 12 tooth small cog. I went with an 11 on my climbing bike with compact so I could go faster on the downhill!
07-16-16, 07:07 AM
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Rock on!
07-16-16, 07:12 AM
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In the early 70's in Southern California if you rode PCH to Malibu you knew of Elmer.
Lived somewhere in the Crenshaw district.
Rode a repainted full Campagnolo bike set up as a five speed, 13-17 freewheel, 60t chainring.
Sometimes a 57t, sometimes a 63t.
Never a spinner but he could get those big gears rolling.
Lived somewhere in the Crenshaw district.
Rode a repainted full Campagnolo bike set up as a five speed, 13-17 freewheel, 60t chainring.
Sometimes a 57t, sometimes a 63t.
Never a spinner but he could get those big gears rolling.
07-16-16, 07:15 AM
#23
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07-16-16, 07:24 AM
#24
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A 55t chainring? Good Lord!!! 
On my '85 Fuji, I have a Sugino crank and a Suntour Mighty-6 freewheel.
52t & 42t
14,16,19,22,26,30
The 52 & 14 combo will kick my butt, if I don't work up to it.
The 42 & 30 combo is a piece of cake, and almost feels like a MTB rolling up a steep incline.
On my '85 Fuji, I have a Sugino crank and a Suntour Mighty-6 freewheel.
52t & 42t
14,16,19,22,26,30
The 52 & 14 combo will kick my butt, if I don't work up to it.
The 42 & 30 combo is a piece of cake, and almost feels like a MTB rolling up a steep incline.
07-16-16, 07:32 AM
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When everyone else was going from a 52 to a 53, the best local criterium racer installed a 50 and crushed the big-gear guys. He was a multi-year winner at the track nationals, so he knew what he was doing.