A ratio to make my life easier...

jmz-x

I've just bought a new bike (2nd hand) and its come with a Dura Ace 53/39 on the front and 11-28 on the back. I went to the lake district over Easter and although I got up the bigs climbs (Honister Pass et al) I was 'A' - well behind the others who had compacts and 'B' - shattered by the top too! The plan is to use the bike for Ironman France in June so I'm wanting to make my riding as easy and energy conserving as possible as opposed to fast, so now wanting to get a compact.

My question is will getting a compact set up (50 /34) still work effectively with the rear cogs i have (11,12,13,14,15,17,19,24,28) or do I need to replace them too? I've got a feeling being in 34 - 28 will be too easy and as such pointless!

Ideally I'll revert back to the standard set up post IM race hence wanting to keep spending down by just having to buy the crankset, prob a FSA or 105 at that!

cheers!

jibberjim

Why given that your ride companions are faster and less tired than you with their compacts would you not want to switch to a compact permanently?

34 - 28 is a very viable gear.

jcondylis01

compact will be fine and you'll thank yourself for switching.

Cleat Eastwood

your 39/28 is about the same as a 34/24 , so the 28 would deffo be your bail out gear - and as said above you'll welcome it at times with open arms.

jmz-x

ah all sounding good then. Was worried after reading problems with chain length, chain crossing and clunky gears with some crank and cassette set ups. but if I can just replace the crank then happy days. Suppose I can adapt the cassette if things get too easy.

@jibberjim reason I was going to go back to the standard afterward was on the flats and downhills I was smashing the guys I was with which made up for loosing out on the hills! however I may get swayed....never know!

Mikey23

I think that unless you are a whippet racer, 50/34 11/28 is the way to go

Grill

There's nothing in the Ironman Nice profile that suggests you'll need anything lower than a 39/28. You will need the 53/11 though...

drlodge

I've got 34/50 with 11sp 12-27...use the lowest gear quite often and glad of it.

I don't understand those who say they "need" a 53/11 top gear, I hardly out pedal my 50/12 and only on long, steep decents when its not worth pedelling anyway...just tuck in and coast approaching 40mph.

As for having a low gear, I don't think you can have a gear that is too low. Even a 1:1 gear at 90 rpm cadence is still moving you.

Grill

Just did a week in Majorca with a compact and 11-28. Spent 20% of my time in 50/11 wishing I had swapped for my standard chainset and the lowest gear I used all week was 34/21 (end of Sa Calobra). The guys in 53/12 were wishing for that 11 sprocket as well...