Is 53/39 required for racing?

funnyclub

Hey guys at the moment I'm running a 52/36 and wondering do I need a 53/39 for racing?

I've never spun out my current setup but while riding with a guy that used to race he recommend I at least change my inner ring to a 38 or 39 that was when training etc I can spin the smaller ring instead of going into the bigger ring.

What you guys think?

07Lapierre

Buy a new bike that has a 53/39 and keep your existing bike for training. :P

Lumen

No.

lennymc

i moved from a 53 to a 52 for racing, and while Lumen is correct, i will probably go back to 53 for next year because I'm a tart.

jayjbe

funnyclub wrote: »

Hey guys at the moment I'm running a 52/36 and wondering do I need a 53/39 for racing?

I've never spun out my current setup but while riding with a guy that used to race he recommend I at least change my inner ring to a 38 or 39 that was when training etc I can spin the smaller ring instead of going into the bigger ring.

What you guys think?

not for ladies racing

Eamonnator

If you need to ask, then you don't need to change.

markusz

i changed from a 50 34 to 53 39 this year and its great as i never used the 34. my crankset needed changing anyways but its a good investment. you can get some 105 double cranksets for <100. i'm not sure how much a 39 ring costs.

harringtonp

No. Used both 50/34 and 53/39.

Cannot imagine how 50 with 11 on the back would not be enough where as miss not having the 34 on occasion

Harrybelafonte

No. I used 50/34 with an 11-25 for the last... three years(?) racing in A4. Now, in saying that, I've never won anything, but I also avoided hilly races and so never used the smaller front ring. I'm on 52/39 or something for the last few months and much prefer it. Not sure why, it just seems to allow for more uniform gear changes in the front rings.

You can spin out in downhills on a 50x11 btw

Derrydingle

Unless the race has lots of downhills you be fine it's very hard even to spin out of a 50 when on flat races

Harrybelafonte

88rpm on 50x11 will give you 50km/h

But I'd be more worried about climbing at speed in the 34. I couldn't do it anyway, 34 was for survival mode and and I just wasn't fit enough to climb anything major in the 50.

Lumen

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

88rpm on 50x11 will give you 50km/h

But I'd be more worried about climbing at speed in the 34. I couldn't do it anyway, 34 was for survival mode and and I just wasn't fit enough to climb anything major in the 50.

But the OP has a 52/36, not a 50/34.

Harrybelafonte

Sorry. Got all carried away with my own groupset.

manwithaplan

Your set up is fine, particularly as you are talking about staying in the small ring for training. Loads of people train on a compact and race on a standard double. If you can't manage a winter club spin in a 36, you need to work on your cadence. You'll be almost exclusively in the big ring for racing and will usually only drop into the small ring after you have gone all the way up the block. There would be no advantage to a 39 over a 36 when you drop into the small ring.

dragratchet

Raced a full club league and a bunch of a4 races this year on a 50-34 and only ever wished I ran a standard double 53/39 on the odd long descent where you'd be chasing back onto the front group after a climb - deenside cup for instance.. Frustrating spinning out and seeing lads disappearing down the hill. think i used my 34 tooth once over the entire season for a 1200 metre climb so ill be switching next year to make better use of the gears.

funnyclub

Great tnx lads I'll stay as I am so.