jello

What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a compact chainring for training and racing application?

I am currently using a 53/39 chainring, what is/are the beneficial results (if any) of switching to a 50/34 or 50/39 compact chainrings?

Does having a shorter or longer crank arms also have a positive effects?

I've heard several "opinions" from casual to competitive riders and would like to hear an actual "applied" explanation as to the differences with using a compact chainrings.

Thanks!

umd

If you have trouble maintaining a reasonable cadence on climbs and are wearing out or are unable to do some climbs because of it, then a compact will be helpful with that. In general it gives you extra lower gears at the expense of some of the higher gearing.

GuitarWizard

It depends on your terrain and what gearing you can comfortably handle. I'm a smaller rider and it's fairly hilly (not mountainous....but hilly) where I ride, so a 50/36 chainring setup along with an 11-26 cassette seems to cover just about all the range I need. There's a few rides in the Berkshires where I wish I had a slightly larger gear than a 26, but I rarely get out there anymore.

Personally, I dislike the 50/34 setup.....the 50/36 for me is much better, shifting-wise and the differences in gear ratios. With the 34T, I would almost always have to triple shift (and sometimes quadruple shift) when going from the big to small ring. That's fine for rec riding, but not really for racing....unless it's mostly all uphill.

With my setup, I can race with it and easily hang wit the peloton when they start ramping up the pace on those long, downhill stretches. And when the road starts pointing skyward, I have low enough gearing so I don't die. All in all, it's a win-win situation.

botto 

depends.

terrain. cassette. ability.

i had my ass handed to me on a plate on regular basis by a friend, who has a compact.

AEO

if you get a compact with 50T chainring, it's nice to have the 11T for those fast sprints or down hills.

cyclingvirtual

I am a 53/39 man myself, but if you get a 50/34 with a 11 tooth rear sprocket that should be plenty big enough even to race on. Just that it dont look right on a race bike

GuitarWizard

A 50/36 from a distance looks pretty "normal". However, I can't really tell what it looks like while actually riding my bike, so it doesn't much matter.

sojourn

It offers about 90% of what a triple offers for climbing, less weight, fewer tuning issues.....

Pugsly

For an 'enthusiast' cyclist, I think compact is the clear choice. If you compete, YMMV.