56 Chainrings???
07-08-21, 09:17 AM
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56 Chainrings???
56x11 gearing on the flats today in the TdF and cyclists still spinning out??? I used a 53x11 on a 25 mile DOWNHILL in Oregon a couple years ago and couldn’t spin out. But I did set a PR for my fastest 40k!
Anyone here using a 56 or larger front chain ring???
Anyone here using a 56 or larger front chain ring???
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07-08-21, 10:07 AM
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i have only a 50x11 and i frequently spin out on only one hill that is safe enough to do so, no turns, just a gentle curve for about a mile or two with nothing at the bottom but a flat. my other go-to hill i can never spin out due to the high degree of turns in it. that one is much more fun to descend though.
07-08-21, 10:11 AM
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I ride with a 56 normally but I took it off for a 53 a few days ago, my fitness isn't the best right now.
07-08-21, 10:14 AM
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Greg Lemond used a 61 in the ITT ! I don't use anything bigger than a 52x11 and seldom use the 11. Back when we had 52-42 rings I tried a 53 and didn't like it.
Now, my main bike has a 50 big ring.
Now, my main bike has a 50 big ring.
07-08-21, 12:08 PM
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07-08-21, 05:38 PM
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On my road bikes I use nothing taller than 50/14 or 46/13 (96 gear-inches). I do have a 46/12 (100 gear-inches) on my mountain bike. The latter will get me to 35mph at 120 RPM on the cranks, which is about as fast as I care to go, anyway. I am far more interested in how fast I can climb than how fast I can descend.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
07-08-21, 06:17 PM
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Many pro cyclists use a bigger chainring for ITTs so that they can make better use of the sprockets in the middle of the cassette, where the percent changes are smaller (e.g., the percentage of difference between 15 and 16 teeth is significantly smaller than that between 11 and 12). Smaller percentage changes = greater efficiency.
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07-08-21, 06:22 PM
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07-08-21, 06:40 PM
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I use a 53/14 combination on the local MUP when there's no wind (max would be 53/12). Its flat-as-a-pancake with only a few quick 'dips' under overpassing cross streets. You'll definitely feel it after an hour in the saddle. My light tourer has a 50/12 top gear but I've never come close to using it. SS is 53/16 and feels about right for a multi-hour ride in a flat area with no wind.
07-08-21, 06:52 PM
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Many pro cyclists use a bigger chainring for ITTs so that they can make better use of the sprockets in the middle of the cassette, where the percent changes are smaller (e.g., the percentage of difference between 15 and 16 teeth is significantly smaller than that between 11 and 12). Smaller percentage changes = greater efficiency.
07-08-21, 06:53 PM
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07-08-21, 07:35 PM
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07-09-21, 03:25 AM
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I've never needed anything bigger than a 50. I used to run only standard cranks and hated compacts because a 34 was too high and I was shifting into the big ring too often.
After I got into single speed bikes a few years ago I started riding my geared bikes in the big ring most of the time. Now I've switched to compact cranks and I'm in the 50 100% of the time, I don't even downshift when I stop and still almost never need the 28 big cog. But I have the 34 for when I go to the mountains a few times a year and that's better than a 39.
After I got into single speed bikes a few years ago I started riding my geared bikes in the big ring most of the time. Now I've switched to compact cranks and I'm in the 50 100% of the time, I don't even downshift when I stop and still almost never need the 28 big cog. But I have the 34 for when I go to the mountains a few times a year and that's better than a 39.
07-09-21, 05:55 AM
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07-09-21, 07:56 AM
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LOL my current bike has a 28-11 combo as my highest gear so I'm around 1/2 that mentions above.
I'm having trouble getting my average speed above 20km/h. haha Spinning-out is a regular thing for me.
On the flip side, 28-42 makes easy - but slow - work of any hills
I cannot comprehend 51-11
I'm having trouble getting my average speed above 20km/h. haha Spinning-out is a regular thing for me.
On the flip side, 28-42 makes easy - but slow - work of any hills
I cannot comprehend 51-11
07-09-21, 09:03 AM
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I'm running a compact 50/34 front. I needed that when I was in San Diego and riding all those hills. I'm in Florida now where elevation is not a thing. Thinking about moving up to a bigger front ring. Where I live there is a great 12 mile out-and-back loop with no hills right from my driveway. Probably 90% of my riding will be TT style on that loop (there really aren't many places to ride here). I'm just getting back into cycling after years of doing nothing and my legs are weak, but if I can get my average speed back to 20-22mph I think I'm going to upgrade the front crank to something bigger.
Last edited by pgjackson; 07-09-21 at 09:09 AM.
07-09-21, 09:05 AM
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I have a 56/11 on one of my lowracers, which has a 26" drive wheel. I think that's probably equal to a 53T on a 700c wheel, though. Once on a trip to Tennessee I changed that to a 58T ring. I only used the big 58/11 gear on downhills. I think anyone doing that on a 700c wheel is probably doing it so they don't have to use the power-robbing 12T and 11T gears.
Edit to add: In the 58/11 I could spin at 51 mph.
Edit to add: In the 58/11 I could spin at 51 mph.
Last edited by BlazingPedals; 07-14-21 at 06:55 PM.
07-09-21, 02:44 PM
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Big Tailwind and his cadence was well above 100. I’m guessing his cadence was around 110 rpm. They were clocking him greater than 40 mph.
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07-14-21, 11:23 AM
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A woman in our group ride last week was running a 56T ring. She was probably in her 50s.
And she was also running 650C wheels
And she was also running 650C wheels
07-16-21, 12:47 AM
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60x11, baby!
Last edited by chaadster; 07-16-21 at 12:53 AM.
07-16-21, 07:10 AM
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56 ChainRingzz would be an awesome hip hop name.
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07-17-21, 10:10 AM
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Compact chainrings (50/34) for me. No long downhills and zero chance of me spinning out on the flat with my sub 300W FTP. I appreciate having lower gears for climbing.
07-17-21, 10:45 AM
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The 50 ring has me using the middle cassette cogs (3rd-6th) most of the time, and I spin out my biggest gear (on a substantial downhill) around 45 mph. But I'm usually coasting then, any way.
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07-18-21, 03:37 PM
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My bigger worry than spinning out 56X11 - is trying to turn the 44X26 on the last 10% climb home. 
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