Using rear cassette on a compact

[helston90]

My entry into silly question of the year:
When riding a triple you're advised against being in the small crank at the front and the small at the back and vice versa to avoid twist and therefore wear on all the components. This makes sense.

Does this apply when you have a double as well with only two at the front? This would start limiting your choices wouldn't it?

 

[Nearly there]

I have a compact and use the full cassette whether in the small or big ring gives you loads of gear choices but I wouldn't do this with a triple

 

[CopperCyclist]

The same applies, and yes it limits your choices in so much as it makes you change chainring more often, that's all!

 

[raindog]

I've got a double on one bike and a triple on another and I never use small/small or large/large on either of them. I know people do it, but it makes me wince to see the punishment to the chain.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Bad practice, and you may get chain rub on the front changer cage.Check out the ratios and you will see it is probably not necessary anyway.

 

[HLaB]

Its not that stupid a question because I asked it a while back but the gist of it appeared to be similar to the above, its still bad practice

 

[Banjo]

This is one reason I like triples. On the undulating roads round here I can often stay in the center ring for miles and use most or even all the rear cassette without too much angle on the chain. With a double /compact more front ring shifting would be needed.

 

[jowwy]

This is one reason I like triples. On the undulating roads round here I can often stay in the center ring for miles and use most or even all the rear cassette without too much angle on the chain. With a double /compact more front ring shifting would be needed.

Thats one of the reasons i went for the triple too - middle ring for quite a bit of my riding through the valleys

 

[Sittingduck]

Double / Compact: I don't use the 2 sprockets at the opposite end of the (10 spd) cassette.
Triple: I don't use the 3 or 4 sprockets at the opposite end (if in big or small chainring) & I don't use the one outside sprocket at either end, if in the middle chainring.

 

[boydj]

Ditto.
It's easier shifting at the rear, so on a double / compact you have to plan ahead to minimise changes on the front chainring and at the same time, try to stay away from the extremities on the cassette.

 

[FreeFlow Bikes]

It's all about chain stretch and crossing the chain on a compact has less impact than on a triple. It will still stretch the chain slightly quicker than normal but not as quick as when using a triple.

 

[billy1561]

Agree with sitting duck on this. Never use the outside 2 unless I'm on the same side front ring. Chain wear and cable stretch is worse if you do.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I wonder how SRAM have got over the chain wear issue with the GT groupset?