dvdslw

Just wondering what size Chainring most of you ride with and why? My bike came with an FSA SL-K Light Crank with 53/39T 130BCD Rings and I have been thinking about changing the rings out for some Praxis Rings mostly because of the look (bike is black, everything is black, I like the black) and the good reviews on their performance too. Now that I really started to think about it, I wonder if I should reduce the size of the big ring to say a 50T? My thinking is that although 95% of my ride is on the 53T Ring, I'm usually in the middle of the cassette, never on the 12T. I also might find that with the smaller Big Ring that I will not need to switch to the 39 as often on climbs? I should also note that my bike has Ultegra Di2, I'm assuming that a 50T Ring is compatible? Any info would be helpful, Thanks!

seymour1910

I didn't think there was much climbing in the Orlando area. I still have my standard double and I like it. The hills around here are not enough for me to change it really. If I had the funds I would get a backup bike with a compact for when I travel to do more challenging rides.

You will be fine with either. If you are happy with the standard, there is no need to change that. If I were you, I would try to find a friend with a compact, or even go to a bike shop or performance and ride a compact before purchasing compact rings.

Square Wheels

Compact
50/34
11/28 cassette

dmcdam

Compact 50/34 with 12-25 cassette. Moving to 11 speed 50/34 with 11-28.

save10

53-39, 11-26 daily wheels, 11-23 race wheels

ls01

Htfu. Use the rest of the gears on the cassette by building bigger guads. Dial it up past 400 watts. Then get a bigger big ring.

redlude97

If I lived in Florida I would run a 50T or even a 48T

Bah Humbug

I use a 50/36 and 12-27. The relatively wide cassette allows me to stay in the big ring on rolling hills while the 36x27 combination is good for climbing ugly hills. The 50x12 top gear is shorter than common, though. This also allows a 14t gap in the front, which aids shifting.I really don't get why this isn't more popular.

lsberrios1 

Vintage Racer has - 52/42 - 12/23 (6Speed)
Endurance training bike has - 50/34 - 11/28 (10spd)
Full Race bike has - 52/36 - 11/28 (11spd)

On the full race bike: I think I might go 50/36 or 52/38. May change cassette down the road to 11-26. Lots of climbing around my neighborhood though.

buffalowings

Commuter hybrid trek 7.2: 11-27 (28,38,48)
road bike: 11-25 (50-34)
cyclocross bike 11-25 (36,46)

Smokehouse

52/36 Sub compact
12-30 rear (ran a 11-28 last season)

iamtim

53/39 double, 12-27 cassette (9 speed). Seems to get me around SoCal pretty well.

muzpuf

53-45 ................. 45 is a perfect hill climbing gear

chaadster

HTFU is right, and when you're able to dial it up past 600w, get a 55t:

caloso

53/39 x 12-25 daily wheels, 11-23 crit wheels.

daven

50/34 compact. 12-23 10 speed for most riding. 12-25 for hillier territory. (I like the 1-tooth spacing on the former for most of the cog range that I use.

Clipped_in

A 50t ring has a 110 bcd, and would not be compatible with a standard 53t 130 bcd crankset.

BTW, I ride at 50/34 compact crank with an 11-28 cassette. My backyard is not flat...

BruceHankins

52/42 biopace 12/23 6spd freewheel.

dvdslw

Yeah, looks nothing like Florida!!! You're right, Praxis only has the 53/39 for my 130 BCD. I found some Dura Ace 7800 10 speed rings in many configurations including 50/39, 50/42 but they only come in a bright finish. Price is good though DA 50T B type $112.00 and the 39T B Type $67.00 Not sure what to do so I'm just going to ride and wait for the right deal, maybe a Hollowgram will appear before me?

lsberrios1 

Werd! Although it is crazy low cadence on anything over 4% it is one of the smoothest shifting combinations ever.

TheSame

50/34 with 12-28 (11speed)
I do a lot of hills and I want to keep the rear cassette fairly closely spaced together. Hate big gaps. I slightly miss the 50 / 11... but I'd rather give up the 11t for the 16t.

11-28: 11-12-13-14-15----17-19-21-23-25-28
12-28: --- 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25-28

BruceHankins

@lsberrios1 I love me some old school.

chaadster

60t/44t x 11-25 8spd works for me:

R1lee

Flat ride, standard and 11-23
Climbing ride, semi compact and 11-28

Also have a 12-25 as my everyday which goes on the semi crank.

bigfred 

The road bike rings in the garage right now in some combination or another on a bike or ready to go on a bike:
34,36,39,42,50,52,54

with 10spd cassettes of:
12-25
11-25
11-26
12-27
11-28

I think I may be forgeting some. But, those pretty much cover it for me.

Personally, if mostly flat, mostly on the big ring of 53 and mostly in the middle of the cassette, I would keep it that way.