Gearing - Do I need a compact

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motdoc
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by motdoc

I live in Devon and there a quite a few 20% climbs my way that I love a compact for. A lot of the south of England is not flat.

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Kjetil
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by Kjetil

ultimobici wrote:
dunbar42 wrote:
ultimobici wrote:As for the mythical 16 tooth sprocket, if you're running a compact it's irrelevant. It only matters with a 42 or 39.


It's completely relevant when you're on the big ring.
Not if you're using a 50.
oh? Even loosing the 18 on flattish terrain is bad enough with a 50.

Our mileages seem to vary
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ultimobici
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by ultimobici

Kjetil wrote:oh? Even loosing the 18 on flattish terrain is bad enough with a 50.
I suppose I'm lucky having the option of 11-23, 11-25, 11-27 & 11-29 to choose from. Funnily enough I was riding very flat terrain yesterday from Rome to the coast. Didn't miss the 16 or 18 at all!

Our mileages seem to vary
Not sure I follow?


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bigfatty
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by bigfatty

boots2000 wrote:You never mentioned what the effort level is when you are climbing the 7% ace climb at 70 rpm?
Do you ever want a gear that allows you to climb at an easier effort?
Many think climbing is hard because they have never done a climb at an effort that is not hard for them.


With this test I was at 85% of MHR for the duration of an hour. That is good, didn't feel I was going to blow at any time but was pleased I was pushing a good gear, cadence, speed. I have done this same climb slower at easier pace in the 25t but standing up a lot, this was between zone 2 & zone 3 HR, but slower than I like.

I think it is fair to say I can get away with a 27t cassette.

I assume Chorus 11-27 runs:
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27

I would be missing the final 28th tooth from Shimano or Sram but I think I can live with that. Besides, I like the even ramping of sprockets.

dogg
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by dogg

there is also a 12-27 if you want a tiny bit closer ratios

wingguy
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by wingguy

motdoc wrote:I live in Devon and there a quite a few 20% climbs my way that I love a compact for. A lot of the south of England is not flat.


I was just thinking the same thing. Box hill isn't in the same league of steepness as any number of climbs in my part of the south of england.

rowdysluggins
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by rowdysluggins

Just ride a fixed gear for the off season and you won't miss the gaps. :D

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ultimobici
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by ultimobici

rowdysluggins wrote:Just ride a fixed gear for the off season and you won't miss the gaps. :D
Good point. Many newer riders, as well as more experienced ones, have sub par pedalling techniques. I spent several months riding to work 25km each way predominantly on fixed. When I went on holiday to Italy's lakes I found I was much better on the climbs. Part was just general fitness but much was due to being conditioned to pedalling smoothly.


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ayrej2
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by ayrej2

Only thing I might add to this debate is that your position on the bike might also affect your preferred cadance (when seated anyway).

I have always been a high cadence type of rider. I've got plenty of 150km rides with the averages at 90rpm, and typically when I'm working around threshold I'd be at 100-110 for long stretches at a time.... until I changed my position on the bike.

By increasing setback my preferred cadence has dropped by about 5-10rpm. I'm not faster or slower because of it.. just different as I'm using the muscle groups a little differently.

davidalone
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by davidalone

I've been able to hit and sustain speeds of 50 kph while motorpacing on a 50-36 12-25 setup. don't think compact stops you from riding fast, you just have to spin 'a little bit' more.

anyway I think being able to spin fast, effeciently is a huge advantage. the faster you can spin in a given gear, the faster you can go.

sawyer
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by sawyer

For decent riders this is a personal preference issue - the range of styles in the pro peloton underlines this.

I am a slower cadence rider though use a compact ... only using the inner ring on steep or very long climbs.

Upside of that is staying in the 50 so few front shifts, at the cost of some cross chaining.

I do see people overgearomg who end up twiddling their way up climbs in a tiny gear as it's what they've been told to do by the dogma, but they can't raise their cadence to ascend quickly.
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sawyer
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by sawyer

wingguy wrote:
motdoc wrote:I live in Devon and there a quite a few 20% climbs my way that I love a compact for. A lot of the south of England is not flat.


I was just thinking the same thing. Box hill isn't in the same league of steepness as any number of climbs in my part of the south of england.


One of the amusing views I come across is cyclists based elsehwere in the UK thinking Box Hill (Olympics, Surrey Classic etc. etc.) is "the south east's climb" ... it's one of the easiest climbs in the Surrey Hills, in which there are climbs over 20% grad. It's famous for being famous (and the cafe) rather than because it's hard.

There is nothing like the Lake District, but in general the climbs compare with say those in the South West.
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