CX gearing...is this ok?
11-16-08, 07:02 AM
#26
Senior Member
+1 to the suggestions for a 1x9 set up.
Don't race, but live in a very rural area with our normal dirt roads a lot like CX; have ridden my
CrossCheck set up with a 34 t chainring, 11-34 cassette and 42x622 tires all over the place, on logging "roads", on ice, in mud, etc. Use a Salsa Ringer on the outside and Dog Fang on the inside, cannot recall the last time I dropped the chain. I know my gearing is considered pretty low, but I'm an old geezer according to my teenage son. His 1x9 CxCk set up is with a 44 t chainring, 11-34 cassette and some 32 mm road tires; he seems pretty happy riding this about a hilly campus.
Don't race, but live in a very rural area with our normal dirt roads a lot like CX; have ridden my
CrossCheck set up with a 34 t chainring, 11-34 cassette and 42x622 tires all over the place, on logging "roads", on ice, in mud, etc. Use a Salsa Ringer on the outside and Dog Fang on the inside, cannot recall the last time I dropped the chain. I know my gearing is considered pretty low, but I'm an old geezer according to my teenage son. His 1x9 CxCk set up is with a 44 t chainring, 11-34 cassette and some 32 mm road tires; he seems pretty happy riding this about a hilly campus.
11-16-08, 07:18 AM
#27
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I've noticed a lot of CX bikes come stock with compact 50/34.
Does anyone even race with this setup? Are they just marketing to the all-rounder/commuter?
I have a 50/34 laying around and I was thinking of swapping my 50 to 44 for my dedicated race bike I'm building. Do you think I should go 46 instead? Is there a big difference?
Does anyone even race with this setup? Are they just marketing to the all-rounder/commuter?
I have a 50/34 laying around and I was thinking of swapping my 50 to 44 for my dedicated race bike I'm building. Do you think I should go 46 instead? Is there a big difference?
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
11-17-08, 01:58 PM
#30
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I recent changed my big chain ring for a 40t. I'm now running 40/34 and 12-27 and have not had to use the small ring in my last two races since going to the new ring.
11-17-08, 02:28 PM
#31
I have a 50/34 front with a 12/25 rear. As far as using the 50, I do use it, although I haven't yet used a cog smaller than about 17 when in the 50. I am keeping the chainring as it is because I might use the cross bike as a winter bike on the road. FWIW If I had a cross-specific crankset lying around I would have used it when I built the cross bike. I did not, but I did have a compact road crankset.
One guy who races quite a bit around here (he won States in Masters for 3 years straight) uses a 50-34 front. I say use what you have. If I get to the point of potentially winning a race, then maybe I'll change to a tighter crankset like a 46-36 if it will help. Generally I don't get beat so much on the long straight stuff (where you use your big ring), or on the climbs, but I lose a lot of time on the technical parts.
One guy who races quite a bit around here (he won States in Masters for 3 years straight) uses a 50-34 front. I say use what you have. If I get to the point of potentially winning a race, then maybe I'll change to a tighter crankset like a 46-36 if it will help. Generally I don't get beat so much on the long straight stuff (where you use your big ring), or on the climbs, but I lose a lot of time on the technical parts.
11-17-08, 07:33 PM
#32
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My 48/36/26 front, and 12-27 back. I love the low gears, especially when I see a long gravel hill in front of me. Unless you race, why suffer with not enough gears?
If I were to run a double, I would probably leave the front 48/36, but get mtb rd to run 11-32, or 11-34 in the back.
If I were to run a double, I would probably leave the front 48/36, but get mtb rd to run 11-32, or 11-34 in the back.
