Which compact crank set?

What bike and why not just switch the cassette? 12/27

Its a Trek 5000 and I already have 12/27. Got that cassette when I turned 45. This setup is good for the standard climbs. But this year I'm hoping to go higher and steeper.

I have a compact setup on one of my bikes - Campagnolo Centaur with 11/22 sprocket - before I bought it I thought that I would be spinning too much - not so in practise ; happy with gear ratios ( I not a racer as such - I do the odd race ) ; bought bike to do hill climbing events

regards

tiddy

Chance3290 said:

Looks like someone went out and raised all of my climbs since I last rode them. Sneaky [censored]. Anyway it may be time to buy a compact crankset.
Has anyone used the Shimano compact yet?
Are there new opinions on the other cranksets?

Well, it really depends on what sort of gearing you think you need. The best thing to do is make an Excel worksheet and look at the different gear ratios you get w/ different chainrings and cassettes.

There is nothing particularly magical about compact cranks, and the same is true for standard cranks. It's all in the ratios.

alienator said:

Well, it really depends on what sort of gearing you think you need. The best thing to do is make an Excel worksheet and look at the different gear ratios you get w/ different chainrings and cassettes.

There is nothing particularly magical about compact cranks, and the same is true for standard cranks. It's all in the ratios.

You can save some time and effort and use Sheldon Brown's excellent gear calculator to plug in different combinations.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

cheers!

alienator said:

Well, it really depends on what sort of gearing you think you need. The best thing to do is make an Excel worksheet and look at the different gear ratios you get w/ different chainrings and cassettes.

There is nothing particularly magical about compact cranks, and the same is true for standard cranks. It's all in the ratios.

I agree. How well you like using a compact crank is likely to be determined by where on your cassette the exact ratios that you use most fall. You'll probably like having your most common flat road ratio fall right in the middle of your cassette. That way you won't find yourself having to make a lot of PITA double shifts. My compact crank lets me do most of my riding in the big ring so I only have to downshift when I'm anticipating a steep hill.

strummer_fan said:

You can save some time and effort and use Sheldon Brown's excellent gear calculator to plug in different combinations.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

cheers!

Either method might do just as well. I opted for the spreadsheet route 'cuz I knew how wide of a range I wanted to cover but wasn't sure what combo would get me there, standard or compact. As it turned out 50/36 w/ a 12-25 got me damn near exactly what I needed.

Whatever route you go, pick a gearing range that allows you to average a cadence of at least 80 or so on flats and 70 or so on hills. This is just a rule of thumb, but it'll get you in the ballpark.

I faced the same decision last September as I was preparing for a 17.5 mile hillclimb TT. Even though I was running a 12/27, I found my cadences dropping to 60ish in a few steep sections. After considering lots of options, I went with a compact crank (FSA SLK 34/50 w/ MegaExo BB) and a 13/29 cassette. Did not change the front derailleur even though they have compact crank derailleurs made specially for the compact crank diameters. Increased my cadences by 30% and was much happier at the higher cadences. I originally planned to go back to my standard double cranks after the race, but I have left the drivetrain unchanged and do all of my training on it. I even rode two RRs with this drivetrain and in one of the races speeds reached 42mph. My cadence got into the high 130s but it was no big deal. I can change the drivetrain by simply changing the cassette and there are lots of cassette options. I love it and plan to use it always.

Chance3290 said:

Looks like someone went out and raised all of my climbs since I last rode them. Sneaky [censored]. Anyway it may be time to buy a compact crankset.
Has anyone used the Shimano compact yet?
Are there new opinions on the other cranksets?

I use a Sugino XD600 (BCD 110/74) with 48-36-24 rings, nice and its a good price too (~$80).

Have you considered TA Carmina?

I've got compact cranks on both my road and CX/city bikes. A Cannondale carbon 36/50 SI compact crank on the roadie (came with the bike), and a cheap Prorace 34/50 square taper compact crank on the CX that I bought from Probikekit.

They're both nice; they're cranks, they spin round, make the bike go. The Probikekit one is excellent value.. (www.probikekit.com, look under chainsets)

I do find the 34T small ring on the CX bike a little small, though; I seem to be almost forever in a fairly cross-chained gear. Maybe if I had an 11-23 cassette on the CX bike instead of the 12-26, the gearing would be better set up :p

One thing's for sure, I'd never go for a standard 39/53 crank given a choice. The compact gearing just makes much more sense in the real world.

Bontrager has a real nice set.

Chance3290 said:

Looks like someone went out and raised all of my climbs since I last rode them. Sneaky [censored]. Anyway it may be time to buy a compact crankset.
Has anyone used the Shimano compact yet?
Are there new opinions on the other cranksets?

bucfan471 said:

Bontrager has a real nice set.

I never thought of Bontrager. I looked and noticed they compact is 50/36 instead of the usually 50/34. I wonder how much of a difference that would make?
Anybody know where to pick a set at a reasonable price?

bucfan471 said:

Bontrager has a real nice set.

So does Ritchey.

local Trek dealer should be able to get it for you.

bucfan471 said:

Bontrager has a real nice set.

I’m riding to take off weight so it maybe a case of the harder I’m working the better but I wouldn’t mind some advise regarding what range of gears would be most suitable.

At present I’m using a 53/42 driving an 8 speed 12–23 cassette, I live on the 42 ring trying to keep the cadence as high as I can, 75-85 on the flat. Plan a. is to work back up to the 53 as the weight comes down (fingers crossed) and keep building the cadence. Plan b. is to be in the kind of condition that would in 12 months time see me through a ride like the Alpine Classic at Bright.

I'm thinking that the 53/42 12-23 will be beyond me for that kind of ride so should I be considering a change of set up at this point or wait and see if I can make some progress fitness wise and then review where I’m at?

Chance3290 said:

Looks like someone went out and raised all of my climbs since I last rode them. Sneaky [censored]. Anyway it may be time to buy a compact crankset.
Has anyone used the Shimano compact yet?
Are there new opinions on the other cranksets?

What I did is swap out my 53 tooth Shimano chainring with a 50 tooth Shimano chainring. It gave me exactly the gearing I wanted without purchasing a new crankset. However I'm assuming this wouldn't help your climbing gears much.

In my opinion, a 34 to a 36 is a very significant difference.

Postie said:

What I did is swap out my 53 tooth Shimano chainring with a 50 tooth Shimano chainring. It gave me exactly the gearing I wanted without purchasing a new crankset. However I'm assuming this wouldn't help your climbing gears much.

In my opinion, a 34 to a 36 is a very significant difference.

Yeah, I thought it funny that Bontrager only has a 50/36 compact. My speed on flats is not a big deal, but I want to climb more.