compact/normal crank

[Beetle_Juice]

at the risk of sounding like a complete newbie - even though im not (just live in a small town where nothing new ever happens) - please can someone explain the difference between a compact and a normal crank - and why the compact cranks seem SO very popular???

 

thanks i appreciate your time

[Gman1834]

 

Compact: 50/34 or 50/36

Standard: 52/39

 

compact gives you a bigger range of gears to use and you will be able to spin at higher cadence on climbs. The big chain ring on a compact is not at big as on a standard thus giving you lower top speed.

 

Ask BigBen....

 

Gman18342008-11-20 08:27:03

[Gman1834]

COMPACT

Gear chart using KPH @ 90 RPM
For 700 X 20 / 20-622 tire with 175 mm cranks
With 10-speed 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25 Cassette
	50	38.90%	36
12	46.9		33.8
8.30%
13	43.3		31.2
7.70%
14	40.2		29
7.10%
15	37.5		27
6.70%
16	35.2		25.3
6.30%
17	33.1		23.9
11.80%
19	29.6		21.3
10.50%
21	26.8		19.3
9.50%
23	24.5		17.6
8.70%
25	22.5		16.2

STANDARD

 

Gear chart using KPH @ 90 RPM
For 700 X 20 / 20-622 tire with 175 mm cranks
With 10-speed 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25 Cassette
	52	33.30%	39
12	48.8		36.6
8.30%
13	45.1		33.8
7.70%
14	41.8		31.4
7.10%
15	39		29.3
6.70%
16	36.6		27.5
6.30%
17	34.5		25.8
11.80%
19	30.8		23.1
10.50%
21	27.9		20.9
9.50%
23	25.5		19.1
8.70%
25	23.4		17.6

 

[Marius]

Compact are for newbee's.

[Willehond]

Compact are for newbee's.

Only in SA....

 

 

In the Giro (the real one in Italy), all the pro's were on compacts when they attempted the BIG climb.  When it becomes THAT steep, compacts make sense.  Seeing that you have no real climbs in SA it's a non-issue

[Marius]

It's a well know FACT that all Italians are Gay!

[Willehond]

It's a well know FACT that all Italians are Gay!

Do you feel horny baby? Do you?

[Willehond]

Any real racer would have different frames, clusters and cranksets (normal and compact) and deploy them according to conditions.  just ask your mechanic to fit the correct setup before each stage!

[mbaymike]

Compact are for newbee's.

Only in SA....

 

 

In the Giro (the real one in Italy)' date=' all the pro's were on compacts when they attempted the BIG climb.  When it becomes THAT steep, compacts make sense.  Seeing that you have no real climbs in SA it's a non-issue

[/quote']

 

willehond jy moet hier kom ry in mosselbaai....sal jou na 'n paar klimme toe vat waar compact a blessing is

[Beetle_Juice]

thanks guys - appreciate all the replies - think im happy on my normal crankset - although with regard to the comment about no climbs - i know my godfather once on a ride in mpumalanga somewhere (not in the best shape of his life) made a remark worth mentioning - on finally catching up at the top of a hill he vehemently declared that "hes never been on so many bloody uphills just to get downhill"  - i suppose its each man for his own - i imagine he now rides a compact crank - thanks guys

[Willehond]

thanks guys - appreciate all the replies - think im happy on my normal crankset - although with regard to the comment about no climbs - i know my godfather once on a ride in mpumalanga somewhere (not in the best shape of his life) made a remark worth mentioning - on finally catching up at the top of a hill he vehemently declared that "hes never been on so many bloody uphills just to get downhill"  - i suppose its each man for his own - i imagine he now rides a compact crank - thanks guys

Just to nitpick: it's not the amount of clmbs, but rather the incline!  Only real steep hills need compacts, but you can sometimes get better ratios by just fitting a nice big cluster with a normal crank.  SRAM has a 11-27 cluster which gives you plenty of grunt at both ends of the spectrum. 

 

If you have a 11-23 cluster rather change to at least an 11-25 or 26 or 27.  Will aid your climbing a lot!