Help with compact 105

[MissyR]

I'm really struggling with gear selection. I have never used an 11 spd compact before it's always been a triple. Does anyone have any advice please before I mash my chainrings or snap a chain.

When to swap between small ring big ring etc

 

[Doobiesis]

I rarely use the smaller chain ring apart from going up hills.

Try staying off the left hand gear and focus on finding the right gears on the left. You'll find the right ones for you. Also never use your smallest at front and larger on rear (and vice versa) as the angle will make your chain come off.

 

[MissyR]

Using the big ring I get some clicking when going through the gears like its not quite engaging correctly. Oh I'm not fit enough to be in the big ring all the time unfortunately and living in one of the hilliest places about it's a nightmare.

 

[13 rider]

It's come with experience I have also changed from a triple to a compact . I find if I know I will need the smaller ring on the front for a hill I change down in the middle of the cassette gear 5/6 before the hill or you find too big a gap in gears and legs end up spinning like mad if you gone down to the lower gears 1 to 3 on the back before changing . Like I say it just comes to you the more you ride but try to think ahead you don't won't to change down under to much tension better to be in a lower gear earlier . good luck and enjoy

 

[MissyR]

That is exactly what is happening! I am not getting to grips with the gaps at all. I work better with pictures ha ha

 

[13 rider]

You will get use to them its a big difference from big ring to small ring its about thinking ahead and changing in time

 

[DWiggy]

I run a compact 105, and usually cant be bothered to drop down into the small ring when going up a short hill (too much faffing about) so end up crossing the chain (big to big), this happens on every ride, 6 days a week and i've never had a snapped chain (touch wood) and I usually get a good few thousand miles out of the chain as well, I know its frowned upon especially on here but I don't care! ...although I do run a 10 speed

 

[Wafer]

Still getting used to it on 10sp 105 myself. Need to get better at thinking ahead when changing down to the little ring as that's when I get problems, don't want to be doing while actually on a hill! Changing up a gear or 2 on the cassette while changing down the front ring is a PITA, can understand why a couple people have decided to get rid of the compact.

 

[ayceejay]

Still getting used to it on 10sp 105 myself. Need to get better at thinking ahead when changing down to the little ring as that's when I get problems, don't want to be doing while actually on a hill! Changing up a gear or 2 on the cassette while changing down the front ring is a PITA, can understand why a couple people have decided to get rid of the compact.

If I am reading that right I don't think you could get away with that maneuver with any set up.
Front changing is harder (more difficult) than rear changing, both are difficult under load but front is harder. If you change down to a smaller chain ring first you can more easily find the cog on the back you are looking for.

 

[Venod]

It depends on your cassette I run 50/34 with a 12-30 10 speed cassette the 34 is only used when very hilly, like Dwiggy above I often use the 50 with the 30 with no adverse effects, only having 2 chain-rings doesn't make the crossing as extreme as it would be on a triple.

 

[MissyR]

It depends on your cassette I run 50/34 with a 12-30 10 speed cassette the 34 is only used when very hilly, like Dwiggy above I often use the 50 with the 30 with no adverse effects, only having 2 chain-rings doesn't make the crossing as extreme as it would be on a triple.

I'm sure mines in 50/34 and 11-28

 

[Wafer]

If I am reading that right I don't think you could get away with that maneuver with any set up.
Front changing is harder (more difficult) than rear changing, both are difficult under load but front is harder. If you change down to a smaller chain ring first you can more easily find the cog on the back you are looking for.

Was never as bad with my hybrids triple.....

 

[Banjo]

Having only rode triples and doubles before the compact took me a while to get used to.
my biggest early mistake was waiting to turn right seeing an almost big enough gap in the fast traffic ,going for it then realising I was in 34 30 with my feet doing 200 rpm and bike going agonisingly slowly across the junction .

For a few months I thought it a horrible set up but now a year later I am quite happy with it.
I generally avoid large large or small small combinations Theres no point putting the extra stress on your chain if you don't have to.

 

[bpsmith]

Changing up 2 at the back when changing down at the front puts you in pretty much the same gear you were in before on a compact. It's only worth doing if you're preparing for a hill ahead, but not quite there.

If you're actually at the hill then changing down at the front gives you that 2 gear drop to start the hill. You can then drop further at the back as required.

It's hardly a faff tbh. I actually find it quicker to drop the front than 2 at the back.

The full range is available on the small ring just as it is with the big ring remember. People just have this thing about being in the big ring all the time, but may actually find them improving if they used the small ring more for what it's there for.

 

[mwktar]

+1 for the change In the middle of the cassette.

Only just made the exact same move from triple to compact 11 speed 105 myself. Was out earlier and when hitting gradients/downhill I started progressively shifting up or down it occurred to me to change in the middle (ish) range where the ratio isn't gonna be too dissimilar.

Took a day of shifting from bottom gear on the big to spinning like a madman on the small to realise mind.

What I'm missing is that "always a perfect gear" of the triple. Though people here say its something that you get used to with time