Compact vs semi-compact
08-07-18, 06:39 PM
#76
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,304
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
The broader point to all of this is that people often want to point to an equipment limit that's holding them back, and correspondingly a technical magic talisman.
Where in most cases, the answer lies with fitness, technique and savvy, much more than equipment.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
08-07-18, 10:45 PM
#77
Senior Member
The same logic applies at the other end, spinning a 34/28 at 79 rpm will save your legs while mashing a 36/28 at 75 rpm will send you to an early grave. Or so the compact fans would have us believe.
08-08-18, 12:14 AM
#78
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18378 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
54/42 front, 13/21 rear. Hills, mountains, valleys, whatever. I think I did have a 12T freewheel somewhere, but they were hard to find, and I had too many problems with skipping so I had to take it off.
I did a LOT of riding pegged in my top gear. Ok, never one for high cadence.
So, yes, it isn't bad to get a little lower gearing, especially as I've gained a bunch of years, and a few pounds. But, it is also nice to get that top end gearing that I was missing all those years.
08-08-18, 12:21 AM
#79
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18378 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
Pretty certain, Tour de France Riders in the 1970's were riding at speeds, the average BF poster only dreams about.
The broader point to all of this is that people often want to point to an equipment limit that's holding them back, and correspondingly a technical magic talisman.
Where in most cases, the answer lies with fitness, technique and savvy, much more than equipment.
The broader point to all of this is that people often want to point to an equipment limit that's holding them back, and correspondingly a technical magic talisman.
Where in most cases, the answer lies with fitness, technique and savvy, much more than equipment.
And, I don't drop into my highest gears all the time. But, I do some of the time.
Likewise, I don't hit the lowest gears very often either.
Do I need the high gears? Well, I'm not sure. But, if I'm going to upgrade my bike from 5x2 to 11x2 (or 12x2), then I might as well put some of those extra gears at the top end.
08-08-18, 10:37 AM
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,433
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 412 Times
in
230 Posts
I have known a few riders who have ridden big gears and were competitive at the National level. They are few and far between. Ulrich rode big gears. Never beat Lance in The Tour, but won Olympic gold and some Rainbow stripes. It is not life or death. Ride big gears or small and have fun out there.
08-08-18, 12:47 PM
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
Which is why I ride 50/36. Super fast shifting and not as much of a difference on either end. But I haven't seen that argument made in this thread at all, and there are differences on the low end where you are more likely to be at your threshold power or anaerobic where the RPM differences there matter more than at the top end where sitting in is usually below threshold power.
08-08-18, 09:11 PM
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,515
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
I ride a road triple. You get the old school 52/42 which is great for most riding. You also get a 3rd granny just in case. With the triple you can also skew your gearing high or low. One ride each year the front combo is a 50/36/28 compact/mid compact triple. I am only the 50 for about 20 miles out of a 100 on that ride.
