Changing from compact gears

JC.152

I've been using the Shimano 34-50 chainset all this year on my race bike as it was what it came with and don't really need a little ring as small as a 34 as I'm a good enough climber and end up in the big ring a lot on a compact.
I was wondering what gears can be run on a compact chainset other than swapping the chainset, which I was thinking of doing to change to racing gears.

cyclingfury

What size sprockets are you currently using? You can go to an 11 - 23 or even 11 - 21 with Shimano if you don't need the very low gears.

JC.152

I'm still using a dinner plate set of 12-27 which is good in really hilly areas but I just get used to what I've got like last year I used 12-23 but that was on a triple so I think a race cassttes probably the first thing to change

redddraggon

Whack on a 36 Chainring instead of the 34, and use a 11-23 cassette.

JC.152

I didn't know whether a 36 would fit but that seems a good idea if it does.

redddraggon

JC.152 wrote:

I didn't know whether a 36 would fit but that seems a good idea if it does.

Yeh, it will fit as long as it's a 110mm BCD chainring - not too hard to find (SJS cycles a good place to look). As well as getting better gearing for you, the shift between chainrings should be smoother.

JC.152

Cheers,
That way I can keep my 50 big ring which is better for juvenile gear restrictions as it gives me a 15 instead of a larger gear that you get with a 52 or 53.