Weight Weenies

Hi WW,
The bike that I would like to try this combination on it has an 11-28t cassette, Ultegra short cage derailleur, 52/36 chainrings.
For special occasions, I was wondering if for special occasions I can switch my 105 long cage (maybe medium?) derailleur and 11-32 cassette off another bike and buy a 34t chainring resulting in an end combination of 52/34 and 11-32t.
Would this work? I do understand that there is a theoretical 16t gap in the Ultegra front deraileur.
Thanks

A standard crank has as you know 53/39 = 14t size difference. Advantage is smooth shifting between the chainrings.

A compact has 50/34 = 16t difference and is comparatively a little bit more trouble to shift smoothly.

You wish to try 52/34 = 18t difference.

If you don't mind the shifts to potentially be a bit troublesome then I think you can do it.

Certainly I don't think anyone would race on something like that and most riders wouldnt want to deal with the tricky shifting/noise/dropped chains it would potentially introduce. But if not for racing then I say why not..

/a

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Fwiw, I ran 52-34 on 7870 DA (using a 9000 crank) for a couple years with no shifting issues nor any chain drops (or at least none that I remember). I'd still run it if it were offered on Cannondale spiderings.

I have seen it done too..

I've done it, and it shift well.
Praxis 52 outer and Sram 34t inner with Shimano Dura-ace Front derailleur and Sram Red22 Left shifter.
I can make this combo with very well, on 11-28 cassette.
34 can be use with 28-16 without chain rub. 15t is usable but occasionally rub. 14t and smaller get consistence rubbing. This limitation come from Sram's shifter has no Trim and Dura-ace Shifter has no Yaw. Not from 52-34 itself.
52 can be use with all of them. No rubbing.
I stop doing it as i don't find i need 52 at all right now.High cadence and 50-11 is enough for me currently. I might change my mind if i ever think i need extra 4% harder gear up top.

Agreed, you only need 50 if you have steeper hills you need to bomb down.

I converted 2 bikes to a 46 big ring now which is plenty fast at the top end but lets me avoid the shift to the small ring for longer.

Note that 46/11 is faster than 53/13 which was the longest gear available for Merckx, and I am not faster than he was...

I got this chainring combo, it works well with no shifting issue and with a 11/29 cassette it gives a lot of useful gears for several different conditions, from 52/11 for fast descents to 34/29 for >18% climbs

Wickwerks makes a matched wide range set if you are thinking of doing this. It should shift slightly better than just throwing any 52/34 on due to the ramps being designed for it.

Marin wrote:I converted 2 bikes to a 46 big ring

Does that mean you're running 46-34 at the front?
Which groupset is that on?

I also rarely use the 50 and would like to have a more useful big ring.

First post nailed it.

I'd be more interested in a 50/36 but I don't know if that's weird or not.

I've FSA 52x34 combination. Works perfect with 12x28 and 12x27 cassettes.

anyone tried with 52T QXL to 34T QRings?

I've been running 52/34 on Campy SR EPS since the new cranks came out...almost 2yrs now. Shifting is seamless, no dropped chain/noise. That's w/11/25 but cassette ratio shouldn't make any diff. Thx

JScycle wrote:Hi WW,
The bike that I would like to try this combination on it has an 11-28t cassette, Ultegra short cage derailleur, 52/36 chainrings.
For special occasions, I was wondering if for special occasions I can switch my 105 long cage (maybe medium?) derailleur and 11-32 cassette off another bike and buy a 34t chainring resulting in an end combination of 52/34 and 11-32t.
Would this work? I do understand that there is a theoretical 16t gap in the Ultegra front deraileur.
Thanks

sib wrote:

Marin wrote:I converted 2 bikes to a 46 big ring

Does that mean you're running 46-34 at the front?
Which groupset is that on?

I also rarely use the 50 and would like to have a more useful big ring.

This is on a Sram Red group, but I also ran a Shimano Ultegra 6800 with a 46 big ring previously.

I'm using a TA Syrius 46t 11s ring currently, and shifting is great.

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addictR1 wrote:anyone tried with 52T QXL to 34T QRings?

a similir question here. 52T Ultegra with 34 Q-Rotor. Is that works?. since I only need ovality uphills. ?