Ultegra crankset size

[Bugster]

Hi

Just looking at spoiling myself and getting a new bike, I am a larger guy so hills can be fun. I am trying to stay away from triple so I know there is a 34/50 and 36/52 but wondering if there is a 34/52 chain set?

Cheers

Bug

 

[Globalti]

Stop worrying about it and get riding; you won't notice the chainring size because you will be using the rear gears most of the time, meaning chainring size is irrelevant.

For amateur riders 50/34 is perfect.

 

[jarlrmai]

Get a compact.

 

[MisterStan]

As above, stick with a compact and get yourself a 30 or 32 tooth cassette. The drop between 52 and 34 teeth on the front would be enormous....

 

[Cubist]

You could get a 52/36 and swap the smaller chainring, but The drop from 52 to 34 would mean crap shifting, and you'd have to position the mech carefully. The 50/34 on a casette with an 11t top gear is already pretty quick... 40 mph at 110 rpm.

 

[Globalti]

What bike are you getting anyway?

 

[Bugster]

Looking at a giant defy composite 1

Ok what about taking it the other way, say its a 11-26 cassette, can you get a replacement 10t or 9 t for the 11t sprocket?

 

[Cubist]

SRAM do a10 tooth on their 11 speed groupset, but the only one I have knowledge of is 10-40 aimed MTBers.

 

[boydj]

How often do you think you could spin out on the 50-11 combination? 11t is the smallest cog which could be fitted on a standard cassette freewheel - anything smaller would not fit onto the splines.

 

[Bugster]

Hi,

Not so much spinning out, as a large newbie I coast down hill lol, just running through options

Current set up is 39/53 with 11/32 rear a change to compact 34/50 with 11/32 will give me a better climb without moving to a triple, but at the cost of top speed as a drop to 50 from 53 with a rear 11 and my current friends love dropping the hammer at the end to test how long I can stay with them.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd fit a triple if the shifters could cope.

 

[Hacienda71]

When you get to 35 mph plus on a downhill you will go faster by getting into a good tuck position rather than trying to turn a big gear.

 

[ColinJ]

When you get to 35 mph plus on a downhill you will go faster by getting into a good tuck position rather than trying to turn a big gear.

That was the conclusion that I came to. You know how hilly it is round here - I optimised my bike for the local undulating roads and steep uphills. My top gear is now only 48 * 13 which I spin up to about 35 mph on descents. If I want to go faster, I get my chin down on the stem and tuck my knees and elbows in!

 

[boydj]

Hi,

Not so much spinning out, as a large newbie I coast down hill lol, just running through options

Current set up is 39/53 with 11/32 rear a change to compact 34/50 with 11/32 will give me a better climb without moving to a triple, but at the cost of top speed as a drop to 50 from 53 with a rear 11 and my current friends love dropping the hammer at the end to test how long I can stay with them.

For a short sprint, 50/11 will spin up slightly easier than 53/11 and then it's just about leg speed for the short time that you can sustain a sprint. I suspect a compact chainset with a 50 will be more suitable for >99% of your cycling, so why compromise that?

 

[Travs]

I'd say don't worry too much about trying to change stuff about on the bike - enjoy the riding. The cassette is going to matter the most when you're climbing. I have a 11-25 on a compact and I'd love a 28 or 30 for when I'm really knackered and just want to sit-and-spin. Otherwise, the crank doesn't make a difference.

I agree that downhills benefit from a good tuck and (like me) gravity works for you on the down hills...