Compact v regular cranks

[javadude]

 

Here's Eldron's mind expanding epiphone for the day. Instead of going to the expense of buying a new 50/34 crank at R2,200 and keeping your 11x25 cassette just buy a new 11x28 cassette at R650. That way you keep exactly the same top end and enjoy and even easier hill climbing than your compact crank.

 

Not such a good idea. 11 - 28 leaves you with gaping holes in your gear ratios. Compact was invented so you can have a reasonable high and low gear without huge gaps between the gears.

 

So unless you're a porn star poser, a compact crank is a solution to a problem that actually exists.

[SwissVan]

Not such a good idea. 11 - 28 leaves you with gaping holes in your gear ratios. Compact was invented so you can have a reasonable high and low gear without huge gaps between the gears.

 

So unless you're a porn star poser, a compact crank is a solution to a problem that actually exists.

 

+1

I like that poser bit.

[Big J-WP]

Never been keen on compact but it does make sence. If you want a closer gear setup at the back.

your 50-11 is a bigger gear than you 53-12

 

but the 50T will look strange on my 180mm cranks

 

the ideal setup would be 55-45-35 with a 11 speed cassette

11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

[RedDevil]

My lord - this thread is wearing a pathway in the carpet in front of the closet as your kind come streaming out of it...

 

So FSA say that a 34x25 can climb anything and a 50x11 is longer longer than a 53x12 hence you should buy a compact crank?

 

That would be reading the article - understanding it would be this:

 

Here's Eldron's mind expanding epiphone for the day. Instead of going to the expense of buying a new 50/34 crank at R2,200 and keeping your 11x25 cassette just buy a new 11x28 cassette at R650. That way you keep exactly the same top end and enjoy and even easier hill climbing than your compact crank.

 

You can spend the remaining R1,550 on a new house for your barbie doll.

 

A 28??? And you reckon I'm coming out of the closet....mmwaaaaa

 

A compact with a real man's cassette is an excellent choice. No self respecting man would be seen dead with a 28...

[Eldron]

Not such a good idea. 11 - 28 leaves you with gaping holes in your gear ratios. Compact was invented so you can have a reasonable high and low gear without huge gaps between the gears.

 

So unless you're a porn star poser, a compact crank is a solution to a problem that actually exists.

 

The problem exists? Really?

 

Lets set the scene - you have a "traditional" set up 53/39 on the front and 11-25 on the back. Winter has not been kind to you and you have piled on the pounds. Your boyfriend says he doesn't like the spare tube around your waist and that you will embarrass him on the beach this summer. You start riding - it hurts and someone has made all the hills in your area steeper. You decide to take the pansy option and buy a compact.

 

 

R2,200 late you have an ultegra 50/34 on the front and a new poofter gear of 34x25 (a ratio of 1.36).

 

Your boyfriend thinks you're having an affair instead of riding and decides to join you (because you're not losing weight - scoffijng chocolate croissants at Fournos instead of putting in the hard yards). He is also unfit and decides to take the softer option. Unfortunately his hairdressing business is not doing well so he opts for the cheaper 11-28 cassette option (R650 for ulterga). His poofter gear is a 39x28 (ratio of 1.39).

 

Can we call the ratios the same and avoid a hangbag sh!t fit?

 

You point and laugh at his cassette and use the term "gaping hole". He makes some disgustung joke about gapping holes and you both laugh...

 

Then you ask the LBS to take your cassettes off (you don't want to get oil under your finger nails - EEEUUUWWWW) and lay them side by side - they look like this:

 

11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25

11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-28

 

"What? No gaping holes?" your boyfriend cries!

 

"Emille" you purr "There are two gears that are 1 tooth different!!!!"

 

"Shnoogly woogles" he relpies "my good friend Theodore rides those beastly mountain bikes and his 9spd XT cassette looks like this:"

 

11-13-15-17-20-23-26-30-34

 

"See honey - there are 3 AND 4 tooth gaps all over and he never complains about not being able to fill the gaps in".

 

Here endeth the Mills and Boons logic lesson.

[Eldron]

Never been keen on compact but it does make sence. If you want a closer gear setup at the back.

your 50-11 is a bigger gear than you 53-12

 

but the 50T will look strange on my 180mm cranks

 

the ideal setup would be 55-45-35 with a 11 speed cassette

11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

 

A triple?

 

Dear lord - you'll be shunned by the gay community.

[Eldron]

Saw Jade on Monday, he didn't mention anything.(bastad)

What fork are you putting on, I used the Niner steel fork for about a year, I put on the Ritchey Carbon one in January, very, very lekka.

Rigid is the only way, my SIR has never seen a suspension fork.

 

 

Niner Carbon of course!

 

There is one waiting for the One 9 polished silver frame to arrive.

 

I do have a confession though - I'm putting an internal 11 speed hub on! Singles are great but too much of a disadvantage racing the nationals...

 

I'll have to keep the Raleigh single for outings with you!

[javadude]

Wow Eldron, you so funny, do you maybe use humour to compensate for something else you lacking(like facts).

 

You also bring up this thing about prices. Who gives a **** about cost, we talking technical facts here, not some emotional decisions based on cost.

 

Here is the difference in gear inches for a 53-39 with an 11-28 starting from easiest to hardest gear.

 

6.267857143 <-- Gaping hole

6.267857143 <-- Gaping hole

0.964285714

4.313909774

4.203947368

2.316176471

6.201680672 <-- Gaping hole

2.057142857

5.014285714

0.101503759

5.684210526

3.176470588

3.573529412

7.65 <-- Gaping hole

0.327272727

6.487012987

7.862637363

9.173076923

10.84090909

 

Heres a similar table with a 50-34 and an 11-23.

Its not perfect but far closer spaced than with an 11-28

 

3.801242236

4.601503759

5.684210526

3.375

1.320652174

2.504347826

3.085714286

1.285714286

5.043956044

0.437246964

5.447368421

2.911764706

4.042780749

0.920454545

5.625

6.428571429

7.417582418

8.653846154

10.22727273

 

Anyway Eldron, i'm no psychologist, but you seem to be pre-occupied with homosexuals, so you may have some repressed feeling that you need to share with a proffesional. You pull off the gay persona so well i was almost convinced for a second that you are gay. Not that theres anything wrong with gays, God forbid i get roasted again on here for being bigotted. But whatever gets you through the night dude, thats my motto.

[Eldron]

Wow Eldron, you so funny, do you maybe use humour to compensate for something else you lacking(like facts).

 

You also bring up this thing about prices. Who gives a **** about cost, we talking technical facts here, not some emotional decisions based on cost.

 

Here is the difference in gear inches for a 53-39 with an 11-28 starting from easiest to hardest gear.

 

mathematical hogwash

 

Anyway Eldron, i'm no psychologist, but you seem to be pre-occupied with homosexuals, so you may have some repressed feeling that you need to share with a proffesional. You pull off the gay persona so well i was almost convinced for a second that you are gay. Not that theres anything wrong with gays, God forbid i get roasted again on here for being bigotted. But whatever gets you through the night dude, thats my motto.

 

Apples and apples guvnah. A 53/39 & 11-28 is hardly comparable to a 50/34 & 11-23

 

 

Apples and apples would be: 53/39 & 11-28 versus 50/34 & 11-25

 

So here's the revised maths - I used ratios cos "inches" are so last year. The last column is the difference in % between the ratios.

 

 

53 11 4.82 9.09% 50 11 4.55 9.09%

53 12 4.42 8.33% 50 12 4.17 8.33%

53 13 4.08 7.69% 50 13 3.85 7.69%

53 14 3.79 6.78% 50 14 3.57 7.14%

39 11 3.55 0.34% 50 15 3.33 7.84%

53 15 3.53 8.72% 34 11 3.09 5.09%

39 12 3.25 4.25% 50 17 2.94 3.81%

53 17 3.12 3.92% 34 12 2.83 7.67%

39 13 3.00 7.55% 50 19 2.63 0.62%

53 19 2.79 0.13% 34 13 2.62 7.69%

39 14 2.79 7.14% 34 14 2.43 2.00%

39 15 2.60 3.02% 50 21 2.38 5.04%

53 21 2.52 10.01% 34 15 2.27 4.27%

39 17 2.29 3.88% 50 23 2.17 8.70%

53 24 2.21 7.59% 50 25 2.00 0.00%

39 19 2.05 8.44% 34 17 2.00 11.76%

53 28 1.89 1.92% 34 19 1.79 10.53%

39 21 1.86 14.29% 34 21 1.62 9.52%

39 24 1.63 16.67% 34 23 1.48 8.70%

39 28 1.39 #DIV/0! 34 25 1.36 #DIV/0!

 

 

Now if we take the norm between gear changes as 6-9% then the "traditional" set up has 11 "gaps" and the compact has 10....someone call the FBI!!!!

 

But - given that we ride mostly on one ring in front and make minor changes to the rear not - say for instance - drop from the 53 to 39 and then drop from the 14 down to the 11 to get the next logical ratio (cos thats stupid and it results in a crossed chain) the table looks more like this:

 

53 11 4.82 9.09% 50 11 4.55 9.09%

53 12 4.42 8.33% 50 12 4.17 8.33%

53 13 4.08 7.69% 50 13 3.85 7.69%

53 14 3.79 7.14% 50 14 3.57 7.14%

53 15 3.53 13.33% 50 15 3.33 13.33%

53 17 3.12 11.76% 50 17 2.94 11.76%

53 19 2.79 10.53% 50 19 2.63 10.53%

53 21 2.52 14.29% 50 21 2.38 9.52%

53 24 2.21 16.67% 50 23 2.17 8.70%

53 28 1.89 50 25 2.00

39 11 3.55 9.09% 34 11 3.09 9.09%

39 12 3.25 8.33% 34 12 2.83 8.33%

39 13 3.00 7.69% 34 13 2.62 7.69%

39 14 2.79 7.14% 34 14 2.43 7.14%

39 15 2.60 13.33% 34 15 2.27 13.33%

39 17 2.29 11.76% 34 17 2.00 11.76%

39 19 2.05 10.53% 34 19 1.79 10.53%

39 21 1.86 14.29% 34 21 1.62 9.52%

39 24 1.63 16.67% 34 23 1.48 8.70%

39 28 1.39 34 25 1.36

 

 

 

The changes are for all intents and purposes identical.

 

Although the compact % difference drops as you approach the 25 whereas the traditional set up is nice and progressive as you approach the 28 - which if anything is better.

 

Poofter.

[Guest Frail4Life]

Ok Teachers.

I got a problem.

My cranks have a 177 arm with a 56 /44 running on a 10 Spd 11 /23.

But I do not seem to get to use the 44 anymore.

 

What is wrong?

 

Cheers

[SwissVan]

Ok Teachers.

I got a problem.

My cranks have a 177 arm with a 56 /44 running on a 10 Spd 11 /23.

But I do not seem to get to use the 44 anymore.

 

What is wrong?

 

Cheers

 

177mm crank arm and 56/44 ? Where did u find that combo??

 

Whats wrong? You live in Welkom and the only hill is the bridge over the hiway?

[Tankman]

Been discussed before - lots of times

[Tankman]

Here is another

[MaxUmis]

Been discussed before - lots of times

Perhaps, but were they this entertaining?

[Guest Frail4Life]

177mm crank arm and 56/44 ? Where did u find that combo??

 

Whats wrong? You live in Welkom and the only hill is the bridge over the hiway?

 

Ha Ha

 

I am the dude that goes on a Club ride from CT to JHB.

I am the dude that cycles to the Races Amamashova / 94.7 Kemetart.

 

LOL

[Eldron]

Here is another

 

Yeah but the material was presented in a really bland format.

 

Plus there were no ratio and inch arguments.

 

I give those threads a 4 out of 10. Try harder.

 

Eldron's soliloquy for the day:

Ultimately it all comes down to ratio - gearing is measured by dividing the front teeth by the rear. If you can put a little Excel spreadsheet together and work out silly things like what cadence you will be doing using inputs such as speed and gearing then you should be able to decide what cranks/cassettes to buy.

 

If not you're probably better off going to your LBS and asking them for advice.

 

Each to their own, compact crank riders are people too, having fellow riders laugh at you can be solved by intense therapy and you can still look manly with a 34 front ring on your bike.