Main bike: 50/34 and 11-23.

Beater/winter: 52/40 and 13-28 (6 speed freewheel).

46T X 11-32T

26X1.0 tires.

How fast do you people ride that you need such tall gears?

I spin at 100RPM average cadence which allows for 30MPH top cruise speed, with sprints up to 35MPH in high gear.

There are no hills in Shanghai.

Really? So I'm not running a 50t big ring, on my 130mm bcd Ultegra 6600 crankset?

That's news to me.

53 /39 because that's what the bikes came with

12-22 on both bikes. But one bike is a 10 sp triple with a 30. The other is 9sp.

I can treat the gears as hi range, low range, and can find what I need somewhere in the middle.

While I am not exceptionally fit, I live in a place with modest hills, just enough grade to knock it down / up a gear or two. But going south rolls more with shorter but steepish hills and I can use the 3spd, especially against the wind.

50/39 12-26.

I like the close spacing of the front (it's like a cog and a half) and am OK with the low cadence needed on steeper grades.
I miss a 50 11 gear on descents and in tailwinds though.

53/39 11/28

I desire taller than 53/11. Maybe 54 or 55.... but I also want 177.5 or 180mm cranks or better.



39/28 is "almost" 34/25... lower is unnecessary for now.

OP, you live in Florida. Don't waste cash. Stick with what you got.

Also, no comments on the 60 x 11 Mercier?

52/36 11-28

Praxis doesn't offer a 50T in a 130 bcd but shimano does.

True, what about Stronglight?

This is sort of like asking what seat should you put on your bike. It's a very personal choice. We're pretty flat here in Lincoln Ne and 53/39 with a 12-27 works well here for me. If I did any serious climbing, I'd probably want a triple (not really a climber) but would give a compact a try for sure. I'm pretty sure I'd appreciate a compact if I road in Omaha as it gets hilly there.

What seat should I put on my bike?

The one that fits your ass!

How did you get 50/36? I was thinking about this but either 53/39, 52/36 or 50/34 are only Shimano combos I know about.

I ride a 52/45 steel cottered crank with a 14-22 5 speed freewheel. Steel Huret Svelto derailleurs.

50/34 and 11-25 Perfect range for the mountains and flats.

56/39

Well, Rotor offers it directly, but you can buy individual chainrings and put together whatever you want. Just get a 52/36 or 50/34 and swap the chainring you don't want. It's not like they're welded together.

But then I have to buy 2 chainrings
Buy 52/36 and 50/34 to put together 50/36
What do I do with a 52/34?
Can you just purchase chainrings you want individually or are the crank arms attached to the large ring?

Like I said, you can purchase them individually. If you do that you'll end up with an extra large or small ring. Might be able to sell it. Or, you can buy a crankset from a company that offers the 50/36 combination, but inner rings really aren't expensive, and outers aren't too bad either.

Last time I upgraded I was told by my LBS via Shimano you could not purchase individually
Crank arm is connected
If I can buy individually why would I wind up with any extra?
would just buy a 52 with crank arm and a 36
Thanks

There are a ton of Single Shimano Chainrings out there. I even found some Dura Ace rings on Walmart.com!

Just a relaxing ride around the park.

Behind an old Zephr with a large shoe box duct taped to the boot. But, Tom certainly deserves La Sur Plaque Award.

???

This is true for really cheap cranksets, like the kind you'd find at Walmart or Target, but not on a Madone. The chainring is mounted on the crankarm by five 5-mm hex bolts. The only tool you need to swap chainrings is a 5-mm hex wrench (although one of these is very helpful).