Hello all, I'm looking at buying a Campy double with a 13-26 cog in the rear. It seems like a good idea to figure what this will actually translate into once I'm on the road. Ahh, any suggestions?
Given that I'm going with a 53-39 in the front, what does this translate into? (i.e. I better not live near hills unless I'm Lance). Is there a decent "general" setup that, while it might not be optimal, would not be awful for someone in very good cardio/physical shape?
Second Q: If I'm planning on doing a good mix of hill/mountain climbing and flats, is it essential to have a triple crank?
Originally posted by pabergel Hello all, I'm looking at buying a Campy double with a 13-26 cog in the rear. It seems like a good idea to figure what this will actually translate into once I'm on the road. Ahh, any suggestions?
Given that I'm going with a 53-39 in the front, what does this translate into? (i.e. I better not live near hills unless I'm Lance). Is there a decent "general" setup that, while it might not be optimal, would not be awful for someone in very good cardio/physical shape?
Second Q: If I'm planning on doing a good mix of hill/mountain climbing and flats, is it essential to have a triple crank?
Thanks a gazillion to any suggestions, pabergel
There is no answer to this question as you have asked it and with the info provided. What are you riding now and what are the limitations? If you are indeed the one in very good cardio/physical shape, then the setup mentioned might be ok,depending on the size of the hills. A 13x29 rear is also an option . Many will tell you or THEIR exploits riding everything with a 23 large cog,but that means nothing reltive to your situation. Others will tell you a triple is the only way to go,but again that does not translte to your situation.
Can't even ask the right question, it seems! Well, my old ride was a LeMond Maillot Jaune, ultegra (double) with a 52-39 in the front, but I haven't a clue what I had in the rear end. This is why I plan to actually set my new ride up *properly*. On that setup, I had, long/steep slopes occasionaly seemed extremely inefficient.
Hmm, how can I express my limitations? Well, if you put a pro at a '10' and your average 140 lb. guy Sunday rider at a '0', then I'd dial in at around a 4 or 5. I couldn't care less for bragging rights, and will take a more efficient ride any day over the over-exerted one anyday. Does tha help at all? Or is it impossible to get get an answer with such limited info? I guess I'm just not sure what ratios to go with in the front and rear...
Originally posted by pabergel Can't even ask the right question, it seems! Well, my old ride was a LeMond Maillot Jaune, ultegra (double) with a 52-39 in the front, but I haven't a clue what I had in the rear end. This is why I plan to actually set my new ride up *properly*. On that setup, I had, long/steep slopes occasionaly seemed extremely inefficient.
Hmm, how can I express my limitations? Well, if you put a pro at a '10' and your average 140 lb. guy Sunday rider at a '0', then I'd dial in at around a 4 or 5. I couldn't care less for bragging rights, and will take a more efficient ride any day over the over-exerted one anyday. Does tha help at all? Or is it impossible to get get an answer with such limited info? I guess I'm just not sure what ratios to go with in the front and rear...
Maybe you could test ride a few and write down the front and rear combinations for reference. Not to be *nal,but how could you set one up 'right' if you don't know what you had before. Most common gearing would have been a 39 small in front and either a 23 or 25 large cog in the rear. In either case, a 26 might not be enough of a gain with a 39 front.
Point well taken. Time to visit the LBS. Thanks for your suggestions. I guess this is the cost/benefit of assembling a bike piece-meal...a tailored ride, but you have to do your homework. Thanks for your suggestions!
gears ? try this : chain ring devided by sprocket times wheel diameter ( in inches ) ie 39 / 13 x 27 = 81 inches it´s from the old penny fathing gearing based on wheel size , 100 inches is long , 30 very short .
Originally posted by drewski cogs are easy to change out. i use a 12x25 normally and put in a 12x27 if the ride is going to be especially hilly.
as boudreaux said, that's just me.
it's a pretty personal matter according to both your fitness and riding style (spinning vs. pushing bigger gears at slightly lower cadences).
23 or 25 is a pretty standard largest cog, but may not provide a low enough gear for your terrain and fitness.
I agree with what drewski said, I would start out with something on the lower side and if you find out you aren't using, say the 29 in the rear you can remove it and install a 26 and see how it goes. When I built my new bike I wrote down what my existing 6 speed with 52/42 had a used a gear inch calculator (I did a web search and found many) to compare some of the combos. I had a 13-small and a 24 large I decided to go 11-21 since my small chain ring went from a 42 to a 39 I stayed in a similar gear inch for my lowest gear.
Originally posted by tomgaul I agree with what drewski said, I would start out with something on the lower side and if you find out you aren't using, say the 29 in the rear you can remove it and install a 26 and see how it goes. When I built my new bike I wrote down what my existing 6 speed with 52/42 had a used a gear inch calculator (I did a web search and found many) to compare some of the combos. I had a 13-small and a 24 large I decided to go 11-21 since my small chain ring went from a 42 to a 39 I stayed in a similar gear inch for my lowest gear.
Yeah, if the poster is talking about campy 10, then the double with a 29 cog gives a low of about the same as a triple with a 30 granny and a 23 large cog. Going with a 50/34 crankset is another way of getting low enough with out a triple. Not that triples don't have a place,meaning low gears and close ratios. Having an idea of a starting poing AND a gear inch chart takes alot of the guess work out of it.
