road compact crank gearing

[rock]

who's changed to compact (34/50) and happy with it?

Any advantages besides the low gear? I seem to think you will always want to be cruising on the 34 and feel like you're spinning out?

How far can you run down the cassette before the chain rubs on the 50t?

[usxorf]

I switched to compact and haven't looked back. I prefer spinning up climbs, so to me the lower gearing is it's advantage. I can't spin out 50/11 so not missing a top end gear.

 

Depending on crank it could be the last 3 cogs. I get rub with sram s975 but not ultegra. Crosschaining is the Devils playground either way.

 

Also, because the compact has a 16 teeth difference compared to standard's 14, you will have to shift a gear or 2 on your cassette when changing between big and small blade. It becomes intuitive after a while.

Edited January 8, 2013 by yazzo

[SwissVan]

Moi did it years ago (2004) because of the amount of hills in my neighbourhood

Had a 53/39 x 21 / 22 before but it was not ideal here.

 

Up to about 48 kmh i dont see any negatives with the compact, positives is that it gives you some lower gears for the hills and the option to spin more while climbing. small weight saving due to shorter chain and smaller chainrings (weight weenie amount).

 

If you going to spend some time riding faster than 48 kmh or sprinting at even higher speeds then yes you will probably spin out, this depends on your cassette option currently i think mine is a 25/11 or 12.

 

There is some chain rub when on the 50 and when in the 2 easiest gears at the back and when on the 34 to a lesser extent with the 2 smallest gears. The chain line when riding with 50 and the easiest gear at the back is exterme enough that the chain will sometimes want to drop off the front onto the 34. This probably will vary from bike to bike depending on the chainstay length.

 

Look at mtb's, they are all going the compact route, just calling it something else...

[tombeej]

I have a lot of big hills/mountains and at 86kg I have found moving to compact gearing a total win for me. The 50-11 can still allow you to pedal at 55-58 km/h.

 

Also, since you are a SS'er you'll appreciate the 50T ring. I was in JHB over xmas and only once in 150 km did I need to come out of the 50 (sylvies pass). So you might find you'l spend almost all your time in the big ring.

 

Bear in mind though, that my cassette is 26-11.

 

Also, rather consider a 36T for the small ring, not the 34. 34 would be too small.

[tombeej]

I don't have any chain rub issues on the 50T to be honest, even up to the 23T on the cassette. But my 23T is rarely used and my 26T is almost spotless (but very happy it's there when the road ramps up to 18% +).

 

Being able to climb most hills in the big ring has a lot of advantages in group riding. You'll find that you'll have the jump on pretty much everyone else when cresting the top of a climb.