Gearing for Racing

[Scott]

Hi Guys,

Fitted a compact 50/34 and 12/27 cassette for big ride of Pyrenees. This was great and find it quite useful as live on top of Hill in Caterham but I guess this is no good for racing?????? Can someone advise whats most people do and whats best to go for.

Cheers
Scott (New Boy)

[Andrew G]

It will depend on what sort of cyclist you are to some degree as to what gears you want, are you a spinner or a grinder. I'm not a fan of compacts apart from for hilly rides but I know people (including some very good racers) do race on them and have no problems with their gearing. I just prefer the gearing and spacing of a standard chainset but it's a personal thing. The 12/27 cassette will be too widely spaced I expect so if you switch that for a 12/25 or an 11/23 you'd probably be fine. 11/23 might work best as a it will have nice close gears and a 50x 21 or 23 is easily a small enough gear for somewhere like Palace so you stay in the big ring all the time. I don't know the SERRL courses but do know they tend to be pretty hilly so guess you'd be changing down to the small ring on the climbs anyway, Marek and co will be able to fill in the blanks on those hills.

[Hal]

Don't tell anyone but I ride a 50/34 with an 11-26 on the rear (SRAM). Last year I had the same as you with 50/34 and 12/27. I have ridden a number of sportives where these gears are very useful without having to use a triple. I very very rarely require a larger gear. I would describe my riding style as a 'twiddler' rather than 'power house'. I have been using these gears for racing at Palace (big ring all the way) and a few other road races around and about without any probs.

The only disadvantage I have is sometimes the spacing between gears is a bit too big when really on the power, but as andrew says a closer ratio rear block would solve this. Although I have not bothered as I seem to be attracted to rides with steep hills in them.

My view is that you should be fine.