cbrstar

I could be wrong here but I think a part of the equation is what you've trained your legs to. I think a lot of people use both MTB's and road bikes, and may have some trouble switching from MTB to a Roadbike with the taller gears. So the compact gears make more sense to them as it feels more right. At the same time if you were using the taller gears 24/7 switching to more compact gears it won't feel right.

velocentrik

The argument is that the typical American cyclist is less and less fit and aging quickly. However, they desperately NEED to self identify as having an active outdoor lifestyle. That includes accommodating a compact crank to pretend they are still capable of riding a racing double when they need a touring triple.

Iride01 

So taking your last question and applying it to the title of your post..... here is my opinion.

The trends have more to do with the current manufacturing technologies and what the marketing people for those manufacturer's perceive as keeping them in the proper position to generate revenue. I'm not saying that in a bad way. It's business.

Compact cranks might currently be the cheaper way to manufacture in mass quantities for the way they feel people are riding various bikes. But tomorrow another breakthrough in manufacturing costs and tech might give us more derailleur's capable of larger cogs and more cogs on the cassette. MTB'rs are starting to tout 1 front ring and a wide range of back cogs. Might happen for road too, IMO, if they can fit a couple more cogs and have very high capacity rear derailleurs. My 52 front ring serves me well on short 30 mile rides in 4 to 5 percent grade and an 11-32 11spd on the back. My 36 front ring only gets used after I've depleted my glycogen. So for my normal riding, I don't need a compact. But others may.

Also manufacturers have to compare the cost of tooling up for making new tech. In some cases they may have to scrap an entire factory and make an entirely new one. That looks real bad on the balance sheet so if there is other ways to improve on the tech that machinery is able to make, then there is another big influence. It might especially answer why we've seen no belt drive infinite ratio drive systems. Drill presses and other machinery made for machine shops had that feature way back in 60's and probably before.

Also, the slight ignorance of the masses plays a part too. Many seem to key in on reviewers comments and believe this is what they must have to be the "best".

So in the end, it really makes no difference whether you add more teeth the back gears or less teeth to the front gears. They both do the same thing. It lets us climb hills with less effort (generally). People just need to know what ratio's they need for the type cycling and performance level they are at as an individual. Doesn't matter what other people need.

u235

The problem with referencing with what people used from 40+ years ago to compare. Most information readily available today of what was around and the culture 40+ years ago is not a full cross section of the "typical American cyclist". It is professionals, race winners, game changers and people at their peak and prime from that era that are still newsworthy to some today. How many more people had a single speed or a 52/24 and struggled with it and just used it because that is what they had? Not a single person in this thread or heck, or anyone on bikeforums.com that are the typical american cyclists will be referenced or remembered or used as a gauge 40 years from now.

I grew up in the burbs around Pittsburgh where flat did not exist. I lived on a brick street with a 25% grade. I rode a single speed 44/16 everywhere all day with no problem. I'd probably struggle pushing my bike up that hill now
although they have since at least paved it but I'm a recent member to the limited by a knee club.

Salamandrine 

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that compact chainrings and smaller cogs wear out faster than bigger ones. This was the main argument against 'micro drive' 25 years ago, and I don't think anyone has mentioned it. Undoubtedly the manufacturers see this as a free bonus, and probably few people care in this era of 2-3 season plastic frames and unit replacement wheelsets.

ThermionicScott 

I think this depends on how the drivetrain is used.

Certainly, if the rider spends a lot of time cross-chaining from the 34T small chainring to their 11T, 12T, 13T cogs for all-around riding, they'll wear things out a lot faster than a more classic gearing setup.

But if they do the smart thing and stay on the big (usually 50T) ring for all but the most crossed-over gear combinations, they might well experience slower wear than someone accessing those gears from the 42T small ring on a classic standard double. 50/15, 50/17, 50/19, and 50/21 versus 42/13, 42/15, and 42/17.

I'm not a fan of the small cogs on modern cassettes, but their presence will be benign if they don't get used very much.

Abe_Froman

Well to start with, if you're really riding around a 52tooth chainring and 13 tooth rear cog all the time, you're either cruising all day long at 30mph at a reasonable cadence. Or, more likely, you're dramatically overgeared, and are either crawling, or will blow out your knees at some point.

52telecaster

you said a mouthfull

non-fixie 

I'm not an American and don't care much about "life style", but riding a double with a short cage derailleur kind of is a prerequisite for L'Eroica. And I happen to like L'Eroica.

But as I'm somewhat older and somewhat removed from top fit I do search for the limits of that set-up (28T max cog size, 28T max chain wrap), so quite a few of my bikes are set up with a 50/36 or 48/34 chain set and a 14-28 freewheel.

1989Pre 

We just have to see the marketing for what it is, and decide for ourselves whether the new trends are valuable for us. When (what I call) antelope 'drop' bars came on the scene, it was marketed as something beneficial for all riders. At the time, I immediately saw the draw-backs of this type of handlebar for my commuting/utility/leisure riding, and I was not far off. Although I have acclimated to drop bars, they are a race-specific invention that sold a lot of new bicycles by being marketed in the mainstream.
I think the same is true of compact cranks. For those who are physically imparied, aged or ride in an alpine environment, I think they are a nice option. In L'eroica California's Q&A page, they state that a 28Tx39T should get you by. I think this is true if we a.) strengthen our legs by other exercises and b.) get our miles in.

non-fixie 

Pretty much perfect for all-round touring.

clubman 

I'd challenge the idea that 52-42 or 53-39 chainsets were useless. Sure the bulk of bikes sold to the public were overgeared but if you had some strength and rode in any decent pack of road riders, 53-12 wasn't uncomfortable at all when you rolled over a hill. We're not time trialing here. As noted earlier, it's nice to have the right tool when you need it, rare as that may be,. I miss sitting in on the wheels of a group, and I rarely led out. Big gears also helped me from going anaerobic more than a few times. Of course I've had one knee replacement and need another but I blame soccer and Ultimate frisbee.

I don't think bike distributors have changed their tactics at all. It's always been an upsell, at least from the 80's on.

Lazyass

clubman 

snort!

non-fixie 

True. You may have to walk up one or two steep bits, especially if it's wet or if you miss a shift, but that's all part of the fun.

Disclaimer: I haven't done the CA version yet, just the Gaiole and the Limburg editions.

There's no shame in walking. Odile Defraeye won the 1912 Tour de France:

ThermionicScott 

You keep acting as if the presence of compact cranks is taking away options, when in fact, nothing is further from the truth! Current-production Dura Ace cranks can be fitted with 53/39, 54/42, or even 55/42 rings. Life is still good!

But what are "antelope drop bars"? Having your own special vocabulary isn't great for communication.

Great attitude if you want road cycling to be a niche sport. My take is that cycling is better as a big tent, and easier stock gearing encourages new people to take it up, and if they stick with it and get in better shape, they can always move up to "big boy" gears. That's what I did.

1989Pre 

I like the way you think. Many of us don't slow down unless we are forced into it. Then, we see how cool it is.

1989Pre 

What I like to call "antelope" bars are what you would call drop bars. Got it?
I see that you are using your brain to determine what is right for you. Many do not do that, but assume new is better, or the grass is always greener in someone else's yard.
New riders might or might not need a 34T small chainring, probably not, unless there are unusual condition's like I've described, or like fiet said, touring is in-the-works.

ThermionicScott 

Heh, got it.

non-fixie 

One of my first C&V events was L'Eroica in Italy in 2013. I had come somewhat prepared, after a week of touring in the Tuscan hills, and with a 34 x 28 low gear, but completing the 75k route took most of the day, and I had to dismount a few times, but it really added to the sense of accomplishment when I finally got back to Gaiole.

Took this pic of fellow sufferers somewhere along the way:

1989Pre 

Maybe you were stuffed full of rich and marvelous food. Yeah. That's gotta be it!

52telecaster

would have snorted my coffee if i had any. thanks for the laugh. personally i am just about certain that my gf and my exwife really dont care which crank i use. i think only my knees care.

Lascauxcaveman 

Yeah, but if those kittens saw you riding a compact double they'd be thinking, "Geez, that guy's such a p*ssy."

beicster 

I hate when mom buttons the top button and I have to go all day like this.

52telecaster

i just put a new success, (sachs made by campy) 135mm bcd crank on my bob jackson so i could be totally manly. in fact i will have a 39 tooth triplizer with a 24 tooth granny gear and a 42 tooth ring on the outside. for the totally modern way to go half step and granny.

my gf has cats and to my chagrin they both like me a lot. even though my gears are totally unmanly.