Changing a carrera tdf gearset to 50/34
- Thread starter dan1502
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PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
The carrera tdf ltd with the 52/39 front and eight speed 12-26 at the back?
Yup, it will take a 12-30 at the back, just done that for one of my sprogs.
If you do want to change the front you need a complete new chainset, because the bolt holes on the current crank are (IIRC) at 130 BCD which limits you to a smallest front ring of 38T. Do not be conned into one of the new external bearing styles. Stick with square taper. Stronglight Impact is good (or the Spa Cycles XD-2 clone thereof).
But before you buy a new chainset - are you sure a compact is for you?
You want lower gears? Sure a 34 chainring will give you that, but think carefully about what gears you use most of the time.
I spend 90% of my time on a 39T ring and within a range of 13-27 at the back. For lower gears I have a granny ring.
I have ridden a 50/34 compact and hated it, even though the total range was not much less than my triple, I kept having swop between rings to find a comfortable gear.
Yup, it will take a 12-30 at the back, just done that for one of my sprogs.
If you do want to change the front you need a complete new chainset, because the bolt holes on the current crank are (IIRC) at 130 BCD which limits you to a smallest front ring of 38T. Do not be conned into one of the new external bearing styles. Stick with square taper. Stronglight Impact is good (or the Spa Cycles XD-2 clone thereof).
But before you buy a new chainset - are you sure a compact is for you?
You want lower gears? Sure a 34 chainring will give you that, but think carefully about what gears you use most of the time.
I spend 90% of my time on a 39T ring and within a range of 13-27 at the back. For lower gears I have a granny ring.
I have ridden a 50/34 compact and hated it, even though the total range was not much less than my triple, I kept having swop between rings to find a comfortable gear.
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
Ah .... some recommend that.
Others (I'm one) don't.
It's almost as contentious as Helmet debates.
Seriously though, a lot depends on your age, fitness, what kind of cycling you want to do, what kind of cyclist you want to be seen as.
And don't forget if you've only recently taken up (or returned to cycling) you will get better at hills over time.
I came back to cycling (4 years ago) with an old school "touring" set up. 48/36 on the front, 13-30 on the back
There's a "hill" near me that I found hard on the 36 ring, and convinced me I needed to change to a triple.
I go up it now quite happily on a 39 ring, in the middle of the cassette, and could probably do it in the 53 ring if I wanted to.
I still have the triple, and use the granny ring not infrequently for longer steeper stuff. Do I care what folks think of me for riding a girly triple? Do I feck ?
Others (I'm one) don't.
It's almost as contentious as Helmet debates.
Seriously though, a lot depends on your age, fitness, what kind of cycling you want to do, what kind of cyclist you want to be seen as.
And don't forget if you've only recently taken up (or returned to cycling) you will get better at hills over time.
I came back to cycling (4 years ago) with an old school "touring" set up. 48/36 on the front, 13-30 on the back
There's a "hill" near me that I found hard on the 36 ring, and convinced me I needed to change to a triple.
I go up it now quite happily on a 39 ring, in the middle of the cassette, and could probably do it in the 53 ring if I wanted to.
I still have the triple, and use the granny ring not infrequently for longer steeper stuff. Do I care what folks think of me for riding a girly triple? Do I feck ?
depending on what kind of terrain you riding, do you have any friends with the kind of gear you want or go lbs see whether they willing to let you borrow 1 of their bike 
and fyi, i do find it bit easier to climb on allez elite (compact chainset with 12-26 and ofcos is lot lighter bike too) compare to the carrera tdf. also dont forget most likely will have to change/adjust chain while making the change, cost does add up.
and fyi, i do find it bit easier to climb on allez elite (compact chainset with 12-26 and ofcos is lot lighter bike too) compare to the carrera tdf. also dont forget most likely will have to change/adjust chain while making the change, cost does add up.
PatrickPending
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
I've got 50/34 on my commuter (stronglight impact) - on my exploration of the south of Manchester last Sunday I found Blaze Hill, and another one after that - got me up no problem. I rather like the gear ratios it gives me though it generally means shifting up/down twice on the rear when changing on the front...no big problem.....
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
yes, do that before anything else. I got a SRAM one off Amazon for less than a tenner.