Chainring question

[sirroada]

Has anyone ridden a 53 and then switched to a 52? Have you noticed that big of a diff? I want to change my bigger chainring because if feels like I am having trouble getting a good hold on any of the gears with my 53. Should I switch to a 52 or a 50? OR, should I just pedal harder and shut up? :D

[Dave]

Has anyone ridden a 53 and then switched to a 52? Have you noticed that big of a diff? I want to change my bigger chainring because if feels like I am having trouble getting a good hold on any of the gears with my 53. Should I switch to a 52 or a 50? OR, should I just pedal harder and shut up? :D

This just makes no sense. If you're in a gear that's too large, then shift to the next larger cog. The only ratio that could always be too large is the 53/12 (assuming a 12T smallest cog). If you have no use for this gear, then get a cassette that starts with a 13.

Changing to a 52 is only a 2% decrease, compared to the 8% decrease from a 1T larger cog. Even a 50T is only a 6% decrease. When you get down to a 48, then your 48/12 is the same as 52/13. All you've done then is decrease your gearing range. Changing the cassette makes more sense. Most often, you then have the choice of making the largest cog larger or adding a cog in the middle, like a 16 or 18. If you have 10 speed, then all cassettes have the 16.

I rarely suggest a compact, but if you want an across the board decrease, then a 50/36, 48/36 or 48/34 might be an option.

[Samster]

yeah. i have and it didn't feel any different to me (but i went from 52 to 53 instead of other way around, same rear cluster.)

i also commute on two bikes, one with a 46t front chainring and the other with a 47t front chainring. both have 18t cogs in back. again, no difference that i can tell.

like someone else above said, front t changes matter proportionately less than rear t changes in terms of gear inches changed.

[bshell]

Yesterday 08:35 PM
"sirroada Has anyone ridden a 53 and then switched to a 52? Have you noticed that big of a diff? I want to change my bigger chainring because if feels like I am having trouble getting a good hold on any of the gears with my 53. Should I switch to a 52 or a 50? OR, should I just pedal harder and shut up? "


I apologize if I'm reading this incorrectly, but if you are having a hard time "getting a hold on any of the gears with my 53" we are talking about 8, 9, or 10 cogs (depending on vintage) that you are having trouble turning. That is a huge span. You need to pedal a lot harder but you should gradually work up to it.

[palincss]

Has anyone ridden a 53 and then switched to a 52? Have you noticed that big of a diff? I want to change my bigger chainring because if feels like I am having trouble getting a good hold on any of the gears with my 53. Should I switch to a 52 or a 50? OR, should I just pedal harder and shut up? :D

What does getting a good hold on any of the gears mean? Are you saying your chain skips?

Changing from a 53 to a 52 would be a 1.9% difference. Here's a chart for a popular 10-speed 12-25 cassette (700x23 wheel assumed):

52 53

12 113.9 116.1
13 105.1 107.1
14 97.6 99.5
15 91.1 92.9
16 85.4 87.1
17 80.4 81.9
19 71.9 73.3
21 65.1 66.3
23 59.4 60.6
25 54.7 55.7


Most people, I think, would find that small a difference insignificant and probably not noticeable.

[sirroada]

Sorry for the cornfusion everyone. What I mean by getting a hold is this: I had an aluminum frame (quite stiff and effecient) with Ultegra 9sp 53/39 and 12/25 set up on it. I could always drive the 53X39 no problemo...even up hills. But when I switched to my Legend Ti with DA 53X39 12/25 I just cant keep the 53/19 spinning. Maybe its gearing, maybe its my wheels (Ksyrium SSC SL's), maybe its my geometry. I don't know. I had my legend built on the stiff side (overside chainstays, intermediate sized downtube) so it is reasonably effecient. My aluminum bike had deep dish areo wheels on it...could that be the change difference? Or quite possibly, maybe I am getting out of shape :confused:

[Bittersweet]

I made the move on one bike from 53 to 52. It is rightly pointed out that changing the cogset makes a bigger difference but if you have many miles in your legs pushing for example a 52x17 and then you go 53x17 it feels different. Try a 53x19 and it feels too low if you are used to 52x17. It was probably all in my head but having started on the 42/52 standard crank I couldn't get comfortable with the 53. Everything felt just a little bit off (about 2%) so I switched. I'm about to do it on my DA10 crank as well, but cost of the ring is making me gag every time I'm about to hit the "Order Now" button.