Double Chainset...

jame58rown
jame58rown Posts: 263
edited August 2011 in Road beginners
I was just wondering how many teeth are on the inner ring of a 'double' chainset.

I know compacts are 50/34 but is a double a 52/42 or a 52/39?

Comments

  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,348
    edited August 2011
    53/39 is probably most common as a standard double
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • Pseudonym
    Pseudonym Posts: 1,032
    can be either
  • rothers_bikeo
    rothers_bikeo Posts: 225
    53/39 is a "proper" road double, 52/39 very common as well.
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    52/42 is just a bit dated. It used to be the common ratio along with fewer gears on the back. Used to be bit harder work this cycling lark.
  • night_porter
    night_porter Posts: 888
    I run a bike with 53/42 so only easier for some!

    I like the closer ratios it gives and having to power up hills makes me feel like I am really trying. Plus I never use the lowest gears on my compact geared bike anyway.

    By the way that is not me being macho as I am 55 yrs old and weigh in at 92kgs but having lost 30kgs in the last 9 months riding my bike just gets easier and quicker so I like to push as hard as I can. I am hoping to get the weight down further but it is quite a struggle now.

    It really is a matter of choice!
  • merak
    merak Posts: 323
    I ride 52/39. 53 is just unnecessarily tall for someone who isn't a pro. IMHO.
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    night_porter wrote:
    I run a bike with 53/42 so only easier for some!
    I'd still suggest it's probably easier for you also with a modern rear cassette. The old 5 and 6 speed freewheels typically had fairly small gears by todays standards. My steel raleigh runs 42/52 with a straight 13/18 on the back giving a lowest gear of 42/18. Not trying to be macho, I'm glad we don't ride gears like that anymore but just clarifying.
    Well done on the weight loss. That's some serious movement there.
  • gavbarron
    gavbarron Posts: 824
    merak wrote:
    I ride 52/39. 53 is just unnecessarily tall for someone who isn't a pro. IMHO.

    Depends on where/what/how you ride, and what's on the back. I've got a club mate who is 53 on the front with 12-23 on the back (although when he puts the hammer down everyone is hanging on for dear life)
    I ride 53 on my road bike and 54 on my TT bike, but then I will admit I only ever run out of gears on a long fast decent
  • merak
    merak Posts: 323
    Yes agreed. It's just that when I spin out 52/12 it's invariably down a hill which I can get down quicker if I stop pedalling and get into an aero tuck. I would very rarely actually push a 53 or 54 - 12

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