53x39 or 50x34?
  • rustyrusty February 8

    I've mostly ridden with a compact chainset and when I was in France I definitely thought that it was making a big difference. I then used a 53x39 chainset when in Mallorca cycling almost exclusively up mountains and I noticed that it wasn't so much what my lowest gear was, just that I was using it, that made the difference. It's a similar feeling to when I increased my gear on my fixed-gear. I don't feel like I'm putting in more effort or spinning slower. I just go a little bit faster.

    So what does everyone run on their geared bikes then?

    Also, does anyone know if it's possible to get 110 BCD 53x39 chainrings? I've had a look but haven't been able to find anything. I'm not really interested in getting a new chainset as I'm wanting to upgrade relatively soon anyway.

  • JoshvegasJoshvegas February 8

    what chainset are you running just now?

  • rustyrusty February 8

    [quote][cite] Joshvegas:[/cite]what chainset are you running just now?
    A Shimano 105 compact with 50x34 rings.

  • euaneuan February 8

    I think it depends on what you run at the rear. I think my rear cassette might be 23-11, and you will only find the big sprinters ever running in 53x11

  • JoshvegasJoshvegas February 8

    FSA do a 52 and a 38 then as y0u say it jumps up to 130bcd as far as i can see

  • rustyrusty February 8

    [quote][cite] euan:[/cite]I think it depends on what you run at the rear. I think my rear cassette might be 23-11, and you will only find the big sprinters ever running in 53x11
    Yeah I'm 12-27 on the back.

  • euaneuan February 8

    Stronglight do 110BCD chainrings in 33-42T inner and 48-52T outer. The CT2 rings are regarded to be as good as DA chainrings as you can get for shifting but a wee bit lighter.

    (I seem to be recommending Stronglight a lot tonight)

  • rustyrusty February 8

    I was holding a ceramic stronglight cassette on Friday. It was insanely light.

  • grantus February 9

    I've just swapped a 50/34 on my road bike for a 53/39 but I run a 11-28 on the back and never used 34/28 so 39/28 will basically give me the same as 34/24 which was my ususal steep climbing or bail out gear.

    I swapped not so much for the 53 ring but to get a 39 as most of my cycling is done in the small ring

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