Moving up - compact 50/34 to 53/39

Simontheintrepid
Posts: 128
Hi Internet
On account of being a good boy and doing all my hills, I would like to reward myself by moving from the FSA compact 50/34 on my Via Nirone to something a bit bigger. I really just want some quick advice about compatibility and thanks in advance. I'm not sure what particular 'model' they are, if there is such a thing with chainrings, but the crankarms are FSA Vero if that helps.
1 - If I stick a 53t on the big ring, would it also be prudent to replace the small one with a 39t or does it not really matter.
2 - If I just change the big ring, I assume I can literally take it off and slap the new one on without changing anything else? Do I have many options or would I need to get an FSA replacement like one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fsa-super-road-chainring/? Are they generally interchangeable? If so what would people recommend?
Appreciate any advice, Thanks
Si
On account of being a good boy and doing all my hills, I would like to reward myself by moving from the FSA compact 50/34 on my Via Nirone to something a bit bigger. I really just want some quick advice about compatibility and thanks in advance. I'm not sure what particular 'model' they are, if there is such a thing with chainrings, but the crankarms are FSA Vero if that helps.
1 - If I stick a 53t on the big ring, would it also be prudent to replace the small one with a 39t or does it not really matter.
2 - If I just change the big ring, I assume I can literally take it off and slap the new one on without changing anything else? Do I have many options or would I need to get an FSA replacement like one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fsa-super-road-chainring/? Are they generally interchangeable? If so what would people recommend?
Appreciate any advice, Thanks
Si
0
Comments
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I believe the max diff on front rings is 16 teeth (thats for shimano anyway) so upping to 53 will also require upping your small front ring too. I guess you also have to adjust your front mech for clearance etc...Condor World Series 2012
Boardman Team 20110 -
That's a co-incidence (for me) I have a Via Nirone as well for my training bike and considered doing the same thing. In the end, I bought a new crankset. If you do buy new rings, make sure the holes will line up, I assume that your FSA chainset is BCD 110 (most compacts are). Bigger rings are typically BCD 130 for FSA / Shimano, although I notice that there are a couple of 53s with a 110 BCD on that Wiggle link, just make sure you get the right one. It may be a better option to buy a new crankset though - the FSA one on my Bianchi was entry level to say the least, so I upgraded it (to an Ultegra SL, I got a cheap deal).
I think the real question is whether you need / want a bigger set of gears - if you live in an averagely hilly area, not an issue I guess, just go for it. Worst case, you can always fit a 27 casette - I raced Milland Hill the other week on a 27 with no issues"And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
- eccolafilosofiadelpedale0 -
Why not fit a cassette with an 11 sprocket? With a 50 tooth chainring, it gives a higher gear than 53 x 12. Many people assume they need a bigger gearing when in fact then need to learn to pedal faster. I actually prefer racing on a 50 chainring, means I never have to change down from the big ring for the duration - good enough for 60 kph plus on the flat so unless your name is Cavendish, it should be good enough.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Monty Dog wrote:Why not fit a cassette with an 11 sprocket? With a 50 tooth chainring, it gives a higher gear than 53 x 12. Many people assume they need a bigger gearing when in fact then need to learn to pedal faster. I actually prefer racing on a 50 chainring, means I never have to change down from the big ring for the duration - good enough for 60 kph plus on the flat so unless your name is Cavendish, it should be good enough.
This is exactly what I was thinking0 -
Well, you do get a more manageable gap between rings with a double rather than a compact, although I appreciate that's not the objective stated in the OP.
If you go to 53 on the big ring without going to 39 or 40 on the small ring you will have too big a gap between rings for the derailleur to handle (or, it might do it but it will be a crappy shift and a massive gap at the back, if you catch my drift). If you want to try the double, then why not, nothing ventured nothing gained as they say! Personally I've just started using a compact after a lifetime of triples (which, let's face it, are basically doubles with a bail-out option) and I hate it.- - - - - - - - - -
On Strava.{/url}0 -
Thanks everyone for your responses. First of all, whether I NEED higher gearing is pretty debatable, I'm certainly not a Cav but I tend to spin in a high gear and feel I lack a little bit on the downhills and very occasionally on the flat. Basically there are people in the group I go out with that have 53/39 chainrings and they are more noticeably faster than me at the top end.
I'm trying to do this pretty economically, hence hoping I could get away with just changing the big ring, but thinking about it and reading the responses here, an 11t rear cassette probably makes more sense for now and would I'm sure match my ability for quite some time so will look into that.
McLarent - thanks for pointing out the BCD sizes, it's the sort of thing I would have overlooked which is why I posted here!
Si0 -
:oops: big chainrings= big legs, do you think you've got the engine for it? I tried to ride my son-in laws bike& that c/ring was mighty hard work. Mind you I always was a twiddler at heart & was never comfortable pushing a big gear.0