I am sorting out a road bike for a mate who is doing the dartmoor classic, and there is a few hills out there, and his legs need a bit of help…

his bike is currently running a 39/52 and 12/23 setup.

question is: what would be the better solution to allow him to winch up the hills if he blows up? (irrespective of price)

compact chainset 34/50 or a wider spread on the back say 11-27?

both give roughly the same gain ratios on sheldon browns website…

any problems with either idea?

If he’s currently got an 11t difference on the back, will the rear derailleur cope with a 16t difference ?
Aren’t short cage road mechs a bit limited ?

how about doing both compact and 11-27 for full winchability?!

[edit] – my road bike originally came with 12-27 & 34-50 compact with a medium cage 105 rear mech.

A normal rear mech should handle a compact and 12-27. Gearing sounds right – there’s some grim climbs down there and he’ll need that low gear.

I’ve ridden this one. It’s lumpy, but an ace day out..!

I think I rode 39/27 but it was hard work on some of the climbs.

TBH, I’d go for compact and a 25 or 27 at the back, and have a huge range of gears.

Chainrings last longer than cassettes but buying a hainset will cost more. If you are replacing a worn cassette you’ll need a new chain.

Road mechs should cope at 27T Shirley?

there’s some grim climbs down there

tell me about it… proper face melter’s

Road mechs should cope at 27T Shirley?

thats what I was thinking…

FWIW my road rr mech copes with 13-25 and a 30/42/52 triple OK.

Triples may be no more exp than compacts – but way less gay.

I had a 39/52 a couple of years ago when I did the Dragon Ride – the most cost-effective way for me to get some winching gears was an old mtb rear mech and a 11-32 cassette. Worth considering if you’ve got the bits around.

triple all the way for me, but he would been chainset, mech and shifter… gets a tad expensive.

Worth considering if you’ve got the bits around.

not a bad shout