Compact to Double gender reasignment surgery.

Aguila

oscarbudgie wrote:

Aguila wrote:

After much p*ss taking from mates at work about my "lady's" compact chainset I've just changed it to an ultegra double 53:39. !

What kind of place do you work where your mates even know the difference?

NHS hospital. Two of my colleagues are very serious roadies though, one of whom was on the fringes of national team selection a few years ago. In fact he fitted the new chainset for me, thanks Doug!

always_tyred

itboffin wrote:

I find the 50/34 pretty useless for most tasks in the UK an old school 52/42 would be better, still I struggle on spinning out on the 50 and spinning to death on the 34

It also depends how you ride. As I recall, you regard anything over about 70rpm as spinning. I regard anything less than about 75rpm as grinding.

I'd point out that a 50x11 is about the same ratio as a 53x12, which a number of pros seem to manage with.

There's almost nowhere in the UK that 42 as the inner wouldn't be overgeared. Cambridge, maybe, but even they have bridges.

cjcp

I'd like the 42 for the commute - just for the bit in Richmond Park.

biondino

itboffin wrote:

I find the 50/34 pretty useless for most tasks in the UK an old school 52/42 would be better, still I struggle on spinning out on the 50 and spinning to death on the 34

Does your willy hurt from waving it about so much?

always_tyred

biondino wrote:

itboffin wrote:

I find the 50/34 pretty useless for most tasks in the UK an old school 52/42 would be better, still I struggle on spinning out on the 50 and spinning to death on the 34

Does your willy hurt from waving it about so much?

No, but I bet he get's knee pain.

benno68

@CJCP - right, this Sunday I'll head for the A48 and see if I can hit the magical 50mph.

@Roger - where are these hills you're on about, sounds like a bit of a challenge.

prawny

_Brun_ wrote:

I've just ordered 50-34 for dealing with this upcoming Wales thing. Never ridden one before so it'll be interesting to see how I get on.

Not sure what I'll do after that, but was just looking at gear ratios and 50-36 with an 11-23 cassette looks pretty similar to my current 53-39 and 12-25. Anyone know what the advantages/disadvantages might be between the two?

I run 50/36 with a 12-25 cassette, not by choice it's what halfords think is a compact. It works ok but tbh the 36 is a bit undergeared if the road tips even remotely downhill, it's probably good for about 22mph for me (i'm no spinner) and I could do with a lower gear for really steep hills. My cassette is only 9sp too so I notice a hole regualry between 3rd and 4th smallest sprockets. I'd be happiest round by me with 50/34 12-25 10sp or 50/34 11-23 when I grow a pair.

roger_merriman

Benno68 wrote:

@CJCP - right, this Sunday I'll head for the A48 and see if I can hit the magical 50mph.

@Roger - where are these hills you're on about, sounds like a bit of a challenge.

around the abergavenny area you've got 3 mini alps climbs firstly is the climb up the side of the Blorange so from Govilon, then you've the climb from llangynidr and llangattock, all of which would allow 50mph+ though to llangattock, would be my weapon of chose as it's wider with better visablity.

for sharp and brutish from llangattock heading south on hillside road and taking the first right is fair brute, like wise taking the lanes (not the main road) up out of llangattock gets some silly grades.

steepest I know of is the Cuckoo/Rhiwr which is the road that runs from Clydach to llanelly hill, it is the steepest hill i've seen so far, though i'm sure there are others. In that with close on 500ft climb in half a mile or so it's around the 18% average mark.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8766162@N04/sets/72157621821288437/ for the set, though only the bottom half. this pic gets the gist.

biondino

Photos are useless. That looks flat!

always_tyred

biondino wrote:

Photos are useless. That looks flat!

Look again. Its so steep that the bin of salt has been dug into the hillside.

benno68

Thanks Roger, think I may take a quiet drive up to Abergavenny with my better half before jumping in with both feet!

I think cycling from Cardiff would be a little optimistic and would probably end in tears and a humble phone call asking for a a lift home.