"Pros don't use compact cranks because compact cranks don't have enough chain, so you don't get enough leverage" paraphrase from Bobke

Any idea what that means ?

I thought the problem was the length of the chain. Anyone have a transcript? I was too busy laughing to pay attention to the whole thing.

Sometimes Bobke makes some crazy statements.

He also picked Lance to win the tour with Alberto finishing 3rd.

............ awesome. )

Pros don't use compact cranks because they can turn 39/25 at 90+ rpm up 7-10% grades for an hour straight.

This.

Bob's an idiot.

I like my compact crank, but the 34 stinks for anything other than climbing. I used to ride a 54/44, I rode in the 44 most of the time. Considerations like that make a lot of difference to a pro cyclist.

I beg to differ, and so does the Giro

https://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...oncolon_118438

Gotta love this too:

SRAM APEX - NO MOUNTAIN TOO STEEP!
John Gadret & Alexandre Vinokourov ride SRAM Apex to tackle the steepest gradients of the 2010 Giro
Fresh off the production line, the new SRAM Apex rear derailleur and 11-32 cassette were welcomed by John Gadret (Team AG2R ) and Alexandre Vinokourov (Team Astana) with a big smile. Mixed with a SRAM RED drivetrain, SRAM Apex components enabled the two riders to tackle the 24% gradients of the Plan de Corones with a better gear ratio. Equipped with their climber’s kit, Gadret took 3rd place while Vinokourov took 8th place on the day.

aren't most of the pro's running a 53/34 or 36 on most of the big mountain stages?

Wow, I feel like less of a wuss. I run a 50 /34 11-26 and 20% is almost always a part of my daily riding.

Monte Zoncolan climb, Stage 15 Giro:

10k long, 11.9% average with portions at 22%

now do it after already riding 120 miles at race pace (after 17 days)

I thought you can only have up to a 16 tooth gap between the chainrings, or else the FD won't work.

i think it works but the shifting isn't as reliable, but they use a chain catcher anyway.

not always. ask Schleck.

Sorry, heavy Em-pha-sis on: Less

Wow, I feel like less of a wuss. I run a 50 /34 11-26 and 20% is almost always a part of my daily riding.

I've actually been training for a 154 mile / 10,000' climb, one day ride around Mt. Rainier called the Ramrod. Basically a tour stage. I'm a bit nervous and it is just a ride, not a race. Can't imagine doing what they do in a pro tour. I'd fall off my bike just to be done with it.

I also watched Bobke in his yellow head gear [a knock-off of Johnny Carson's ‘Karnack’]…such a typical incomplete discussion aimed at nobody in particular. But love the Bobke.

Regardless of a Pro’s conditioning [and the genetics that have pre-ordained them as elite riders] I would think it’s still a toll racing for a century before you hit the big climbs let alone the accumulated stress of the days racing during a grand tour. Using wider gear ranges matching a riders spin and power makes competitive sense…but to compare my compact setup and steep gradient climbs out here with a pro using same…a very weak comparison in my case.

I certainly expect a Pro to use whatever teeth combos including “compact” that match their strengths climbing...does not make them less macho…but faster and more deadly.

Yup. But for me, a compact is fine. Ignore the "not enough leverage" comment from Bobke, that has so many things wrong with it that I can't be bothered starting to critique it.

Crazy and just plain wrong sometimes - the other night he talked about the early use of aero bars and how Greg LeMond came back to beat "Claudio Chiappucci" by 0:08" in the final TT of the '89 TDF. He didn't get it wrong just once but through his whole bit - what's even more surprising is that LeMond's comeback was one of the greatest freaking moments in TDF history (no matter how you feel about GL nowadays) and no one corrected Mr. Roll!

Older double FDs usually had a 14t capacity, which is pretty conservative. They work fine with a compact, they just seem to be a little less precise than a 53/39. .FSA and Campy has made compact specific FDs for a while now, and new 6700(and I assume DA and 105 too) FDs are 16t capacity, so its moot anyways.

It means Bobke has ridden up he Tourmalet without a helmet one too many times, maybe?

Not to mention that it's not physically possible to put a 34 tooth ring on a 130 BCD crank. If if they are running a 34 or 36, then they are running a 110 BCD (compact crank) and negates this whole discussion.

I never understood the whole compact crank thing anyway. I always used a 42/52, 42/53 and occasionally a 39/53 and a 12-21 or 12-23/25 and never had too much trouble other than just not being a good climber.

it seem to me that all a compact does is make you spinn more as you have a 12-21 cassetter but your chainwheels are only 34/50? seems to me you would be spinn ing too much in the 24 16/17/18 gears and lacking top end on the 50 12/13/14

I think the 'leverage' part comes from grinding up 18 - 20 kilometer long 7%+ grade mountains you simple don't go as far on a one pedal stroke with a 34/50 21-23 as you would from the 39/53 21-23 for about the same effort.