Pro compact 52x36

pinno

bendertherobot wrote:

I've gone down to a compact because a) I am pathetic and b) the Spider like rings for the Cannondale Si were only available cheaply in 50 / 34

So, basically, set of FSA pro compact rings in the classifieds if anyone hard wants them.

Great plug - well done that man.

Matthewfalle

I'm personally not that bike fit anymore but still spin out down any mid size hill running a 50/11 and end up riding everywhere in the big ring on a normal compact so can't really see the point of them for the majority of us (granted if you live in the Dales, the Highlands or somewhere similar I can roughly see a point) but using the 52/whatever in the Abruzzo has never caused a problem (12/25 on the back).

Or perhaps it's just me.

Matthewfalle

As an aside, why would anyone call it a "pro compact" anyway?

londoncommuter

Matthewfalle wrote:

... and end up riding everywhere in the big ring on a normal compact so can't really see the point of them for the majority of us

I generally grind it out on shallow hills on a 50 so wondered if a 52/36 would force me to use my gears "better" i.e. drop to the 36 more. If you can get away without having to change down then maybe it's not that bad though and you shouldn't shift for the sake of it?

milemuncher1

Imposter wrote:

drlodge wrote:

If changing from 39x53 to give yourself a lower gear ratio, I'd go the whole hog and get a compact 34x50. Your knees will thank you in later life.

How much later? I spent the late 80s, 90s and a lot of the 2000s racing on 42/52 and in 2016 my knees are still fine. If cyclists get knee problems, I suspect the real reasons are usually more to do with either something congenital or otherwise unrelated to cycling.

At last, a sensible response to the 'high gearing always destroys your knees' brigade 8)

milemuncher1

Matthewfalle wrote:

As an aside, why would anyone call it a "pro compact" anyway?

That's easy, it's because you have to be a pro to even consider using such an awesome chainset.

Matthewfalle

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

As an aside, why would anyone call it a "pro compact" anyway?

That's easy, it's because you have to be a pro to even consider using such an awesome chainset.

And not because you have no money/are a cheap skate then?


Coooooooolio.

paul2718

londoncommuter wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

... and end up riding everywhere in the big ring on a normal compact so can't really see the point of them for the majority of us

I generally grind it out on shallow hills on a 50 so wondered if a 52/36 would force me to use my gears "better" i.e. drop to the 36 more. If you can get away without having to change down then maybe it's not that bad though and you shouldn't shift for the sake of it?

I think you're a 53/39 candidate.

Paul

jdee84

I've recently switched to a new bike with 52/36, my other bike is 50/34. I've had a drop of between 1 and 2 mph in average speed of my usual routes could the change in chainset have this great an effect?

bigmat

jdee84 wrote:

I've recently switched to a new bike with 52/36, my other bike is 50/34. I've had a drop of between 1 and 2 mph in average speed of my usual routes could the change in chainset have this great an effect?

No. I would look at tyres / tyre pressure, then position on bike (are you more upright / less aero?), then wheels. Apart from extreme upper and lower gears you should be able to find the same gears as usual.

jdee84

BigMat wrote:

jdee84 wrote:

I've recently switched to a new bike with 52/36, my other bike is 50/34. I've had a drop of between 1 and 2 mph in average speed of my usual routes could the change in chainset have this great an effect?

No. I would look at tyres / tyre pressure, then position on bike (are you more upright / less aero?), then wheels. Apart from extreme upper and lower gears you should be able to find the same gears as usual.

Thanks for the reply. The wheel/tyre combo was dt swiss r1900 and conti grand sport, heavy wheels with 30mm rim and on the new bike its a set of ksyriums with the yksion elite tyres. Tyre pressures are about the same, and position maybe isn't far off although I'm getting a bike fit done on the new one soon.

bigmat

Of course it could also be different weather conditions, riding solo instead of in a group, being more / less tired etc. A lot of variables can effect average speed other than the bike.

drlodge

jdee84 wrote:

I've recently switched to a new bike with 52/36, my other bike is 50/34. I've had a drop of between 1 and 2 mph in average speed of my usual routes could the change in chainset have this great an effect?

Unless most of the route was going up a hill that required your lowest gear, no.

pinno

jdee84 wrote:

I've recently switched to a new bike with 52/36, my other bike is 50/34. I've had a drop of between 1 and 2 mph in average speed of my usual routes could the change in chainset have this great an effect?

Do not expect a straight, unequivocal answer.

cyberknight

drlodge wrote:

If changing from 39x53 to give yourself a lower gear ratio, I'd go the whole hog and get a compact 34x50. Your knees will thank you in later life.

I ride a 50/36 as i find the jump down to a 34 leaves me spinning away , with an 11-28 i can get up pretty much anything .

pinno

I have a 34/50 and I could do with a 36 inner instead. The 34 can sit on the shelf until the Marmotte.

sebbyp

Matthewfalle wrote:

I'm personally not that bike fit anymore but still spin out down any mid size hill running a 50/11 and end up riding everywhere in the big ring on a normal compact so can't really see the point of them for the majority of us (granted if you live in the Dales, the Highlands or somewhere similar I can roughly see a point) but using the 52/whatever in the Abruzzo has never caused a problem (12/25 on the back).

Or perhaps it's just me.

Probaby is just you, 130rpm in 50/11 is not exactly slow is it! you'll spin out quicker on 52/12!

briantrumpet

Pinno wrote:

I have a 34/50 and I could do with a 36 inner instead. The 34 can sit on the shelf until the Marmotte.

Have you thought about keeping the 34 and moving somewhere where it would be more useful than a 36?

darkhairedlord

Pinno wrote:

I have a 34/50 and I could do with a 36 inner instead. The 34 can sit on the shelf with the Marmite.

ftfy

pinno

briantrumpet wrote:

Pinno wrote:

I have a 34/50 and I could do with a 36 inner instead. The 34 can sit on the shelf until the Marmotte.

Have you thought about keeping the 34 and moving somewhere where it would be more useful than a 36?

That's an idea. Although I already live in a hilly area - perhaps the Alps.

darkhairedlord wrote:

Pinno wrote:

I have a 34/50 and I could do with a 36 inner instead. The 34 can sit on the shelf with the Haribo.

ftfy

Marmite - eugh.

bompington

Pinno wrote:

jdee84 wrote:

I've recently switched to a new bike with 52/36, my other bike is 50/34. I've had a drop of between 1 and 2 mph in average speed of my usual routes could the change in chainset have this great an effect?

Do not expect a straight, unequivocal answer.

Or then again, maybe you should expect a straight, unequivocal answer

briantrumpet

Pinno wrote:

Although I already live in a hilly area - perhaps the Alps.

Surely you'd know if you lived in the Alps? Wouldn't the commute to work take quite a long time, for starters??

pinno

briantrumpet wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Although I already live in a hilly area - perhaps the Alps.

Surely you'd know if you lived in the Alps? Wouldn't the commute to work take quite a long time, for starters??

Funny. :roll: I was implying that I should move to the Alps. I dunno how I would get that past the OH.

briantrumpet

Pinno wrote:

I was implying that I should move to the Alps. I dunno how I would get that past the OH.

"I won't need to buy one of those really expensive 36 thingies for the bike - think of it as a saving, really!"

I think that should do it.

pinno

briantrumpet wrote:

Pinno wrote:

I was implying that I should move to the Alps. I dunno how I would get that past the OH.

"I won't need to buy one of those really expensive 36 thingies for the bike - think of it as a saving of £40 quid off that cheap Italian Col... Coln, hmm, I forget, 'cause my old bikes are worn out and dangerous and if the frame is wonky, the brakes are wonky and if I go down all those hills, i'll need good brakes. They serve great coffee and cake in Aix Les Bains...

A little bit of editing, a lot of dreaming.

briantrumpet

Pinno wrote:

briantrumpet wrote:

Pinno wrote:

I was implying that I should move to the Alps. I dunno how I would get that past the OH.

"I won't need to buy one of those really expensive 36 thingies for the bike - think of it as a saving of £40 quid off that cheap Italian Col... Coln, hmm, I forget, 'cause my old bikes are worn out and dangerous and if the frame is wonky, the brakes are wonky and if I go down all those hills, i'll need good brakes. They serve great coffee and cake in Aix Les Bains...

A little bit of editing, a lot of dreaming.

""I won't need to buy one of those really expensive 36 thingies for the bike - think of it as a saving of £40 quid off that cheap Italian Col... Coln, hmm, I forget, 'cause my old bikes are worn out and dangerous and if the frame is wonky, the brakes are wonky and if I go down all those hills, i'll need good brakes, or i'll crash and die, and you'll collect the life insurance, and... er..."

REDUTOPIA

between 50/34 - 52/36 - 53/39, I think maybe the 52/36 can to be a good middle.

darkhairedlord

51-37 would give similar clean shifting between the chain rings as a 52-39 while retaking usability of the big ring on moderate inclines.

pinno

darkhairedlord wrote:

51-37 would give similar clean shifting between the chain rings as a 52-39 while retaking usability of the big ring on moderate inclines.

Just give it 20 years and you'll want a 48-28. That's my next step

REDUTOPIA

darkhairedlord wrote:

51-37 would give similar clean shifting between the chain rings as a 52-39 while retaking usability of the big ring on moderate inclines.

you might be right though rarely I saw use this