GMM

Some combo's aren't ideally ramped, but surely SOMEONE has tried it, regardless.
Care to comment?

PS: Not sure if the 42/50 combo exists, but decided to include just in case.

qqy

Actually you can get up to 52 in 110BCD. I like 52/36 myself.

GMM

You sure you can do a 52 on a 110bcd? Would be great if you could.

bj.bonnette

Rotor also makes Qrings in 53/36

ColinL

100% positive. availability of rings is not very widespread, but they're out there. no compact crank I've ever seen comes with 52/36, but the rings can be obtained.

plus specialized and some others started using 52/36 on their 'fast' bikes and calling them mid-compacts within the past ~2 model years.

zzzwillzzz

+1

IthaDan 

48/36/24

HAMMER MAN

On my ultegra 6700-6750 whatever. i am running a shimano 50 compact 110 ring with a red scram 36 ring. works great and no shifing problems what so ever

jmX

I wanna say almost every 2012 Specialized bike comes with 52/36.

One aftermarket company does do 53/39 chainrings in 110bcd. Extralight maybe?

Stealthammer

Yes, and Sugino also makes a 54t x 110mm bcd chainring as well, and Vuelta USA even sells SE 52t, 53t, 54t, 56t, 58t, and 60t x 110mm bcd chainrings....

Sugino 52t x 110mm bcd chainring

Sugino 54t x 110mm bcd chainring

SE 52t, 53t, 54t, 56t, 58t, and 60t x 110mm bcd chainrings

generalkdi

I like my 50/34. there are mountains all around so I need that compact!

fstshrk

I have a 2012 Specialized Roubaix with 50/34. I have not seen on the shop floor any specialized bikes with 52/36. SRAM RED compact used to come with a 52/36 but nothing from Shimano.

jmX

Hrm, you're right. The Tarmac was what I was looking at when I noticed all the 52-36's...almost all of them are 52-36. FSA, SRAM and Specialized cranks are used on the various models.

So I guess my statement does only apply to 2012 Tarmacs.

I <3 Robots

Bought my SRAM Red cranks with 52/36.

zitter

i've done 52/34 with no problems

Stickyrunner01

I have a 52 and 50 big ring. Also use 38, 36, and 34 small rings depending on the course. Most used combo's are 52/38 and 50/38.

ColinL

No, some of the Allez and Amira bikes have it too. Like I said above-- it's the fast bikes with compact cranks.

idc

I only have a 50/34 but I wouldn't say it's my favourite. If I could change it for free I'd probably try a 48/36 or similar. It often feels like a single 42 would be perfect.

dstrong 

I love the 42 that's on my triple but with the hills around here I need something smaller also. I've considered changing my compact from a 50/34 to a 50/36, paired with a 12-27 on the rear, but just haven't done it yet.

idc

Yeah if I ever had a single 42 I'd definitely want a 28 or even a 32 in the back. I have a 11-25 right now and sometimes it doesn't feel low enough on the hills around here.

Bob Ross

A friend just recently told me about this combo, and I'm thinking of trying it on my next bike. Seems like it would address a lot of my complaints about the 50/34 (that I currently use on two of my bikes) without incurring the complaints I have about the 53/39 (that I currently use on my third bike).

mgwilder

I have SRAM Force and I just switched from a 34/50 to a 36/52. It was a positive switch.

ColinL

52/36 will weigh less than 53/39 too, assuming the same cranksets, for a small side benefit.

MikeyBoyAz

same effect can be had by blowing your nose before you start a ride... or sneezing for that matter.

ColinL

you have some big boogers

seriously, compact cranks have smaller spiders. the weight savings is greater on heavier, crappier cranks and less on hollow CF cranks. but there's a weight difference of some sort.

(people buy ultralight wheel skewers for god's sake. this is more weight difference than that.)