Pro Compact 50/34 vs 52/36

Bruce L said:

Like anyones input into any advantages or experiences in using 52/36 instead of 50/34.

Why don't you get a gear inch chart and figure out what you need? Didn't Tyler use the 52/36? I'm not as good as him.

boudreaux said:

Why don't you get a gear inch chart and figure out what you need? Didn't Tyler use the 52/36? I'm not as good as him.

tyler used the 52/36 when he won a tdf stage (16?) in 2003 with a broken collarbone. some of the other riders used that combo, too, in the mountains. don't know anyone who has that setup. I ride the 50/34 and I know some others who do. lots of items on this forum about compact cranks. I love mine. look at the attached doc.

Bruce L said:

Like anyones input into any advantages or experiences in using 52/36 instead of 50/34.

I use a 52/36 with a 12-23 cassette. I like the combination a lot. I have the 52-16 gear to ride in fast pace lines and I don't spin out all that often going downhill with 52-12. I climb 10% hills pretty well in 36-23 too. Although I will finish building my light touring/cross bike with a 50/34 and 12-27 cassette, I'm sure I will spin out quite often with the 50-12.

I wouldn't likely spin out using a 50/34 with an 11-23 cassette, but the 50-15 gear is a bit higher than 52-16 and I'm a spinner not a masher. If I generally climb 10% in 36-23, 34-23 is really unnecessary. I'll just switch the cassette to a 12-25 in those rare instances.

There is only thing I don't like about compact cranks. Compared to a 39-tooth, the inner ring is just too small to cruise for very long. I won't cross chain all the way to a 36-12, rarely run 36-13, and 36-14 won't get me past 20 mph. You have to be prepared to spend almost all of your time on the big ring.