Fred Whitton To Compact or Semi Compact with a 11-32

macondo01

Hi,

Just wondering whether to bother swapping on a 34 chainring instead of my existing 36 inner chainring. I have 11-32 on the back. I am doing the Fred next week and was thinking it would help Hard Knott etc.. I cant compare so was hoping someone might have experience of the two ie 34x32 and 36x32 - my strategy is to spin and save the legs a bit.

thanks

Andrew

smuttiesmith

3 RPM difference between the two at Hardknott speeds. Note that swapping the inner ring to a 34 will put most front mechs outside of their stated limit when paired with a 52.

sloppyschleckonds

Can your rear mech take a 34 or 36 cassette?

cgfw201

Won't make the difference to you getting up Hardknott or not. And as people say above, high chance it's non compatible anyway. 36-32 should be enough.

surfercyclist

E-bike.....

Midlands Grimpeur

It really won't make a difference as has been said, if you can't get up it with a 36-32 I doubt lower gearing will make a difference. Also, the likelihood of spinning up it is slim to none, you'll be grinding out the saddle most of the way, even with a small gear!

macondo01

Thanks for the responses. I’ll stick with the current set up. Job done - thank you!

davep1

Macondo01 wrote:

Thanks for the responses. I’ll stick with the current set up. Job done - thank you!

I tried it in 2016 with 52/36 and 11-32 and had to walk. If I was going back, I'd be trying anything to avoid walking so would try that compact. It might just be psychological but it could be enough...

Having said that, if it meant being stuck in the small ring all day, probably just admit defeat and walk up Hardknott when you have to.

macondo01

Yes there’s better riders than me in the club that have walked. Just have to duck with the photographers!

fenix

You're always glad of a lower gear. If you can do it - why not.

I've never heard anyone wish they had a higher bottom gear on a hill....

svetty

Depends on your FTP TBH - if you can output enough power to keep your cadence reasonable then you'll be fine.

homers_double

As above, at about 100 miles in you'll be glad of the walk, I certainly was.

And after that and Wrynose anyone who shouts "it's only 5 miles" is lying.

davep1

homers double wrote:

As above, at about 100 miles in you'll be glad of the walk, I certainly was.

And after that and Wrynose anyone who shouts "it's only 5 miles" is lying.

I didn't mind it after Wrynose. Mind you, I had a lie down in the heather between Hardknott and Wrynose! :oops:

macondo01

I think I need to remember to pack a sense of humour and some cleat covers jersey pockets

milemuncher1

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

thefd

Milemuncher1 wrote:

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

Compact too small for the downhill and flat bits?

The downhill bits are mainly technical steep descents - you won’t be looking to go full gas on those descents, yes you may spin out once or twice -but only for a milli second, and nothing that 36 is going to make a difference. I seriously doubt you will spin out on the flats with a 50X11...

surfercyclist

Milemuncher1 wrote:

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

This is from the "cyclist" who rides with a cadence of around 50(?). I've never ridden Hardknott and wouldn't want to, it looks hideous but if you think going compact be too small you are either a pro rider - I think we know the answer to that - or you are deluded. And we definitely know that answer.

benjamess

Milemuncher1 wrote:

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

Spoken by someone who’s never spent time on Lake District hills.

Plus I’m sure he has an average cadence above 40 so he will be fine.

fenix

Who's spinning out a top gear on descents like that ? You need gearing to get you up there. Gravity will sort out the descents for you.

cgfw201

Fenix wrote:

Who's spinning out a top gear on descents like that ? You need gearing to get you up there. Gravity will sort out the descents for you.

You'll run out of brake pads a lot faster than you'll run out of gears up there.

drlodge

You can never have a bottom gear that's too low, and that's a fact. 34x32 sounds like a good idea to me.

davebradswmb

DaveP1 wrote:

homers double wrote:

As above, at about 100 miles in you'll be glad of the walk, I certainly was.

And after that and Wrynose anyone who shouts "it's only 5 miles" is lying.

I didn't mind it after Wrynose. Mind you, I had a lie down in the heather between Hardknott and Wrynose! :oops:

We've got an extra hill after Wrynose this year, with a 25% gradient. My legs were like jelly after Wrynose last year, and that was after walking the top section of Hardknott, so I'm hoping I'm a bit stronger this year.

darkhairedlord

Take some cleat covers

milemuncher1

Milemuncher1 wrote:

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

SurferCyclist wrote:

This is from the "cyclist" who rides with a cadence of around 50(?).

I’d never call myself a “cyclist”, “cyclist” conjures up images of a whiny, adenoidal, deluded, self important, tw@. >shudder<

I rarely ride with a compact, I’ve only got one bike with a compact, and I’ve never used it for an event. A standard ( 53-39) with an 11-28 has done me for the Ride London, and the Velo Birmingham. I’ve had a look at the lumpy bits of the Ride London with a bike using a Semi compact, and an 11-30 11 speed cassette, and that nearly ended badly, when I got more ‘spin’ than I was expecting / used to, on a fast decent. I’m going to try a Standard with 11-32 on the Isle of Wight Randonee, on Sunday, to see if that’s a better compromise.

milemuncher1

Milemuncher1 wrote:

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

benjamess wrote:

Spoken by someone who’s never spent time on Lake District hills.

Who told you that? I have, quite a few times.

benjamess wrote:

Plus I’m sure he has an average cadence above 40 so he will be fine.

Oh look another one with no concept of how power, torque and cadence work .

I’m sure you’re a pro, and you can develop your peak power at 90 rpm + without ending up in a heap ( I really really doubt it). I develop my peak power at much lower cadence, so as to keep my heart rate down, I know you have no concept of how these things work, never mind eh.

surfercyclist

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Milemuncher1 wrote:

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

SurferCyclist wrote:

This is from the "cyclist" who rides with a cadence of around 50(?).

I’d never call myself a “cyclist”, “cyclist” conjures up images of a whiny, adenoidal, deluded, self important, tw@. >shudder<

I rarely ride with a compact, I’ve only got one bike with a compact, and I’ve never used it for an event. A standard ( 53-39) with an 11-28 has done me for the Ride London, and the Velo Birmingham. I’ve had a look at the lumpy bits of the Ride London with a bike using a Seni compact, and an 11-30 11 speed cassette, and that nearly ended badly, when I got more ‘spin’ than I was expecting / used to, on a fast decent. I’m going to try a Standard with 11-32 on the Isle of Wight Randonee, on Sunday, to see if that’s a better compromise.

Well with all due respect, Ride London and Velo Birmingham are a different league to the Fred Whitton (not that I have done it and cannot ever see me doing it).

Brakeless

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Milemuncher1 wrote:

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

benjamess wrote:

Spoken by someone who’s never spent time on Lake District hills.

Who told you that? I have, quite a few times.

benjamess wrote:

Plus I’m sure he has an average cadence above 40 so he will be fine.

Oh look another one with no concept of how power, torque and cadence work .

I’m sure you’re a pro, and you can develop your peak power at 90 rpm + without ending up in a heap ( I really really doubt it). I develop my peak power at much lower cadence, so as to keep my heart rate down, I know you have no concept of how these things work, never mind eh.

Give us the figures then, Your Heart rate at 'peak power' and the cadence it's acheived at.

benjamess

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Milemuncher1 wrote:

If it was me, with an 11-32 cassette, given a choice of semi or compact, I’d go for a semi compact (52-36 ) Chainset , the compact (50-34 ) would be too small for the downhill and flat bits. A Standard Chainset (53-39) would make the steep bits more of a chore, than they need to be as well.

benjamess wrote:

Spoken by someone who’s never spent time on Lake District hills.

Who told you that? I have, quite a few times.

benjamess wrote:

Plus I’m sure he has an average cadence above 40 so he will be fine.

Oh look another one with no concept of how power, torque and cadence work .

I’m sure you’re a pro, and you can develop your peak power at 90 rpm + without ending up in a heap ( I really really doubt it). I develop my peak power at much lower cadence, so as to keep my heart rate down, I know you have no concept of how these things work, never mind eh.

If you aren’t in a heap when reaching peak power then I suggest you aren’t hitting your peak power

davep1

Troll alert...

cougie

Milemuncher1 wrote:

I’d never call myself a “cyclist”, “cyclist” conjures up images of a whiny, adenoidal, deluded, self important, tw@. >shudder<

Way to win friends and influence people dude

savethemamil

52/34 works fine on my bike with ultegra di2 (32 on the back ).