Originally Posted by
IBOHUNT
Which RD do you have? You may be able to use a 30 rear or if it's SRAM Apex or Rival mid cage perhaps a 11-32 which may make a mid-compact a better alternative if you want the top end and don't mind the larger jumps in gearing.
Spin a 52x11 or 52x12 at 100 rpm and you get 37 or 33 mph. If you then ride in a flat area you can use a rear cassette that's tighter allowing you to keep in a closer rpm range.
My vote, and what's on my bikes are a mid-compact.
Climbing cassette is a 12-28 and flatlander cassette is a 12-25
End of the day you need to decide what you need to climb and have the top end you are looking for. That can take some experimentation and can also change with fitness.
Cheers
So. RD is Ultegra. I could probably get to 12-28 on that, I think. But that's not a terribly worthwhile change in my mind. I'm honestly not worried about top speed yet -- my fitness is such that I probably couldn't spin out 50-12 if truth be told, so not a huge amount of point. As to flat? Yeah. We have that -- if I fight my way across town to the river, but that's not my typical riding if only because it's such a PitA to go east-west across 'burque.
The mid-compact is 52-36, yes? That doesn't give me the lower gearing I'm whining about.
Originally Posted by
jsigone
Your crankset is legit, Just change out the 36T for a 34t, might be like $30-40. Changing the 46t to a 50t might set you back another $50-60
My CX came with the 46/36 front and 11/28 rear. Somehow managed this climb in the 36x28 w/o walking anything, but there was times I REALLY REALLY wanted too but didn't want to dirty my new road shoes on the "fireroad climb"
http://www.strava.com/segments/1205524 A 34t in the front would have made it a bit more enjoyable, but 12/32 cassette would have made it really comfy/easy. Option 2 would be $140 Force WiFli Rear D, $30 KMC chain, $70 12/32 cassette vs option one $30-40 for the 34t front ring
That's a hell of a climb in 36-28, and I'm well aware that you're in DRAMATICALLY better shape than I am. That's why I'm considering the 34. (I hadn't thought of just swapping out the little ring. That's a MUCH cheaper option, and I assume bolt up). I'll file that away as a good option.
The Praxis rings I was looking at are more like $160 for the pair, but those aren't the cheapest on the market for sure.