53 teeth vrs 52 teeth

Trevor E

I am looking into getting a new chain-set. I currently have a 53.39 chain-set and am considering weather to get a 52.39 or to stick to the 53.39. I was wondering in technical terms what is the difference?

I realise that I will reduce my max speed possible with the 52 but I was wondering by how much...etc or will I notice any difference at all?

Raam

Why do you want a 52?

Depending on block selection, you can get the same gearing as with a 53.
Obviously 53-11 is bigger than 52-11 (gear inch calculator will get that for you)

Gear Inches = (53/11) x 27

Change 53 and 11 for whatever gear you want.

gman2k

How much time are you spending on the big ring? Are you racing?
If you are a racer, or a TTer, then the 53 may give you a little extra on certain courses.
Otherwise, if it's just for fitness, maybe change the inner ring to a 42 to give you a few more inches.
Pushing a 52 or 53x11 is a rare event!

Trevor E

I race Triathlons and do cycles around 30-60km three or more times a week depending on the season. (150-200km per week)

I spend most of my time in the big ring unless on very steep hills. I don t have a preference over either at the minute but I seen the option was there so I was wondering how bid the difference was.

Beasty

You are increasing the teeth by 1/52, or approximately 2%. In effect you will go 2% faster for the same cadence, while using the same rear sprocket (and will need to increase your power by 2% to achieve this)

niceonetom

How many here use 53x11 for racing. Or do most opt think 53x12 is enough?

I use 50x11 but have been thinking that whenever I get a big-boy-chainset I could go for 53x12. That's slightly less gear at the top end, but a 12-23 or 12-25 appeals to me on the basis of less gappiness.

In a perverse way I've come to like the wrongness of racing on a compact. Except on the rare occasions I need to use the inner ring and I have to deal with that moment of furious spinning and the shrieks of terror from those around me.

blorg

53x12 is enough certainly, it is not as if the pros always use a cassette with 11T either.

Ryaner

I've a 50x11 and there is a few courses in the Swords League where I spin out, last Friday being one of them.

Zorba

niceonetom wrote: »

How many here use 53x11 for racing. Or do most opt think 53x12 is enough?

I use 50x11 but have been thinking that whenever I get a big-boy-chainset I could go for 53x12. That's slightly less gear at the top end, but a 12-23 or 12-25 appeals to me on the basis of less gappiness.

In a perverse way I've come to like the wrongness of racing on a compact. Except on the rare occasions I need to use the inner ring and I have to deal with that moment of furious spinning and the shrieks of terror from those around me.

I've put a 38 ring on my compact and i love it, saving the 34 for some sportives where i might need it. It's also great that u don't get the furious spinning when u drop down off the 50 ring.

niceonetom

@Ryaner - at what cadence would you consider yourself to be spinning out? If you can turn, say, 120rpm on 50x11 then you're travelling at ~70kph, a speed where you're usually faster not pedalling at all but just doing your best impression of a bullet. I think the steepest descent I've done in a race is the one into Naul on the Stamullen GP and the fastest way down that is deffo by just lying on the top-tube.

Zorba wrote: »

I've put a 38 ring on my compact and i love it, saving the 34 for some sportives where i might need it. It's also great that u don't get the furious spinning when u drop down off the 50 ring.

I've been meaning to do that myself but thought I might just get a proper chainset and be done with it. I'd still save the compact for trips to the serious mountains.

Ryaner

niceonetom wrote: »

@Ryaner - at what cadence would you consider yourself to be spinning out? If you can turn, say, 120rpm on 50x11 then you're travelling at ~70kph, a speed where you're usually faster not pedalling at all but just doing your best impression of a bullet. I think the steepest descent I've done in a race is the one into Naul on the Stamullen GP and the fastest way down that is deffo by just lying on the top-tube.

We hit 65km/h on Wednesday - Beasty hit 70km/h on the same road. I'm still working on spinning at > 110rpm. The corduff circuit is one last year that every descent I was spinning avg 105-110rpm and ending at the back each time.

From my point of view I will be switching to a standard 53 at the end of May any how. I don't used the small ring in races as it is although I do know I'll miss it during training.

Capt'n Midnight

what's on the rest of the sproket ?
what's the other ring - 42 ?

52-42 x 12-14-16-18-21-24-28 means that you have 14 distinct gear ratios - the steps at the front are 1.5 times those at the back , handy for touring , but you have to change back and front to get that half step, so not that handy for racing
(48-39 at the front works too, 48-38 doesn't )


if you are using a tighter block then it's a moot point , but it's worth working out all the ratios to see if you are duplicating , nothing worse than gaining one gear and loosing a few

Zorba

niceonetom wrote: »

I've been meaning to do that myself but thought I might just get a proper chainset and be done with it. I'd still save the compact for trips to the serious mountains.

Only problem there is u might have to put extra links on your chain if u go to a full size chainset and then take them back off if u switch back to compact, could be a bit messy.

It's ok for me i've no intentions of racing so i can just leave it on

blorg

You have to change the front derailleur height too and readjust it which is more of a hassle than the chain length. It is not something I would recommended swapping every weekend.

In practical terms I find you can use the same chain length with 53/39 11-23 (a good racing option) and 50/34 12-27 (a good Alpine option.)