I'm thinking of stripping my road bike to build a cross bike. It presently has a 34/50 compact chainset. Will this leave me under/over geared for racing?
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Cross riders - advice on gearing, please.
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Posted 2 years ago #
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It's what I use on both my race and training cross bikes, though I will be fitting a 46 outer later this year.
I only used 50 on a couple of tarmac sections.Posted 2 years ago # -
I've never been off the 34 ring in a race
What you are planning will be fine although I agree with the above that 46 would be betterPosted 2 years ago # -
As above, Ive got had a 34/50 but swopped the 50 for 46- much more useable
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've an Uncle John I use as a second-bike for racing. I fit a 36/46 chainset during the racing season, and a standard 34/50 compact chainset for just riding around on in the off-season.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Single 42 on the front, wide spaced 9 on the back
Dont bother with 2 on the front, ditch the mech, ditch the cables and inner ring, save weight
Learn to run
Posted 2 years ago # -
Single definitely appeals for racing, but I want to use it on the road too. Maybe I should think about swapping the 50 for a 48. Maybe I should think about blowing a grand on a Jake the Snake?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I can't imagine anyone using the big ring for any cross race apart from the three peaks. Do a cross race and you'll understand immediately.
Posted 2 years ago # -
racing on hard grass courses = big(46) ring samurai, and Im crap so the the good lads are defo on it
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thinking a little differently, what about running a 53/39 and just leaving it in the inner ring for cross? Would this still leave me undergeared?
Posted 2 years ago # -
yes
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bugger it. I'm just gonna run two chainsets.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I run 38/44 and a 12/27 cassette and when racing I've only been undergeared a handful of times. Running bigger than a 44 might be nice on the road but unless you're one of the big boys you'll never use it in a race, so two chainsets might not be a bad idea.
34 inner would be too small for my liking.Posted 2 years ago # -
46/38 with 13-26 cassette for racing. Never use the top gear and I finish top 10 in the london league races.
Lots of people do keep their 50 outer but they don't get used much! Change the 50 for a 46. If you want to ride it on the road, a 46 11 is plenty big enough 99% of the time
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've ordered a Jake the Snake this morning, which comes set-up as 46/36. I'm just going to buy a 50t (maybe 53) ring and swap back and forth for racing/training.
Thanks for the advice, everybody.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm thinking of putting a 34 in place of the 36 on my jake the Snake just to have something in reserve for those especially steep sections of trail or for the end of a long day in the saddle. I'm not that strong and can get up most stuff with the 36 but once or twice I've been left wishing I had a little left in reserve.
Posted 2 years ago # -
36/46 chainset, 12/27 rear
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sponge.
I brought Nicks Scott cx from S/fork yesterday as a general training bike and it came with 34/48 rings. I intend on using it mostly on the back roads of Exmoor but with the option of some cross country when needed. I found a couple of years ago that with the hills we have surrounding us and the cadence acquired from cross country that a std road setup was a severe push on the legs. Ever tried riding up Whitefield hill or Porlock on a road bike? Give me a shout when your up for a ride.Posted 2 years ago # -
sponge
Hope you enjoy the Jake - nice machine.
Just an observation, but won't it be a bit of a faff swapping the big front chainring, as you will need to reposition the front derailleur each time.
Unless you are TDF fit, I would imagine a 46 big ring would be OK for most of the time, plus it's good to spin!Posted 2 years ago # -
Azarat, haven't seen you or Snaps for ages. Are you intending to race your new bike too? I've found 50/34 compact has been ideal for North Devon road riding. Would definitely struggle up some hills on a 39 inner.
As for gearing, I'm intending on running the Jake as a road bike for most of the year, so no faff as I'll change the ring at the start of the season, then back to road set-up in December. 46 will be fine off-road, but too easy on.
On another note, is a carbon post a really bad idea on a cross bike?
Posted 2 years ago # -
My cross bike is used almost excluively off-road. I use 44/34 rings with a 12-28 cassette. Flattish off-road stuff is fine in the big ring, small ring for climbs. Seems to work well.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I don't think a carbon post is a bad idea on a cross bike. Why would it be? We use them on both road bikes and mountain bikes. The extra bit of comfort is worth having.
Posted 2 years ago # -
carbon posts are fine, especially as there's usually less leverage on one than on an MTB post.
there's not much that isn't carbon on a top cross bike nowPosted 2 years ago # -
Got a 46 outer on mine, you spin out on the tarmac a bit but for 85% of the time it's perfect for me.
Posted 2 years ago # -
"On another note, is a carbon post a really bad idea on a cross bike?"
Can't see why it would be a problem. I've got carbon post, stem and bars on mine. No real performance gain but they look nice!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've bodged an FSA MTB triple on my Surly Cross Check. Got a Deore cassette on the back. Lovely gearing for the steep bits...
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have a compact on my road bike 50/34 I think.I also have a 25 block on the back. The big ring gets used a lot and I'm not one of the top lads( I'm not slow either though).
In summer when the ground is hard and open the the big ring gets used a lot, I am a grinder though, I like to push big gears and in a 50 min cross race it's not going to break you.
I would like a smaller inner ring and a bigger outer for the 3 peaks though.It's always too hard up hill and I spin out on the way into Horton!
In winter mud though I do consider a smaller outer ring and bigger inner ring than this a good idea.Posted 2 years ago #
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