Compact road 32/48 is it possible?

gbr236
gbr236 Posts: 393
edited August 2011 in Workshop
I see in pictures that some of the pros in the tour using 34t rear sprockets (SRAM) Iam now wondering if my campag compact 34 - 29 will be low enough for a trip to the Pyrenees.
Does anyone make a road chain set with small enough BCD to allow say a 32 up front?
Thanks

Comments

  • Berk Bonebonce
    Berk Bonebonce Posts: 1,245
    The smallest ring you can fit on a 110BCD chainset is a 34. Pyrenean climbs tend to be long and more gradual than you might think, and if you cannot get up them using a 34x29 well then I would question the logic of going. I am old and unfit but can get up a 25% hill with 30" and this equates to 34x29.

    If you want a smaller chainring than 34 you have to really think in terms of triple. (I use a Stronglight Impact Triple with 26/34/42 rings, and this is 110/74BCD).
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    FWIW you can't fit a chainring smaller than 33 on a regular compact chainset because the pitch-circle diameter of the mounting screws. However, there's the Stronglight Oxale which is an MTB double chainset which has 44/29 chainrings - try Spa Cycles
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    what MD said

    Smallest ring on compact is 33

    If you want less than this then TA do a variety of spiders for the Carmina/Vega arms, and you can fit a 4-bolt MTB spider (double) which will go down to 32t

    34 ring and a 11-32 cassette will be fine for Pyrenees.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • thecm
    thecm Posts: 71
    Managed the 'Raid' (well a variant) on a 34x27 but then I live in the Lakes so used to the hills. As another poster said the Pyrennean climbs tend to be longer and a bit less steep though there are some - Marie-Blanque with K's at an average of 10%. Also depends on whether you want to beast your knees and the weight of your ride (you and the bike). I have put a 50/34 and a 11-32 PG1070 set up on my new Canyon...but then I want to be able to ride up Hardknott on the Whitton.

Categories