Compact (34) chainring on 39/53 crank?

dermur

Just wondering if anyone has ever replaced a 39 chainring with a 34 on a standard 39/53 crankset? Specifically for a FSA SLK Light BB30.

I'm guessing the only other alternative may be to go for one of these...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=35753

Lumen

You cannot fit a 34 chainring to a standard double.

ashleey

No. But, would you not try a new cassette with more teeth in lowest gear. You'll get a big jump when you change down from 53 to 34 on the move and your legs will spin like mad. Assuming that you could find a 34 with 130 bcd

dermur

Anyone who has tried this on Shimano runs into the problem of the chainring bolts for the 39 being too large for the 34. So my next post will probably be on the "Should have left the credit card at home" thread...

dermur

ashleey wrote: »

No. But, would you not try a new cassette with more teeth in lowest gear. You'll get a big jump when you change down from 53 to 34 on the move and your legs will spin like mad. Assuming that you could find a 34 with 130 bcd

Yeah - I've got a 11-28 cassette too!

Raam

Has anyone ever run smaller than a 39 on the inner of a standard sized double crankset?

Lusk Doyle

I once hear Sean Kelly saying that they used to use a 53/41 on some hill climb time trials :eek:

The point he made was that the change from the outer to the inner would not be as noticable. Some boys them pros.

ashleey

Maybe swap the standard for a compact all round? Then do some spin classes!

manwithaplan

Would the RD be able to accommodate the difference between 53-28 and 34-11 even if you could find a compatible chainring? Pretty sure you'd need some long cage job which would further add to the expense.

dermur

Lumen wrote: »

You cannot fit a 34 chainring to a standard double.

Not even if I use a lump hammer?

I suppose I could break the piggy bank and get that compact crank to go with the 28 cassette...it'll be a cold day in hell before I go up a mountain on a triple (again).

dermur

manwithaplan wrote: »

Would the RD be able to accommodate the difference between 53-28 and 34-11 even if you could find a compatible chainring? Pretty sure you'd need some long cage job which would further add to the expense.

That's another arguement for the compact crank.

8kvscdpglqnyr4

If you move away from Shimano and Campy you can get nice options with Rotor Chainrings. I have 36/52 which is well suited for my needs.
You need to get Rotor cranks though as well for the 36/52 combination.

AFAIK, FSA have a similar option.

mp31

dermur wrote: »

Not even if I use a lump hammer?

I suppose I could break the piggy bank and get that compact crank to go with the 28 cassette...it'll be a cold day in hell before I go up a mountain on a triple (again).

Errr... why what's wrong with using the triple?

dermur

mp31 wrote: »

Errr... why what's wrong with using the triple?

Maybe it's just my experience with them but the front derailleur with a triple was almost always more trouble than it was worth.

And there's the shame factor of having to carry around a "granny ring" as some see it although I've always tried to ignore the taunts...!

mp31

dermur wrote: »

Maybe it's just my experience with them but the front derailleur with a triple was almost always more trouble than it was worth.

And there's the shame factor of having to carry around a "granny ring" as some see it although I've always tried to ignore the taunts...!

The granny ring on mine takes away from the large spare tyre around my waist that I'm currently attempting to shift...

dermur

mp31 wrote: »

The granny ring on mine takes away from the large spare tyre around my waist that I'm currently attempting to shift...

And there's the shame factor of having to carry around a "blubber ring" as some see it although I've always tried to ignore the taunts...!