JayhawKen

I am wanting to try a 36T inner chainring, and it looks like Shimano only makes a 34T inner ring for the current generation DA and Ultegra line.

Has anyone tried using a SRAM 36T on Shimano? How was the shifting?

So far just not crazy about the gap between gears on the 34x50.

IthaDan 

I've never really found much need to put a lot of cash into a small chainring on a double. The chain kinda just sits there, the big ring does all the work. I have a standard (130bcd) double with an ultegra large ring and a no name small ring because I wanted a 38t. Shifts amazingly well.

It'll shift fine whatever you put on there.

black_box 

the CX70 cyclocross crankset came out last year and has a 36t inner ring, supposedly ultegra level. Do they sell individual rings for that?

songfta

36T rings from SRAM/Truvativ or FSA work just fine on a Shimano compact, speaking from personal experience.

and1homer

Get a triple instead?

IthaDan 

He wants a BIGGER ring, buckshot.

and1homer

Yes, I understand with a triple you can get a good variety of middle rings, including 36, 37, 38, or 39. And the gaps between chainrings are smaller than a compact, which would solve OP's concern.

Maybe I'm wrong, just a thought.

But "buckshot"? Why you gotta be a tool about it?

ColinL

I've considered a 50/36 before because I'm in the big ring so much and I do so little climbing in Kansas.

But it doesn't really solve anything. It's still not big enough to ride there a whole lot because crosschain is a serious problem in your smallest two cogs using the small ring.


I'm not here to judge anyone. But I would say that if you aren't using the 50 ring, I would first get a wider ratio cassette so you can reach the 50 ring easier.

However, if you can't at least use the bottom half of the cassette with a 50 ring, maybe what you really need is a cyclocross 46/36 crankset. 46x11 is pretty fast and would work on level ground for most riders. (120 rpm is >39mph, which is faster than my PR sprint on flat ground.)

redlude97

I'm currently using a 36T sram ring with a shimano 105 5700 compact double. Works great, shifting between the rings is super fast, and I use the 36T quite a bit in Seattle where there are rolling hills everywhere

Holden McNeil

I just setup my Ultegra 6700 compact with the 36t inner from the CX70 and it works great. The 36t ring retails for $52.99 and your local bike shop should be able to order you one if they buy from QBP (almost all do). Tell them the QBP code is CR7036.