Compact.
09-11-06, 08:06 PM
#2
Used to be a climber..
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Well....
If you're not strong enough to push a "standard" sized crankset, or live in a particularly hilly area, they are great. I went to a 50/34 compact and don't regret it in the least. While I don't have huge mountains here, it is hilly enough to warrant the 34.....BUT, I like the 50T 'ring the most. It's just a great size for me, and I spend most of my time in it.
Don't worry about weight savings and all that crap. You won't notice a difference.
If you're not strong enough to push a "standard" sized crankset, or live in a particularly hilly area, they are great. I went to a 50/34 compact and don't regret it in the least. While I don't have huge mountains here, it is hilly enough to warrant the 34.....BUT, I like the 50T 'ring the most. It's just a great size for me, and I spend most of my time in it.
Don't worry about weight savings and all that crap. You won't notice a difference.
09-11-06, 09:28 PM
#3
I hate hills.
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I went from a triple to a compact because of the smooth shifting. You sort of get the gearing of a triple and the smooth shifting of a double. IMHO, that is the best thing about a compact.
09-11-06, 09:32 PM
#4
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You get slightly smoother shifting, the 'cool look' of two rings instead of three. You also lose a bit off of your high end and a bit off of your low end.
09-11-06, 09:36 PM
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Depending on the combination you go with you generally lose your highest gear, which I rarely ever used, and you pick up a couple lower gears which can help you keep spinning on the grueling climbs. Like I said it depend on if you go with 50/34 or 50/36 and the cassette you choose (in fact if you add an 11 you actually end up with a higher gear) but generally that's the result you'll acheive. Get a gearing chart and you can tell what you'll end up with based on your selections.
09-11-06, 10:02 PM
#6
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Originally Posted by manulos
Can someone explain me the real benefits of compact cranks...
thanx
Manulo (newbie)
thanx
Manulo (newbie)
They look cool as!
09-11-06, 10:36 PM
#7
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There isn't all that much difference, considering that most compact bikes seem to come with 11-23 cassettes.
Its mostly marketing so that cyclists will "upgrade" their perfectly good cranks. Putting a 12-27 on a 53/39 gives you pretty much the same gearing as the standard compact range.
Its mostly marketing so that cyclists will "upgrade" their perfectly good cranks. Putting a 12-27 on a 53/39 gives you pretty much the same gearing as the standard compact range.
09-11-06, 10:51 PM
#8
wannabe cycling nerd
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Originally Posted by Phoible
There isn't all that much difference, considering that most compact bikes seem to come with 11-23 cassettes.
Its mostly marketing so that cyclists will "upgrade" their perfectly good cranks. Putting a 12-27 on a 53/39 gives you pretty much the same gearing as the standard compact range.
Its mostly marketing so that cyclists will "upgrade" their perfectly good cranks. Putting a 12-27 on a 53/39 gives you pretty much the same gearing as the standard compact range.
09-12-06, 06:51 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by djtrackie
but putting a a 12-27 on a 50/34 will give you a WAY better range
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09-12-06, 07:06 AM
#10
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Originally Posted by Phoible
Its mostly marketing so that cyclists will "upgrade" their perfectly good cranks. Putting a 12-27 on a 53/39 gives you pretty much the same gearing as the standard compact range.
Look at not only the range but also the spread of gears and on what rings you normally ride. I have far less chainring shifting now. A 50/34 w/ 11-23 is essentially the same as a 53/39 w/ 12-25 but with (to me) a more efficient layout of the gearing.
09-12-06, 07:13 AM
#11
Isaias
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To the OP,
This has been discussed, ad nauseam. I know, because I've contributed to the nauseating detail.
The search works now. Maybe you should use it.
Btw, I run a compact--a mixture of two cassettes to form a Shimano Ultegra 11 x 25. The chainrings are 50 and 34. It definitely helped me during the Civil War Century, last Saturday, spin up the mountain passes. My ride partner ran a compact as well, but he had a 12-25 cassette.
This has been discussed, ad nauseam. I know, because I've contributed to the nauseating detail.
The search works now. Maybe you should use it.
Btw, I run a compact--a mixture of two cassettes to form a Shimano Ultegra 11 x 25. The chainrings are 50 and 34. It definitely helped me during the Civil War Century, last Saturday, spin up the mountain passes. My ride partner ran a compact as well, but he had a 12-25 cassette.
Last edited by NoRacer; 09-13-06 at 05:05 PM.
09-12-06, 07:17 AM
#12
Up on the Down Side
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This is ggg300's consolidated compact thread from a while back: Compact Crank Overload
It's got TONS of links to threads and tells you what each thread is about.
Too much thinking on this topic will drive you insane or make you an expert....
It's got TONS of links to threads and tells you what each thread is about.
Too much thinking on this topic will drive you insane or make you an expert....
