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53/39 or 52/36 crankset

  • 03-10-2015 11:13pm
    #1
    Amprodude
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,034 ✭✭✭


    Hi there just wondering would I get away with a 52/36 chainring for racing? Changed to 53/39 this year and I haven't been happy with it, I thought myself I went a lot better in a 52/36. I'm getting a new bike in November and I want to know should I switch back to 52/36?


    What combo do you racers have for racing in Ireland? I'm afraid on flat straights, I could spin out with a 52/36 so I just don't know what to do now. Perhaps I could put a 30/12 cassette on the back with the 53/39?


Comments

  • #2
    Plastik
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,986 ✭✭✭Plastik


    You're afraid of spinning out a 52/11 on the flat?

    Work on your cadence. If you can spin that gear on the flat at 130 you'll be doing 77kph. When was the last time you did that speed in a race?


  • #3
    StevieGriff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 859 ✭✭✭StevieGriff


    Plastik wrote: »
    You're afraid of spinning out a 52/11 on the flat?

    Work on your cadence. If you can spin that gear on the flat at 130 you'll be doing 77kph. When was the last time you did that speed in a race?
    This.
    You've kinda answered your own question as you sound like you prefer the super compact.


  • #4
    Amprodude
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,034 ✭✭✭Amprodude


    Hit 77km/h twice this year. Des Hanlon in Carlow and Charleville 2day this year.

    What be the difference between a 53/39 crankset 28/11 cassette/ and 53/39 crankset 30/12cassette? Huge difference? Or nothing worth noting?


  • #5
    Plastik
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,986 ✭✭✭Plastik


    Amprodude wrote: »
    Hit 77km/h twice this year. Des Hanlon in Carlow and Charleville 2day this year.

    On a flat straight? I doubt it.


  • #6
    Amprodude
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,034 ✭✭✭Amprodude


    StevieGriff wrote: »
    This.
    You've kinda answered your own question as you sound like you prefer the super compact.

    I don't know if I imagined this or not but I thought I used to climb a lot better on a 52/36, but changed to 53/39 this year as I was advised by a club mate racer of mine. Find it that bit harder this year and I'm a lot fitter than last year and lighter too.


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  • #7
    Amprodude
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,034 ✭✭✭Amprodude


    Charleville at one point for definate. I had a 12 on the back though.


  • #8
    Lusk_Doyle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,338 ✭✭✭Lusk_Doyle


    Amprodude wrote: »
    Hit 77km/h twice this year. Des Hanlon in Carlow and Charleville 2day this year.

    What be the difference between a 53/39 crankset 28/11 cassette/ and 53/39 crankset 30/12cassette? Huge difference? Or nothing worth noting?

    Downhill doesn't count as spinning out. There is no way that you spun out that gear on the flat. If you did then greatness awaits you at the olympics!

    What sort of terrain do you usually race on? How many sets of wheels have you got for racing? I have two sets of wheels for racing and have a 25 tooth on the deep sections with a 27 on the other for climbimg. I also have a spare cassette with 29 on it for mega climbing. All the above are used with a 53/39 unless I'm in the Alps when I use a compact.


  • #9
    JK.BMC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 724 ✭✭✭JK.BMC


    Amprodude wrote: »
    I don't know if I imagined this or not but I thought I used to climb a lot better on a 52/36, but changed to 53/39 this year as I was advised by a club mate racer of mine. Find it that bit harder this year and I'm a lot fitter than last year and lighter too.

    How do you define 'climb better?' Was it down to gearing? What climbs were you doing? Were you in the same physical condition? Why if you are fitter and lighter do you find climbing harder? Were you doing the same races? The same grade? Similar nutrition and hydration?
    Will a crankset determine success/failure in the typical irish road racing scene?
    How long is this piece of string?

    I use 52x36 and like it.
    I use 11-28 for most open races that have some hills, 11-23 for Mondello/League races.
    I work on speed, strength, stamina, skills and eating sausages/drinking beer.

    I have never EVER spun out 52x11. You must be as powerful as Andre Greipel if you did.


  • #10
    Amprodude
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,034 ✭✭✭Amprodude


    JK.BMC wrote: »
    How do you define 'climb better?' Was it down to gearing? What climbs were you doing? Were you in the same physical condition? Why if you are fitter and lighter do you find climbing harder? Were you doing the same races? The same grade? Similar nutrition and hydration?
    Will a crankset determine success/failure in the typical irish road racing scene?
    How long is this piece of string?

    I use 52x36 and like it.
    I use 11-28 for most open races that have some hills, 11-23 for Mondello/League races.
    I work on speed, strength, stamina, skills and eating sausages/drinking beer.

    I have never EVER spun out 52x11. You must be as powerful as Andre Greipel if you did.

    I don't have an 11 on the back like I said already. 12 but it spun slightly arighton a descent which isn't spinning out.


  • #11
    lennymc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,458 ✭✭✭lennymc


    gearinches -

    52/11 - 124.4
    53/11 - 126.8
    52/12 - 113.9
    53/12 - 116.2

    Speed @ 100 rpm
    52x11 59.56
    53x11 60.69
    52x12 54.52
    53x12 55.65


    I would get an 11 cassette (you will need one either way to get any benefit from the bigger gears in descents) and learn to spin 120 - 130 ish rpm. where did you hit 70+ in the Charleville btw. Just curious.


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  • #12
    Amprodude
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,034 ✭✭✭Amprodude


    JK.BMC wrote: »
    How do you define 'climb better?' Was it down to gearing? What climbs were you doing? Were you in the same physical condition? Why if you are fitter and lighter do you find climbing harder? Were you doing the same races? The same grade? Similar nutrition and hydration?
    Will a crankset determine success/failure in the typical irish road racing scene?
    How long is this piece of string?

    I use 52x36 and like it.
    I use 11-28 for most open races that have some hills, 11-23 for Mondello/League races.
    I work on speed, strength, stamina, skills and eating sausages/drinking beer.

    I have never EVER spun out 52x11. You must be as powerful as Andre Greipel if you did.

    That's what I'm saying. I used 52/36 before and it suited me. I changed to 53/39 for racing and I don't think it's the same. I never had an 11 on my rear cassette so no I didn't spun out an 11 or 12 either but I do find coming off an descent onto a flat and your speed is up then it's easy to spin out 12 but not on flat if your aren't coming down a descent.


  • #13
    Amprodude
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,034 ✭✭✭Amprodude


    lennymc wrote: »
    gearinches -

    52/11 - 124.4
    53/11 - 126.8
    52/12 - 113.9
    53/12 - 116.2

    Speed @ 100 rpm
    52x11 59.56
    53x11 60.69
    52x12 54.52
    53x12 55.65


    I would get an 11 cassette (you will need one either way to get any benefit from the bigger gears in descents) and learn to spin 120 - 130 ish rpm. where did you hit 70+ in the Charleville btw. Just curious.
    coming down Kildorrey


  • #14
    inc21
    Closed Accounts Posts: 512 ✭✭✭inc21


    C2D perfectly fine with 53/39 11/25


  • #15
    JK.BMC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 724 ✭✭✭JK.BMC


    inc21 wrote: »
    C2D perfectly fine with 53/39 11/25

    Me too - rode 53/39 + 11/25 in 2013 and 2014. No prob with gears.
    Wud prefer to be 5kg lighter than have different gears


  • #16
    slow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 194 ✭✭slow


    This discussion is focusing on the 52/53 debate.

    The 39/36 is a bigger decider for me. A lot of zone 2 work is done in the inside ring. I find the 36 a bit too low for non-hilly training.


  • #17
    FrankGrimes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,032 ✭✭✭FrankGrimes


    For me the 'did you spin out 50x11?' point over-simplifies this decision. I rarely spun out 50x11, but yet I feel faster racing with 53/39 than 50/34. That's because I have a natural cadence I feel more comfortable producing power at. Yes, I should train and become more comfortable at much higher cadences (I've made good ground in spinning a high cadence up short hills, feel much fresher near the end of races as a result). But that takes time, and I just find on a slight downhill I can hit my target wattage almost without thinking in the 53 ring, whereas with a 50 I have to increase the cadence beyond what comes naturally and so I end up having to do this consciously. Fine when training, but when racing, I find it more comfortable to have 53 ring, but guess it depends somewhat on size and style of rider.

    Same thing on my TT bike, only in cases where I've a tailwind did I struggle to maintain target power in 53x11, but seconds matter in those situations and so having the 55/42 chainring means at a cadence I am comfortable sustaining, I can easily generate my target power. Only got the 55T at the end of the season but definitely feel it saved me at least a few precious seconds in a TT. Plus, it looks badass.


  • #18
    lennymc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,458 ✭✭✭lennymc


    FrankGrimes wrote: »
    it looks badass.

    This is the best reason to get a 53 or bigger.


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