Compact chainset or not??

E@gle.

One of the lads in the club is trying to encouage me to get a compact crankset
I can see where a compact would come in handy in the mountains as i am always running out of gears, i'm currently using a 39x53 on front and a 12-25 on the back.

So im trying to debate whether i would have much use for a compact when im on the flat as i would be in the big ring the whole time
or should i just get a bigger rear block for the mountains maybe a 12-27 instead

blorg

If you are running out of gears it could certainly make sense, but it's a lot cheaper and easier to try out a new cassette first.

Apart from the Shimano 12-27s I _believe_ SRAM do an 11-28 which is Shimano compatible. Campagnolo do a 29.

39-28 would take you almost as low as 34-25.

Chips Lovell

I suppose it all depends on how you're doing on the climbs. If you're regularly grinding away slowly, then it may be a good idea. The 34 ring will certainly make spinning away an awful lot easier.

I switched back from a compact to a full size set up in January. The deciding factor for me was a trip to Spain at Christmas when I found myself getting up some much bigger climbs than in Wicklow with a 39 front ring.

The trade off with a compact is that the bigger difference in tooth numbers on the front rings means that shifting isn't quite as smooth as with a regular double. In addition to this, you usually have to shift more at the back when you switch front rings.

Raam

I thought long and hard about getting a compact last year. In the end I swapped my 11/25, or whatever it was, and went with a 12/27 and kept my 53/39. Haven't looked back to be honest.

tunney

Unless you're heading to the alps or the like why do you need a compact?

cantalach

E@gle. wrote: »

One of the lads in the club is trying to encouage me to get a compact crankset
I can see where a compact would come in handy in the mountains as i am always running out of gears, i'm currently using a 39x53 on front and a 12-25 on the back.

So im trying to debate whether i would have much use for a compact when im on the flat as i would be in the big ring the whole time
or should i just get a bigger rear block for the mountains maybe a 12-27 instead

I went compact two months ago and haven't looked back. So far, I've been able to remain in the saddle through climbs that have my traditional crankset buddies standing. One short, steep climb the other night was a great ad for compacts. They all stood up going into it and pulled ahead of me initially. But as their fast twitch muscles started to wane I began picking them off one by one, catching all but one by the time we got to the top.

The argument about using a larger cassette instead of a compact is only true to a point. I've kept a 12-25 on the back which is fine for Ireland. But with a compact you also have the option of obtaining almost mtb-like ratios by swapping in a 12-27 (or more) for that holiday in the Dolomites.

E@gle.

tunney wrote: »

Unless you're heading to the alps or the like why do you need a compact?

I cycle in the mountains at least once or twice a week.

tunney

Which mountains?

bunnygreen

From a personal point of view i went compact last year,reason being my knees are very bad,i can't push those larger gears up the hills anymore,now i can keep spinning at a fast cadence and get up the hills easier without feeling like ive lost a kneecap.Im not a traditionalist when it comes to this and believe me i,ll get that Triple if it means i can keep on cycling into the incontinent years.This old chestnut will rage on and on,pro,anti,bollix!,get on the bike and enjoy it.

E@gle.

tunney wrote: »

Which mountains?

mostly the slieve blooms

Raam

E@gle. wrote: »

mostly the slieve blooms

Any good climbs around there?

E@gle.

Raam wrote: »

Any good climbs around there?

There is the "Wolfe trap" which is about a 10km climb and "The Cut" which is about another 10km i usually go over each one twice when i go down. Wicklow is a bit too far for me to travel.

Raam

E@gle. wrote: »

There is the "Wolfe trap" which is about a 10km climb and "The Cut" which is about another 10km i usually go over each one twice when i go down. Wicklow is a bit too far for me to travel.

Any chance you could mark them out on google maps? I'd like to check them out some day

E@gle.

Raam wrote: »

Any chance you could mark them out on google maps? I'd like to check them out some day

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=14676183866234143591,53.097838,-7.717724%3B13236780561025195661,53.095860,-7.909840%3B182689609193977368,53.112551,-7.535744%3B429889648852806746,53.148427,-7.523684&saddr=53.097838,-7.717724&daddr=John's+Pl+%4053.095860,+-7.909840+to:Unknown+road+%4053.112551,+-7.535744+to:R422+%4053.148427,+-7.523684+to:53.098663,-7.715149&mra=mi&mrcr=3&mrsp=4&sz=13&sll=53.11649,-7.707767&sspn=0.048836,0.116043&ie=UTF8&ll=53.115048,-7.623138&spn=0.19535,0.464172&z=11


Thats the route i usually take Birr -Kinnity start climbing after kinnity up the wolfe trap back down into a small village called killanure start climbing shortly afterwards up the cut back down and into clonslee then back to kinnity and on to back into Birr. about 70km altogether

Raam

Thanks mate

blorg

E@gle. wrote: »

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=14676183866234143591,53.097838,-7.717724%3B13236780561025195661,53.095860,-7.909840%3B182689609193977368,53.112551,-7.535744%3B429889648852806746,53.148427,-7.523684&saddr=53.097838,-7.717724&daddr=John's+Pl+%4053.095860,+-7.909840+to:Unknown+road+%4053.112551,+-7.535744+to:R422+%4053.148427,+-7.523684+to:53.098663,-7.715149&mra=mi&mrcr=3&mrsp=4&sz=13&sll=53.11649,-7.707767&sspn=0.048836,0.116043&ie=UTF8&ll=53.115048,-7.623138&spn=0.19535,0.464172&z=11


Thats the route i usually take Birr -Kinnity start climbing after kinnity up the wolfe trap back down into a small village called killanure start climbing shortly afterwards up the cut back down and into clonslee then back to kinnity and on to back into Birr. about 70km altogether

You are doing well to get that done in about 1 hour 10 minutes ;-)

E@gle.

blorg wrote: »

You are doing well to get that done in about 1 hour 10 minutes ;-)

I wish , i think thats average speed for driving