Compact Crank

[endurancerider]

hi, I'm thinking about switching to a compact crank, and I was wondering what people's experiences have been. Right now I have a nine speed, my crank is 53 39 and my cassette is a 12 25. I'd like to gain a few lower gears for climbing, but I do use the big gears on the downhills, and I'm reluctant to lose them...

[SadieKate]

There are loads of threads that you'll find with a search. Gears are a personal choice.

[bike4ever]

Put a mountain cassette and derailleur on - you keep the big gears and pick up easier gears.

[ilima]

I ride a compact; it originally came with 50/34 (12-25 cassette), but I swapped out the 34 for a 36. I don't like going about about 38mph, which is fine for the gearing I have. Above 35mph I'm not pedaling anyway.

I also don't have any trouble spinning at 110 rpm or higher, though. If you're more of a masher, you may have trouble with a 50-12.

[violette]

I have a compact 53/39 and got the rear cassette & derailler changed to Mountain bike cassette. Makes a word of difference.

[SadieKate]

I have a compact 53/39 and got the rear cassette & derailler changed to Mountain bike cassette. Makes a word of difference.

You sure? Those are very large chainrings for a compact double with a BCD of 110. It sounds more like a Shimano standard double with a BCD of 130.

[endurancerider]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. My new bike is going to be a 10 speed (current is a 9 speed) and I checked out the gearing ratios with a compact and a 12-25 and thought they looked pretty good. I can get an extra cassette (12-27) for climbing the really steep hills and that might be enough--I did wade through the compact/triple debate to try to sort that out!