Changing Chainrings

garysan
garysan Posts: 63
edited September 2010 in Road beginners
I've got a 53/39 double on my road bike (came with this fitted from new) but feel as though I'm not very often in the big ring and find the smaller ring doesn't allow me to have a high ish cadence on climbs. I was thinking about changing to a 50/34 (compact?) setup but didn't know whether I could simply have the rings themselves changed or if I needed to replace the whole chainset?

Many thanks, Gary.

Comments

  • nmcgann
    nmcgann Posts: 1,780
    New chainset required. 38T is the smallest inner ring on a Shimano standard double (39T on Campag).
    --
    "Because the cycling is pain. The cycling is soul crushing pain."
  • scapaslow
    scapaslow Posts: 305
    TA Specialities do various 130 bcd chainrings but the lowest outer ring is 46 and inner is 38T. Any lower than 38 and the chainring bolts get in the way. See Spa cycles for these.

    So 46/38 is your lowest option unless you change to a compact setup.

    Another possibility is changing cassette to one with bigger cogs. SRAM are now doing a 11-32 and shimano do ones up to 28. You may need a longer cage rear dérailleur for these. Longer chain as well.

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