Compact vs Standard Cranks

[Cruzer]

I used to ride a Compact crank 34/50. The BB broke and I was talked into changing to a Standard Crank 39/53 with 11/23.

 

To be honest it was a good change but I am really battling on the REAL steep climbs, I might go 39/53 with 12/25. I am interested to hear what the rest of you think.

[Flemish Lion]

How many of these 'real' steep climbs are there? If you're not too heavy a standard 23-11 should be fine.

[Cruzer]

I weigh around 74kg's. So far I have managed everything I normally climb. I often train Hills in the Suikerbossie game reserve out in the South, I can just make those climbs but it is not a pleasant sight! 

[scotty]

Slightly over 100kg and i ride 39/53 with 12/25,  struggle a bit on hills but they are manageable. Looking at swopping to compact with 11/23 though.

[Gman1834]

I ride a compact 50/36 with a 11/23 cassette, pretty nice setup for a 95kg cyclist. I won?t say anything about climbing since we are climbing with the hub on Sunday.

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I would like to convert to 53/39 11/23 10 speed?some day.

[funrider]

Hey Cruzer. More or less same weight as you. I ride a 12-25 with 39/53 chainrings on 172.5 crancks. Should work wonders for you as well. A 23 on a 39 or 53 is not big enough.

[cyclenut]

SRAM do an 11-25 cassette - best of both worlds.

 

 

[turtlek]

My one training partner rides a 53-39 and an 11-23 he weighs 112 and sticks with me on the climbs (i weigh 65 and ride same gears) so its all up to you what riding style you have and how strong you are the only problem with my training partner is that once he has done the climb with us he is toast for the sprint so thats his downside to the gear ratios that he uses

[TNT1]

 

My one training partner rides a 53-39 and an 11-23 he weighs 112 and sticks with me on the climbs (i weigh 65 and ride same gears)

 

ha ha.. beat you... I'm only 59kgs, and I ride away from almost everyone when the road goes up

 

[jabbathemutt007]

 

My one training partner rides a 53-39 and an 11-23 he weighs 112 and sticks with me on the climbs (i weigh 65 and ride same gears)

 

ha ha.. beat you... I'm only 59kgs' date=' and I ride away from almost everyone when the road goes up

[/quote']

 

Everyone that I don't ride away from is doping.

 

 

[turtlek]

 

My one training partner rides a 53-39 and an 11-23 he weighs 112 and sticks with me on the climbs (i weigh 65 and ride same gears)

ha ha.. beat you... I'm only 59kgs' date=' and I ride away from almost everyone when the road goes up[/quote']

 

i am a sprinter i cant climb for all the tea in china

[jabbathemutt007]

 

i am a sprinter i cant climb for all the tea in china

Why would you want to climb for tea ? Beer perhaps.

 

 

[TNT1]

 

i am a sprinter i cant climb for all the tea in china

Why would you want to climb for tea ? Beer perhaps.

 

 

That's howcome I go uphill so fast... Wifey has a cooler box at the top!

 

[Cruzer]

Does it make any sense to have two rear wheels, with 39/53 up front and 11/23 on one and 12/25 on the other for hilly days?

 

I heard that the quality of shifting may suffer

[GIRR]

Does it make any sense to have two rear wheels' date=' with 39/53 up front and 11/23 on one and 12/25 on the other for hilly days?

 

I heard that the quality of shifting may suffer

[/quote']

 

I actually have that.  11/23 on my training wheels and a 12/25 on my racing wheels.  Shifting quality does not in any way suffer either.  I do this so I never have to change down off the big chain ring in a race.  There's nothing worse than getting attacked on a hill and running out of gears because you're still on the small chainring.

[Spaceboy]

I am a woos...but I am loving my 50/34 up front matched with a 11/25 at the back. Haven't run out of gears on the fast flats yet, and the hills are a pleasure.