|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Compact Chainsets & Road Bikes
Simply, what is a compact chainset?
I'm thinking of buying a road bike and have come across these referred to as an alternative to a triple. But I haven't a clue as to what one is - anyone help me? While I'm posting, anyone got any suggestions for a lightweight, fast but comfortable audax type bike? What are the qualitative differences between, say, cheaper Dawes or Thorn Audax bikes and the pricier Pearsons, Longstaffs, Roberts etc? |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
[Not Responding] wrote: Simply, what is a compact chainset? I'm thinking of buying a road bike and have come across these referred to as an alternative to a triple. But I haven't a clue as to what one is - anyone help me? 'Compact' double chainsets for road bikes are ones which allow the use of a smaller than normal inner ring; conventional road chainsets usually have a 38 or 39 tooth inner ring at the very smallest. With the 'compact' pattern, the bolt circle diameter on the spider is smaller, allowing smaller diameter rings with less teeth to be used, down to a 34T minimum. The idea isn't really a new one - Stronglight have offered double chainsets which can take a 36T inner for years, and the Shimano RSX group offered a 48/36 combo before such things became fashionable. David E. Belcher |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
David E. Belcher wrote:
[Not Responding] wrote: Simply, what is a compact chainset? 'Compact' double chainsets for road bikes are ones which allow the use of a smaller than normal inner ring; conventional road chainsets usually have a 38 or 39 tooth inner ring at the very smallest. With the 'compact' pattern, the bolt circle diameter on the spider is smaller, allowing smaller diameter rings with less teeth to be used, down to a 34T minimum. The idea isn't really a new one - Stronglight have offered double chainsets which can take a 36T inner for years, s/36/28 for the Stronglight 99 and its cousins. -- Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/ World Domination? Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine) |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
" [Not Responding] " wrote in message ... Simply, what is a compact chainset? I'm thinking of buying a road bike and have come across these referred to as an alternative to a triple. But I haven't a clue as to what one is - anyone help me? While I'm posting, anyone got any suggestions for a lightweight, fast but comfortable audax type bike? What are the qualitative differences between, say, cheaper Dawes or Thorn Audax bikes and the pricier Pearsons, Longstaffs, Roberts etc? Differences are largely be that the cheaper options tend to be offered as a complete package and are instantly available whereas others can be customised to your needs plus of course you can pay a bit more and have the frame made to measure; these obviously take a bit longer. If you give us an idea about your intended budget and use we'll probably be able to offer more specific advice. Personally I had a made to measure frame built up by my LBS with components all of my choosing but it's not the route for everyone. HTH Julia |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
" [Not Responding] " wrote in message
... Simply, what is a compact chainset? I'm thinking of buying a road bike and have come across these referred to as an alternative to a triple. But I haven't a clue as to what one is - anyone help me? While I'm posting, anyone got any suggestions for a lightweight, fast but comfortable audax type bike? What are the qualitative differences between, say, cheaper Dawes or Thorn Audax bikes and the pricier Pearsons, Longstaffs, Roberts etc? Don't forget the 'start from a frame' option too - eg mine is based on a Kinesis Racelight-T. cheers, clive |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 11:08:53 -0000, "JBB"
wrote: Differences are largely be that the cheaper options tend to be offered as a complete package and are instantly available whereas others can be customised to your needs plus of course you can pay a bit more and have the frame made to measure; these obviously take a bit longer. If you give us an idea about your intended budget and use we'll probably be able to offer more specific advice. Personally I had a made to measure frame built up by my LBS with components all of my choosing but it's not the route for everyone. A year ago, I had one bike for all purposes; a lightweight flat barred Ridgeback. I used it for commuting and for 100 mile rides. In June I wanted a new bike just to see if I was physically capable of riding so bought a Halfords special which could later (now) become a utilitarian hack and commute. It's actually not a bad bike but now that I want to try and get fit again and try for some longer distances, I'd like something more appropriate. As I already have a utility bike, for the first time ever I'm looking for a single purpose machine rather than an all rounder. I hope to get back up to covering 100 miles and more. It won't be used every day so I'll be happy to give it the cleaning and care that my day-to-day bikes rarely get. I'm not interested in heavy load carrying but would want to be able to take *something* (unlike pure race bikes). I'm not really working to a budget but I don't like wasteful expenditure. Spending £4k on a carbon-everything would be wasted on me! OK, let's put a figure on it; say £1750. But I'm not ruling out a £600 off the peg bike just because I could spend more. Finally, for all the wrong reasons, I would like a light bike. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
[Not Responding] wrote:
[snip] I'm not interested in heavy load carrying but would want to be able to take *something* (unlike pure race bikes). [snip] Using a back-pack when cycling is pretty much a last resort. They are principally designed for walking and they become uncomfortable on a bike with any significant weight in them. If you want to able to carry all you are likely to need for a day trip, a saddlebag is excellent, and its easy to leave it off the bike when not required. Those who take pride in carrying the bare minimum find a saddle bag sufficient for even longer journeys. You would of course need a saddle that's suitable (e.g. Brooks). Another possibility is a handlebar bag, such as the Ortlieb one. I'm very happy with mine, and it has an excellent map pocket. However, its smaller than a typical saddlebag. If that's not enough you should start looking at panniers and the associated racks, but it sounds as though you don't see any need to go that far. -- Joe * If I cannot be free I'll be cheap |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
JLB wrote:
Using a back-pack when cycling is pretty much a last resort. They are principally designed for walking and they become uncomfortable on a bike with any significant weight in them. If you want to able to carry all you are likely to need for a day trip, a saddlebag is excellent, and its easy to leave it off the bike when not required. Those who take pride in carrying the bare minimum find a saddle bag sufficient for even longer journeys. You would of course need a saddle that's suitable (e.g. Brooks). Or one of these: URL: http://www.sjscycles.com/store/vIndex.htm?item644.htm -- Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/ World Domination? Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine) |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
in message , [Not
Responding] ') wrote: Simply, what is a compact chainset? I'm thinking of buying a road bike and have come across these referred to as an alternative to a triple. But I haven't a clue as to what one is - anyone help me? My understanding is that a 'compact' is a double chainset with relatively small chain rings - although not as small as those typically used on mountain bikes. E.g., a 48/34 double. -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ /-\ You have discovered a security flaw in a Microsoft product. You |-| can report this issue to our security tesm. Would you like to | | * Be completely ignored (default)? | | * Receive a form email full of platitudes about how much we care? \_/ * Spend hours helping us fix this problem for free? |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"David E. Belcher" typed
[Not Responding] wrote: Simply, what is a compact chainset? I'm thinking of buying a road bike and have come across these referred to as an alternative to a triple. But I haven't a clue as to what one is - anyone help me? 'Compact' double chainsets for road bikes are ones which allow the use of a smaller than normal inner ring; conventional road chainsets usually have a 38 or 39 tooth inner ring at the very smallest. With the 'compact' pattern, the bolt circle diameter on the spider is smaller, allowing smaller diameter rings with less teeth to be used, down to a 34T minimum. The idea isn't really a new one - Stronglight have offered double chainsets which can take a 36T inner for years, and the Shimano RSX group offered a 48/36 combo before such things became fashionable. David E. Belcher Remember, compact chainsets will wear *much* faster than larger ones. Fine if you want disposable equipment :-( -- Helen D. Vecht: Edgware. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Sunday Times: Death row: Britain's most dangerous road | Sufaud | UK | 45 | September 28th 04 09:06 PM |
sport bikes vs road bikes | cameronn | Australia | 2 | January 12th 04 03:54 AM |
so many bike types - which is which? | tsp | General | 11 | October 15th 03 10:02 PM |
Need to go faster / New to road bikes | Ken | General | 25 | September 11th 03 03:59 PM |