Compact crank or 53/39?

CampyO said:

OK, opinions please... I'm 45 and in OK shape, riding a
53/39 with usually a 12-25 or 13-26 cassette. I can handle
the hills with a little work (I'm not triple material
yet), but find that when I'm just cruising along (on level
pavement), I'm usually in the 39 and one of the bigger
cogs (17, 19, 21). Am I the kind of guy who ought to be
thinking of a compact crank? If yes, keep the same size
cassette?

First of all, as the almost-46-year-old owner of a triple,
I'm tempted to rip your legs off for that "not triple
material yet" crack. But I'll let it slide this time.

Secondly, if you're handling the local hills with what you
have, why change out the gearing? You may find that your
highest gear with a compact is too low sometimes (50/12 vs
53/12). If you think you need a little lower gear for the
hills, a 12-27 cassette or even a 12-30 is a cheaper
alternative. Or you can have two rear wheels, a "climbing"
wheel and a "go fast" wheel.

But that's not what I use, and I live to climb hills. I
climb almost all the time in a 42/24 or 42/27. But when
things get really steep, about 14% or more, I bring out the
little ring and use 30/21 or
30/24. Sitting and spinning is much more pleasant over time
than standing and mashing. There is no honor to
pushing a big gear up a long, steep hill.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA bike.terrymorse.combike.terrymorse.comOpen ↗
year's goal: 200 vert. miles, total to date: 112 vert. miles

(CampyO) said:

OK, opinions please... I'm 45 and in OK shape, riding a
53/39 with usually a 12-25 or 13-26 cassette. I can handle
the hills with a little work (I'm not triple material yet),
but find that when I'm just cruising along (on level
pavement), I'm usually in the 39 and one of the bigger cogs
(17, 19, 21). Am I the kind of guy who ought to be thinking
of a compact crank? If yes, keep the same size cassette?

Thanks in advance. Tom

What are you using at the top end? I'd say the basic way to
figure out gearing is to decide on the bottom and the top
and see how to fill in the spaces. Since I never use the top
end of my gearing, I am ok with a 48/39. If I found a good
deal on a crank, I'd go for a 110 BCD, probably a triple.
And put a 48/36 on it. You don't have to put a chainwheel on
the inner mounts until you need it.

That's on one bike, another has 46/36/26 and 11-28.

As usual, Sheldon Brown's site has something helpful-

sheldonbrown.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

Start inputting what you have, what you use, and then start
playing around with other gearings.

Thanks for the input so far... and apologies for
unintentionally dispariging the triple folks. One reason I'd
prefer not switching to a triple... Campy Record front and
rear derailleurs. I should have specified that in my first
post. A compact crank would let me keep 'em.

I'm on the chunky side and was finding it hard getting up them-there-hills. I was thinking about changing my double to a triple and I posted a requst for help.

The best advice was to get a compact crank which I did. I didn't have to change any other components (just moved the FD down a fraction). I works great... I hill further, higher, stronger everyday.

Dan Daniel <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 01 Jul 2004 21:45:43 GMT, [email hidden] (CampyO)

Quoted message said:

OK, opinions please... I'm 45 and in OK shape, riding a
53/39 with usually a 12-25 or 13-26 cassette. I can
handle the hills with a little work (I'm not triple
material yet), but find that when I'm just cruising along
(on level pavement), I'm usually in the 39 and one of the
bigger cogs (17, 19, 21). Am I the kind of guy who ought
to be thinking of a compact crank? If yes, keep the same
size cassette?

Thanks in advance. Tom

What are you using at the top end? I'd say the basic way
to figure out gearing is to decide on the bottom and the
top and see how to fill in the spaces. Since I never use
the top end of my gearing, I am ok with a 48/39. If I
found a good deal on a crank, I'd go for a 110 BCD,
probably a triple. And put a 48/36 on it. You don't have
to put a chainwheel on the inner mounts until you need it.

That's on one bike, another has 46/36/26 and 11-28.

As usual, Sheldon Brown's site has something helpful-

sheldonbrown.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

Start inputting what you have, what you use, and then
start playing around with other gearings.

Not mounting the inner chainring on a triple can be a very
bad mistake. On some bikes and cranks, the chain can slip
in between the posts for the inner chainring and the frame,
and be very difficult to dislodge. If your crank has
spacers instead of forged posts for the inner you will not
have this problem.

Dan Daniel <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 01 Jul 2004 21:45:43 GMT, [email hidden] (CampyO)

Quoted message said:

OK, opinions please... I'm 45 and in OK shape, riding a
53/39 with usually a 12-25 or 13-26 cassette. I can
handle the hills with a little work (I'm not triple
material yet), but find that when I'm just cruising along
(on level pavement), I'm usually in the 39 and one of the
bigger cogs (17, 19, 21). Am I the kind of guy who ought
to be thinking of a compact crank? If yes, keep the same
size cassette?

Thanks in advance. Tom

What are you using at the top end? I'd say the basic way
to figure out gearing is to decide on the bottom and the
top and see how to fill in the spaces. Since I never use
the top end of my gearing, I am ok with a 48/39. If I
found a good deal on a crank, I'd go for a 110 BCD,
probably a triple. And put a 48/36 on it. You don't have
to put a chainwheel on the inner mounts until you need it.

That's on one bike, another has 46/36/26 and 11-28.

As usual, Sheldon Brown's site has something helpful-

sheldonbrown.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

Start inputting what you have, what you use, and then
start playing around with other gearings.

If it was me, I'd go for the 48/36 double (which would
require 110 BCD). A 36/26 granny is low enough for most
people for most hills (mountain goats excluded). Plus,
you'll get a chance to use the big ring on the flats. Plus
you can keep using your Campy stuff.

2c. Ritch

campyo-<< but find that when I'm just cruising along (on
level pavement), I'm usually in the 39 and one of the bigger
cogs (17, 19, 21). Am I the kind of guy who ought to be
thinking of a compact crank? >><BR><BR>

A compact would be a good idea for you, same size casette.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali
costruite eccezionalmente bene"