53 teeth vrs 52 teeth

Trevor E · 22-04-2011 07:00PM #1

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 · 22-04-2011 07:12PM

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 · 22-04-2011 07:23PM

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 · 22-04-2011 07:36PM

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 · 22-04-2011 08:07PM

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 · 22-04-2011 08:17PM

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 · 23-04-2011 03:31AM

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

Ryaner · 23-04-2011 07:35AM

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 · 23-04-2011 01:07PM

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 · 23-04-2011 04:50PM

@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 · 23-04-2011 09:15PM

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 · 24-04-2011 01:13AM

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 · 24-04-2011 01:24PM

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 · 24-04-2011 01:51PM

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.)

53 teeth vrs 52 teeth

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