crankset upgrade

Why do you wanna change? Do you want the smaller gears, or are your chainrings worn?

The current crank need's replacement because appears oxidasion signs ,it is not so light and looks old.So I have decided to replace it anyway.My question is compact or 53-39

orbeaonyx said:

Hi guys
I am 39 years 70kgs and I take part in masters cat.Five years now I use 53-39 Bontrager race light and the ultegra cassete is 27-12.I am thinking to replace them with a ultegra sl compact 50-34 and 23-11.What's your opinion about it ?It will be different or it will be almost the same but lighter?

Compact and a 11-25 is higher high gear and lower low gear than 53/39 and 12-27. shimano and Campagnolo make the best cranks in terms of chainring and bottom bracket quality.

Peter@vecchios said:

Compact and a 11-25 is higher high gear and lower low gear than 53/39 and 12-27. shimano and Campagnolo make the best cranks in terms of chainring and bottom bracket quality.

With compact cranks, you spend all your time in the big ring unless you're climbing. This is probably what you're doing when you race so switching to a compact won't be a problem.

I see lots of recreational riders with 53-39 cranksets using the small ring a lot and when they use a compact they don't like it because their sweet spot is 34-11, 34-12 or 50-25; the cross-chained gears.

bbattle said:

I see lots of recreational riders with 53-39 cranksets using the small ring a lot and when they use a compact they don't like it because their sweet spot is 34-11, 34-12 or 50-25; the cross-chained gears.

+1. I had this problem. A 53/39 fixed it. 😉

bbattle said:

With compact cranks, you spend all your time in the big ring unless you're climbing. This is probably what you're doing when you race so switching to a compact won't be a problem.

I see lots of recreational riders with 53-39 cranksets using the small ring a lot and when they use a compact they don't like it because their sweet spot is 34-11, 34-12 or 50-25; the cross-chained gears.

Then they need to learn to use the shifters god gave them. a 34/11 or 34/12 is about the same as a 50/16 or 17 or so. AND the chain is straighter and nothing rubs, etc. 10s cogsets, in a 11-23 are 11-12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23.

A riding buddy of mine just got the new DA 7900 in a compact. He lives in the 50t. I reminded him yesterday that the replacement cost of the DA big ring is $470 :eek: (not a typo)

Personally I rode the past few months on a 53/42t record crankset. I just switched to the 39t, but I'm almost tempted to put the 42 ring back on. I absolutely loved the 42t ring while riding indoors on the rollers and on the road, it shifts great and feels just right when in the middle cogs. If it wasn't for a couple short but knee-busting climbs on my group's summer loop, I would use a 42t all the time.

PeterF said:

A riding buddy of mine just got the new DA 7900 in a compact. He lives in the 50t. I reminded him yesterday that the replacement cost of the DA big ring is $470 :eek: (not a typo)

Personally I rode the past few months on a 53/42t record crankset. I just switched to the 39t, but I'm almost tempted to put the 42 ring back on. I absolutely loved the 42t ring while riding indoors on the rollers and on the road, it shifts great and feels just right when in the middle cogs. If it wasn't for a couple short but knee-busting climbs on my group's summer loop, I would use a 42t all the time.

Reality, what a concept. I too am thinking of putting a 42 back on. I use a 50/39 and the 39 seem too small most of the time, driving me toward my smaller cogs instead of being in the middle. Seldom do I go to my lowest gear(39/23).

Peter@vecchios said:

Reality, what a concept. I too am thinking of putting a 42 back on. I use a 50/39 and the 39 seem too small most of the time, driving me toward my smaller cogs instead of being in the middle. Seldom do I go to my lowest gear(39/23).

I'm just old enough to remember when a 42/21 was called your "climbing gear"?

PeterF said:

I'm just old enough to remember when a 42/21 was called your "climbing gear"?

That's what my little brother was forced to use up in the mountains back in the day. Built some strong legs. Could squat 405 all day at 15 weighing 150 @ 3.8% BF. :eek:

PeterF said:

I'm just old enough to remember when a 42/21 was called your "climbing gear"?

The number of new bikes I see with a 11-25 and 53/39 is laughable. Some weekend warrior with gearing for a Boonen.

Thanks for your opinion guys.Finally I replaced the crankset and the cassete.I rode it on Sunday and I realized that the 50-34 and 11-23 is great gearing.Also I climbed the local mountain,7%grade and 11km, and I think that the 34-23 is a bit harder than 39-27 or 39-24 but more effective while I was trying to keep the cadence above 75 rpm.

orbeaonyx said:

The current crank need's replacement because appears oxidasion signs ,it is not so light and looks old.So I have decided to replace it anyway.My question is compact or 53-39

Oxidation isn't a structural problem. You could take the cranks to a machine shop and have them polish the cranks to a jewel like finish for way less money than you'd spend on a new set of cranks. Or you could spend an hour with a small jar of Mother's Aluminum wheel polish and a dremmel and get pretty much the same results. It's only aluminium after all...

But since you've replaced the cranks it'll give you something to do with the old ones during the winter months when you've got nothing better to do. Or you could sell me those cranks for cheap and I'll do it :p

😄

Hello how are you. i have crank 53-39 and cassete 9 speeds 12-25. Now you have 50-34 crank is better than 53-39? i try do 100 miles i try setup my bike for that . Is cannondale R300 aluminum frame and fork. what you think of my bike[IMG]cyclingforums.com700Open ↗[/IMG]

Hello how are you. I have on my road bike 53/39 and 9 speeds cassete 12-25. Also i have crank 52/42. You think is better i use 52/42 on my bike? Cassete maybe i can make from parts i have cogs 13-26 or 13-28 - what is the best setup for road bike. I am comfused in what crank i need on my bike and cassete size