Compacts or standard... what do you think?
- Thread starter -dustin
- Start date
I like my compacts for climbing, lots of climbing, and more lots of climbing. standards for everything else.
If you are going to be large fast group rides, you might want the bigger gearing. Otherwise, I doubt you are going to be cruising around at 30+mph to worry about the few extra inches.
I have a 44 on the crossbike that is fine for my solo riding, but if I ride with someone on a road bike it can sometimes be a little under geared.
I have a 44 on the crossbike that is fine for my solo riding, but if I ride with someone on a road bike it can sometimes be a little under geared.
I absolutely LOVE my compact cranks! Of course, I'm not a huge climber, so the lower gearing works really well for me. I tend to spin faster too, so don't really miss the 53t.
It's nice to be able to cross-chain into any gear in either chainring too, if you need to, without worrying about ripping your derailleur off!
But it's pretty hilly here. If I lived in Wisconsin, I'd probably use standards...
It's nice to be able to cross-chain into any gear in either chainring too, if you need to, without worrying about ripping your derailleur off!
But it's pretty hilly here. If I lived in Wisconsin, I'd probably use standards...
If you run the 110mm BCD of compacts, you can get pretty much whatever size rings you want. The new FSA K-Force Light cranks are only compact, but you can get them with the full-sized rings.
Cool idea.
Goos idea. Best of both worlds!
I'm running a 50/34 compact with an 11-26. Works pretty well for me. Have the bail out gears on the really long or super steep stuff. Unless you have some super long straight DH runs there really isn't an issue and even then it's a wash really. On the high end a 50/11T combo and 90rpm is 32mph on a 700x23 tire. A 53 would be 33.9.
It amazes me when people say you can't sprint on it. a 50/11T is actually a larger gear than the old 52/12 was.
It amazes me when people say you can't sprint on it. a 50/11T is actually a larger gear than the old 52/12 was.
Anyone been using a compact on a cx bike? I have an ultegra triple on mine right now and have been considering changing to a double compact. A 39T is too big for me on some trails (I ride the cx on xc trails). I almost never use the small ring on my triple on the road unless I completely explode on a big climb.
A lot of folks are riding 38/48t or similar on the CX bikes. That's what I put on the C50 Cross bike at Interbike...
I am. I tried to get a 48 from FSA and they only shipped the 36. I guess I'll continue to run 50/36. I am running standards on the roadie with an 11/23 and think I'll go back to 50/36 too.
Yeah, Ive seen alot of people running compacts on Cross bikes, works really well actually. And most of them speak very highly of the compacts on there cross bikes
Here's the one I built for the show, I can't remember exactly what the sizes are, but I'll look tomorrow.
Don't really need a big gear span, a lot of guys are even running a single front ring.
Along those lines, one day I'd like an internal geared bike.
But an 8-speed just isn't gonna cut it in the mountains.
What about a Rohloff? 14 speeds, no overlap...
Nice stuff...
Isn't it like $100 per gear?
It is pretty expensive, for sure, but you get what you pay for...
Are we still talking about bikes?
I'm always talking about bikes...
I have compact cranks on the cross bike -- mountain compact(32-42???).
I do most of my ride in the 32.
I do most of my ride in the 32.
LOL....aren't those hubs really heavy? Heavier than a traditional drivetrain setup?
Some DH racers have em in their frames (ghetto gearbox setup), but for the most part ppl just use standard drivetrain. For your application it would probably kick a**
Pricy and adds a bunch of unsprung mass which has an adverse affect on handling...
i raced all season on a compact 50/36 with no ill effects. just ran the appropriate cassette.