Compact Cranks or Not?
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Compact Cranks or Not?
Can I get some advantages and disadvantages to compact cranks. I'm a 6'1" frame and 200lbs. Not the best climber but getting better because I'm hunting out the hills. I'm afraid compact would decrease my advantage on teh flats or downhill, but maybe help on the climbs?
Chad
Chad
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heres the reponses you'll get
yes
no
get a triple
stay with the 53x39
real men ride 54x42
change your cassette
get a new bike
work on your engine
my compact crank changed my life
make it a fixie....
am i missing any?
bit of a hot topic dude, but really the only way to know is to try it. i went to a compact and don't feel like i'm losing anything but a few grams...
yes
no
get a triple
stay with the 53x39
real men ride 54x42
change your cassette
get a new bike
work on your engine
my compact crank changed my life
make it a fixie....
am i missing any?
bit of a hot topic dude, but really the only way to know is to try it. i went to a compact and don't feel like i'm losing anything but a few grams...
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Originally Posted by Surferbruce
heres the reponses you'll get
yes
no
get a triple
stay with the 53x39
real men ride 54x42
change your cassette
get a new bike
work on your engine
my compact crank changed my life
make it a fixie....
am i missing any?
bit of a hot topic dude, but really the only way to know is to try it. i went to a compact and don't feel like i'm losing anything but a few grams...
yes
no
get a triple
stay with the 53x39
real men ride 54x42
change your cassette
get a new bike
work on your engine
my compact crank changed my life
make it a fixie....
am i missing any?
bit of a hot topic dude, but really the only way to know is to try it. i went to a compact and don't feel like i'm losing anything but a few grams...
#4
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50x11= 44mph@120rpm
Your not missing anything on the flats or descents.
I'm actually going to pick up my new Shimano R700 afterwork which is going on for the Brasstown Bald century next week.
Your not missing anything on the flats or descents.
I'm actually going to pick up my new Shimano R700 afterwork which is going on for the Brasstown Bald century next week.
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I thought I got more bang for my buck by going to 12-27 rather than when I switched to compact up front.
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I'm not sure what you're currently using but if you go from a 53/39 crank with a 12/25 on the back to a 50/34 compact you're going pick up two lower gears and lose your highest gear. You'll also get less overlapping gears between your big and little ring. If you're concerned about losing that high gear all you have to do is put on on an 11/23 cassette and you'll actually pick up a higher gear. There isn't a down side except for the cost. I live in the Phoenix area and there aren't any hills here significant enough to need a triple IMO. I'm running a 12/25 on the back and I've only spun out coming down at the most 2 or 3steep hills(S.Mountain and King Kong). It's nice having the extra gears for that final push up to the Towers though.
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I was happy with my R700 until it got run over. Also happy with the 48/36 on my cross check, but it's only used for commuting. I haven't spun out yet.
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No way to answer that question without knowing your fitness level and the kind of riding you do. A compact will lower your fastest gear a little, so if you regularly ride at over 40mph or you have a very slow cadence, that is a consideration.
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I run a 50/34 12/25 and will soon switch to a 11/25 (Few weeks)...I am very happy with it...right now I am not running out of gears BUT I am in my 12 more often....I think what a compact does for most people is it let you use your 12-13-14-15 gears where "most people" don't get to use those gears...or when they do there cadence is way to slow.....
I feel like I have way more gears to choose from on my current setup......I am very happy with it....
IMO Compact is the way to go....
I feel like I have way more gears to choose from on my current setup......I am very happy with it....
IMO Compact is the way to go....
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I race with a compact 50/36 11/23, this is essentially a 53/39 12/25, I do gain a bit on both ends but it's marginal. So why did I switch? Three reasons. First I found after doing a power fit on a computrainer that my pedal stroke is the most fluid between 92 and 115 rpm. I also make the most power and my HR is actually lower at the rpm than if I were grinding a bigger gear at a lower cadence. Second, the spacing on a 11/23 is better than on a 12/25. Third, and less importantly, I am saving some weight on the cassette.
These are the reasons, I've found little or no difference in the performance, ie shifting, of my compact when compared to my standard. I have an FSA SL-K crankset with the MegoExo BB and standard Campagnolo Record FD.
These are the reasons, I've found little or no difference in the performance, ie shifting, of my compact when compared to my standard. I have an FSA SL-K crankset with the MegoExo BB and standard Campagnolo Record FD.
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I run 50/34 with 11-23t. I find it very good for all around riding, even climbing.
My wife runs 50/34 with 12-25. She sacrifices very little, if anything, on the flats.
If you can get a 50/34 with an 11-25, then I would think you'd get the best of both worlds.
My wife runs 50/34 with 12-25. She sacrifices very little, if anything, on the flats.
If you can get a 50/34 with an 11-25, then I would think you'd get the best of both worlds.
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Compacts are for wussy.
Just kidding. I was running the R700 with a cobbled together Ultegra 11-25 cassette for several months, but just recently decided that I wanted to work on my strength, so I put the standard Ultegra crank back on.
Just kidding. I was running the R700 with a cobbled together Ultegra 11-25 cassette for several months, but just recently decided that I wanted to work on my strength, so I put the standard Ultegra crank back on.
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I'm on a double 12/25 standard crankset. The reason I'm asking is I may have found a nice deal on a Time frame that comes with a carbon compact crankset. Just looking for some opinion. King Kong is steep but short. South Mtn is a good test though. How are they on along decent like Bartlett?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Phoenix has hills, does it not?
I have some very steep hills I need get up, and so I have a 50/34 in front and a 13/29 in back. When I go on a mountainous group ride I'll be waiting for everyone else at the top of the hill, and then I have trouble catching them on the descent because I spin out at 30 mph. Of course, it is mainly my cowardice rather than lack of propulsion that prevents me from going faster on the descents.
I have some very steep hills I need get up, and so I have a 50/34 in front and a 13/29 in back. When I go on a mountainous group ride I'll be waiting for everyone else at the top of the hill, and then I have trouble catching them on the descent because I spin out at 30 mph. Of course, it is mainly my cowardice rather than lack of propulsion that prevents me from going faster on the descents.
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Originally Posted by Surferbruce
heres the reponses you'll get
yes
no
get a triple
stay with the 53x39
real men ride 54x42
change your cassette
get a new bike
work on your engine
my compact crank changed my life
make it a fixie....
am i missing any?
bit of a hot topic dude, but really the only way to know is to try it. i went to a compact and don't feel like i'm losing anything but a few grams...
yes
no
get a triple
stay with the 53x39
real men ride 54x42
change your cassette
get a new bike
work on your engine
my compact crank changed my life
make it a fixie....
am i missing any?
bit of a hot topic dude, but really the only way to know is to try it. i went to a compact and don't feel like i'm losing anything but a few grams...
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Interesting quote from the Tour de Georgia today:
from: https://velonews.com/race/dom/articles/12089.0.html
Former world U23 time-trial champion Danny Pate said Brasstown Bald was the hardest climb he'd ever done in a race in North America.
"We had to put special gears on," Pate said. "I rode a 38-27, and some of the guys were on compact cranks. It's just a really hard climb to do on day five."
"We had to put special gears on," Pate said. "I rode a 38-27, and some of the guys were on compact cranks. It's just a really hard climb to do on day five."
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Originally Posted by kleinboyz
I'm on a double 12/25 standard crankset. The reason I'm asking is I may have found a nice deal on a Time frame that comes with a carbon compact crankset. Just looking for some opinion. King Kong is steep but short. South Mtn is a good test though. How are they on along decent like Bartlett?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Originally Posted by Ritterview
Phoenix has hills, does it not?
I have some very steep hills I need get up, and so I have a 50/34 in front and a 13/29 in back. When I go on a mountainous group ride I'll be waiting for everyone else at the top of the hill, and then I have trouble catching them on the descent because I spin out at 30 mph. Of course, it is mainly my cowardice rather than lack of propulsion that prevents me from going faster on the descents.
I have some very steep hills I need get up, and so I have a 50/34 in front and a 13/29 in back. When I go on a mountainous group ride I'll be waiting for everyone else at the top of the hill, and then I have trouble catching them on the descent because I spin out at 30 mph. Of course, it is mainly my cowardice rather than lack of propulsion that prevents me from going faster on the descents.
#20
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Originally Posted by mrt10x
I thought I got more bang for my buck by going to 12-27 rather than when I switched to compact up front.