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Posted (edited)

Is it necessary to change the front derailer when fitting a compact crankset?

Currently running a "clamp on 105(2010 model)" FD.

Is it just a case of fitting crankset, adjust FD to suit, and Bob's your Uncle, or am I missing something?

edit. cassette must probably be a 11-whatever jobby, otherwise you'll spin out easily. (just fitted a new 12-27 cassette), don't wanna spend money on it again.

Edited by Wannabe
Posted
  On 1/5/2012 at 7:26 AM, Bram_on_Madone said:

Rather train more and get stronger instead of fitting a compact crank :thumbdown:

Geesh, did 1000km over Dec (includes going over Du Toits, Bains, Franschoek passes, the new 99'er route, majority of the Cobra route, etc) and I still suck at climbing. NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!!!!! Give a man a break, I say.

Posted
  On 1/5/2012 at 7:29 AM, Wannabe said:

Geesh, did 1000km over Dec (includes going over Du Toits, Bains, Franschoek passes, the new 99'er route, majority of the Cobra route, etc) and I still suck at climbing. NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!!!!! Give a man a break, I say.

 

quality, rather than quantity.... do a week of pompstasie, as hard as you can every time. the next week do easyish flat rides. then another week of pompstasie as hard as you can. you'll see a big improvement in your 2nd week of pompstasie

Posted
  On 1/5/2012 at 7:31 AM, fandacious said:

quality, rather than quantity.... do a week of pompstasie, as hard as you can every time. the next week do easyish flat rides. then another week of pompstasie as hard as you can. you'll see a big improvement in your 2nd week of pompstasie

Riding with the likes of SirK, 'Dale, ZacA, Dommisse, etc, it is POMPSTASIE all the way. No time for easy. :D . But I'm again training on my own from now on, so I can do those all important recovery / rest rides. I know those hard km's will pay dividents.

Posted
  On 1/5/2012 at 7:09 AM, Wannabe said:

Is it necessary to change the front derailer when fitting a compact crankset?

Currently running a "clamp on 105(2010 model)" FD.

Is it just a case of fitting crankset, adjust FD to suit, and Bob's your Uncle, or am I missing something?

edit. cassette must probably be a 11-whatever jobby, otherwise you'll spin out easily. (just fitted a new 12-27 cassette), don't wanna spend money on it again.

 

I had a Compact on my bike but when I upgraded to Force in December I chose 39/53....when we done the cobra route it was the first time I used the 39/53 on climbs....I was faster and climbed better, my advice don't go compact. Stay with your setup as Compact doesn't make you faster, you just spin more so you think you faster but you are actually not

Posted (edited)
  On 1/5/2012 at 7:42 AM, Wannabe said:

Good advice, think I'll stick with my 53-39 and 12-27 combo. Training (the right way) is the only answer.

 

that should be perfect, I run 11-25 for race, but also use my 11-23 cassette for training, yo will also save cash by not needing to buy a new crank. When I had compact I ran 11-23 all the time as 11-25 was way to light.

Edited by MTB_Roadie
Posted
  On 1/5/2012 at 7:35 AM, Wannabe said:

Riding with the likes of SirK, 'Dale, ZacA, Dommisse, etc, it is POMPSTASIE all the way. No time for easy. :D . But I'm again training on my own from now on, so I can do those all important recovery / rest rides. I know those hard km's will pay dividents.

 

pompstasie is the climb in gordonsbay up to the water treatment plant...

Posted
  On 1/5/2012 at 7:51 AM, fandacious said:

pompstasie is the climb in gordonsbay up to the water treatment plant...

:thumbup: Bit too far from me to do. Tiekiedraai/Vissershok must suffice.

Posted

Other thing when going compact you may need to shorten your chain a touch.

 

I don't believe you go compact unless you decide to go ride the TdF mountains where you do 10-12% consistently over 20km. Alot of climbing is developing raw strength, spinning ain't gonna get you up the hills faster.

 

Also if you look at ratio's a compact with 11-23, will give you roughly the same ratios as a std with 12-25. If you go compact with a 27, i think you'll be climbing slower than 5km/h, in that case it's quicker to walk?

 

Check-out:

http://www.gear-calculator.com/#

Posted

I ride a compact and bought myself a 11-23 to swap in for the 12-26 I currently run.

 

I found that running a compact with 12-26 I spun out way too soon in sprints and descents, so hoping the 11 cog helps with this as well as the 11-23 cassette giving slightly smoother gear changes and being lighter than the 12-26 ;)

 

I'm also seriously hoping I don't miss the 34-26 option climbing up Boyes in the race on Sunday :o

Posted

Don't go compact, I have two road bikes one has compact and the other one not, I am going to take off that compact come end January and will be fitting a 53/39 crank.

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