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compact 50/34 vs standard 53/39


colinw

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If I have to tell you all one more time that compact is for ............. Shocked

 

....... and for those within sight of the alpsTongue

 

I also thought compacts were for ....... soon changed my tune Wink

 

 

 

 

 

 
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At some stage all riders will be faced with the choice of changing BB's, Blades,Cranks, cassets etc.

 

Wouldnt it be nice if Bike shops had "demo" components we could try out - That way we could experience all the different gearing options and have a much better understanding. 
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It is for a girl mate, for her Cyclocross bike. She's currently riding off road with a 53-39 and a 12-25 on the back and wondering why it's a little harder than her mtb.

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It is for a girl mate' date=' for her Cyclocross bike. She's currently riding off road with a 53-39 and a 12-25 on the back and wondering why it's a little harder than her mtb.[/quote']

 

Makes sense!
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I know of some SA pro's that uses a compact crank.

 

Myself went from a compact to 53. It made me a stronger rider...

Basicly because I didn't have lighter gears to choose from.

 

Remember some people prefer a higher avg. cadance on hills.

This could help in your choice..  
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See comparison:

 

53Chainring53Chainring50Chainring50Chainring
CasetteRatio in inchesCasetteRatio in inchesCasetteRatio in inchesCasetteRatio in inches
12                 119.3 11     130.1 12     112.5 11                 122.7
13                 110.1 12     119.3 13     103.8 12                 112.5
14                 102.2 13     110.1 14       96.4 13                 103.8
15                   95.4 14     102.2 15       90.0 14                   96.4
16                   89.4 15       95.4 16       84.4 15                   90.0
17                   84.2 16       89.4 17       79.4 16                   84.4
19                   75.3 17       84.2 19       71.1 17                   79.4
21                   68.1 19       75.3 21       64.3 19                   71.1
23                   62.2 21       68.1 23       58.7 21                   64.3
25                   57.2 23       62.2 25       54.0 23                   58.7
27272727
39Chainring39Chainring34Chainring34Chainring
CasetteRatio in inchesCasetteRatio in inchesCasetteRatio in inchesCasetteRatio in inches
12                   87.8 11       95.7 12       76.5 11                   83.5
13                   81.0 12       87.8 13       70.6 12                   76.5
14                   75.2 13       81.0 14       65.6 13                   70.6
15                   70.2 14       75.2 15       61.2 14                   65.6
16                   65.8 15       70.2 16       57.4 15                   61.2
17                   61.9 16       65.8 17       54.0 16                   57.4
19                   55.4 17       61.9 19       48.3 17                   54.0
21                   50.1 19       55.4 21       43.7 19                   48.3
23                   45.8 21       50.1 23       39.9 21                   43.7
25                   42.1 23       45.8 25       36.7 23                   39.9
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If you need a 34 small ring you may as well walk, it would be faster!  Even in Suikerbosrand I was happy riding a 39 small ring 25-14 cassette gear ratio.

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Hey guys I just have a thing about compact as I do about bar ends on risers but trust me if a compact was good enough for IanJ at the Etape then there's no shame in using one!

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I see Dure Ace has an 11-27 cassette for those who don't want to buy a girly compact!  Jumps in gears are a bit big though and it's pricey..

 

SRAM also does an 11-26 in both nine and 10 speed.  Great for real climbs and it allows you to put your 11-23 back on for flatter races.  That's what REAL men would do
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Hey guys I just have a thing about compact as I do about bar ends on risers but trust me if a compact was good enough for IanJ at the Etape then there's no shame in using one!

 

That's because the climbs are steeper than SA climbs!  You don't really need one in SA, but if you do big Alpine/Ardennes/Pyrenese climbs you WILL appreciate it.
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If you need a 34 small ring you may as well walk' date=' it would be faster!  Even in Suikerbosrand I was happy riding a 39 small ring 25-14 cassette gear ratio.[/quote']

 

Do you think you turn out more power riding a big gear at a low cadence ? Try riding with a powermeter and you may be surprised.

 

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If you need a 34 small ring you may as well walk' date=' it would be faster!  Even in Suikerbosrand I was happy riding a 39 small ring 25-14 cassette gear ratio.[/quote']

 

Sure, but  not with a 11-23 cassette
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