10-Speed Chainring Options

[jckid]

I have the new Ultegra 10-speed group with a triple. The crank is a 30/39/52. I would like to change the 52T to a 50T. Can I do that? I've heard that the new 10-speed 105 group has a 50T large ring. Would one of those be compatible with my Ultegra? Also, Salsa carries a lot of chainrings in various sizes, but they are not 10-speed compatible. Does anyone know of other brands that make 10-speed compatible chainrings? And finally, I've read that there are type A and type B chainrings. Which do I need and what does that mean?

[Mud]

If you like triples that's fine but a 50/34 is a simpler set-up. Shimano has their new crank or you could use a Ritchey, or any number of plastic set-ups. I personally usea 50/34 use a 50/34 with a 27 cog and manage to get this tired old body up the hills before darkness sets in.

[jckid]

"Why not just switch to a 50/34 "

I've tried a compact crankset with a 50/34, but I didn't like it. I spend most of my time riding on the 39 ring, and I really missed it when it wasn't there. Also, I appreciate the extra low gearing for climbing steep hills that a triple gives me.

[jeffg]

If you like triples that's fine but a 50/34 is a simpler set-up. Shimano has their new crank or you could use a Ritchey, or any number of plastic set-ups. I personally usea 50/34 use a 50/34 with a 27 cog and manage to get this tired old body up the hills before darkness sets in.

It's also an issue of new: left brifter, FD, RD in addition to the Crank/BB, i.e. $$$$.

I like compacts, but I would go for a 48/34 or 50/36 12-27 depending on terrian/strength/gear preference.

I use a 50/34 from time to time on my Campy steed, but that is if is used as a real "Alpine double"

[hillrider]

Mud ,
need more info on your setup, since I'm thinking of switching to a compact.

You said in your post that you used a "50/34 with a 27 cog".

Are you running a Campy or Shimano rear derailleur ?

Is that a 12-27 Cassette ?

[jerk]

I have the new Ultegra 10-speed group with a triple. The crank is a 30/39/52. I would like to change the 52T to a 50T. Can I do that? I've heard that the new 10-speed 105 group has a 50T large ring. Would one of those be compatible with my Ultegra? Also, Salsa carries a lot of chainrings in various sizes, but they are not 10-speed compatible. Does anyone know of other brands that make 10-speed compatible chainrings? And finally, I've read that there are type A and type B chainrings. Which do I need and what does that mean?


get a dura-ace 7800 50 tooth chainring. ask climb-o they're the best.

jerk

[jckid]

get a dura-ace 7800 50 tooth chainring. ask climb-o they're the best.

jerk

Thanks! That sounds like just the ticket. Do you know if it's compatible with a triple?

[jerk]

sure why not?

[manet]

Thanks! That sounds like just the ticket. Do you know if it's compatible with a triple?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sunpk.com/drag/celebrities/alist/images/025%2520delrubio%2520triplets.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sunpk.com/drag/celebrities/alist/pages/025%2520delrubio%2520triplets.htm&h=264&w=319&sz=27&tbnid=4NCmL5CoAhjXTM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=113&hl=en&start=18&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtriplets%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr% 3D%26sa%3DG

[Dave]

Switching to a 50 big ring might allow you to avoid shifting to the middle ring once in a while, when the 53/24 isn't low enough, but other than that one gear combo, I don't see the advantage of this 6% change, which is less than the typical 8-9% difference between cogs. I assume you never have a use for the 52/12?

Too bad Shimano doesn't offer a 13-27 or the 13-29 like Campy that would provide an across the board reduction in gearing. One possibility is a 13-25 junior cassette. If you need the 30/27 low, a 28/25 is the same thing.

http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycle/products/component.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441770452&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302040144&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181419&bmUID=1137467017492

Personally, I use a 53/29/28 with a 12-25 (10 speed Campy) to get the same lowest gear and a bit more top gear. In the mountains, a 53/12 can be spun out on occasion (over 48 mph for me), but I wouldn't trade my 28/25 low for a 53/11 that would only see service for a few seconds on a 3-hour ride.

[frenchorne]

This is a very useful site for comparing various set-ups. It allowed me to compare my Triple 53-39-30 (12-23) to a Compact 50-34 (12-25). I plan to switch on my next bike.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

[rpm]

I tried the Salsa 50, and the shifting wasn't quite as crisp, so the Jerk's advice to look for the 7800 is good. Here's a different idea: Rather than switching out the big ring, try switching out the middle from a 39 to a 42. I'm now running a triple with 30-42-52. By kicking up the middle a little bit, you'll find that you can spend out 75% of your time on the 42. When you need a big ring, you've got more there, and you still have the small ring for climbing, and you'll be less tempted to run the middle on the two the biggest cogs.

[Dave]

The 42 middle ring has been around a long time on triples, but it's being abandoned for good reason. With a middle ring low ratio of only 42/24 (next to lowest cog on a 12-27), the little ring will be called into play far more often. This might be OK is your terrain is mostly moderate in slope with an occasional big hill. Overall, it seems like a step backward.

If you're regularly using the middle ring and largest cog, then you might as well use the big ring and largest cog on your double, since the middle ring on a triple is located nearly as far right as the big ring on a double. IMO, neither combo is wise, except for extremely brief use.

When I switched to a triple on my Campy 10 drivetrain, I avoided Campy's triple cranks because they don't offer a 39T middle ring.

Also, for those thinking a 50/34 is a substitute for a triple, a better choice is probably a 48/34. This combo avoids the extra cog shifting caused by the 16T jump between the 50 and 34. A 48/12 is the same as 52/13 and a 34/25 is the same as a 39/29. That's why a compact with campy 10 makes little sense, since Campy offers a 13-29.

When trying to compare gears, the equivalent gears formula is a lot more useful than a gear-inch chart. For example, 25/34 x 39 = 28.7. This tells you that a 34/25 is almost as low as a 39/29.

The gear-inch chart is useful when plotting the shift pattern. It will show you that a 50/34 takes a 3-4 cog shift when making the transition between the rings.

[frenchorne]

Another issue with triples is the additional lateral dimension. When I went through the Serotta fitting, for proper hip/knee/foot alignment, my feet needed to be brought inward. Part of the adjustment can be done with the lateral adjustment of the pedals (using Speedplay to obtain maximum lateral adjustment). In my case that wasn't enough, so going to a compact double will improve my alignment.

[sspielman]

Specialities T. A. make some of the best chainrings available in a wide range of patterns and sizes...and sometimes colors.....Many of the British mail order houses seem to have a more in-depth stock, so an overseas order may be needed.

[znfdl]

jckid:

I have been running a triple for about 10 years. My favorite set up is 52/42/30 with a 12-25 10 speed cassette.

I know that people say I should go with a compact crank, but I have to disagree with them. I have a compact crank (50/36) on my commuter and I spend most of my time in the 50 chainring. This would not do for the 100+ mile rides on the weekend. Also, I do not like riding for long periods of time in the 36, unless I have my Nokian studded tires on the bike.

I do agree that a triple is a bit wide for some people, but happens to fit my body type. For me, the triple provides me with proper hip/knee/foot alignment.

TA and Salsa make some decent rings, also you can check out FSA.

[jckid]

Thanks for all the help. I ended up ordering the Dura Ace 50T. I know that switching from a 52T to a 50T is not a major gearing difference, but I think it will make the large ring a little more usable for me. Also, part of my consideration was improving aesthetics. My bike is very small, a 48cm Fierte w/sloping tt. The 52T chainring looks huge on the small bike. I think the smaller 50T will improve the overall look of the bike, expecially since it's a Dura Ace!