46/34

[R3awak3n]

Used to have a 48/32 on this type of bike. For a few reasons I am now on a 50/34. Its fine but I miss a smaller big ring, where I ride I never really need a 50 and prefer to have a 48 or 46 as the big ring so I can have more useable gears.

For this crankset (FSA powerbox) I have the option of 46/36. I definitely want a 34 so I was thinking of going 46/34. Of course they don't recommend that because the ramps are set for 46/36 or 50/34 yada yada. I don't really care if the shifting is the fastest or most precise ever, I don't race, I like to go slow and stead. Of course I don't want it to be crappy and not shift properly but who here has done 46/34 and it was ok?

[Jaybee]

Happily ran 46/34 on a SRAM Force crank for years until that bike was stolen. Currently running 48/32 on Praxis, happy with the increased low end but thinking about dropping the front to 46.

[bicycletricycle]

I run a 33/46 with TA rings. Really like it. Friction DT shifters and a regular Chorus 10 allot front derailleur

[R3awak3n]

Happily ran 46/34 on a SRAM Force crank for years until that bike was stolen. Currently running 48/32 on Praxis, happy with the increased low end but thinking about dropping the front to 46.

Good to know because Sram also does not recommend it.
Can you go 46 on that crank? I know the 48/32 is super specific on that crank. Special bolts, ect.

I run a 33/46 with TA rings. Really like it. Friction DT shifters and a regular Chorus 10 allot front derailleur

Nice to know. I am most likely going to try it.

[Jaybee]

Good to know because Sram also does not recommend it.
Can you go 46 on that crank? I know the 48/32 is super specific on that crank. Special bolts, ect.



Nice to know. I am most likely going to try it.


Not sure the Praxis can take 46. Just a thought that passes through my head when I’m grinding up a hill and would like one more gear before dropping to the small ring.

[efixler]

The Praxis is a sweet crank but I’m pretty sure it only goes down to 48.

I’ve currently got one (bought here) waiting to install on my 650b when I get back from vacation.

[R3awak3n]

Yes its great, I have one. But it was not playing nice on this one bike so moved to another one.

[Lovetoclimb]

I run this on a shimano ultegra crankset with no issues. Great setup.

[PaMtbRider]

I have both Shimano and Campy with 46-34 setups and they both shift as good or better than 50-34 chain rings.

[R3awak3n]

All I needed to hear. Thanks guys.

[Spaghetti Legs]

I’ll pile on and add I use a 46-34 on my cross bike with FSA crank; older carbon pro elite. It came as 46-36 but boy I need as small a ring as I can get for cross racing. Shifts fine Campy 10 speed

[saab2000]

46/34 on my Indy Fab. It’s great and the 12-tooth shift is nicer, by far, than a 16-tooth shift.

Pics later....

Edit, with pics:

Here's my modified Shimano 9000 crank, with a Ultegra 46-tooth cyclocross chainring in place of the 50-tooth road ring. It has the ultra ugly fitting pieces that are intended for Ultegra cranks. There are no DA pieces available to the general public AFAIK. It works fine. It's really, really lame and ugly. If they can't make a DA chainring in a 46 you'd think they could/would at least make an appropriate matching ring and CX pieces......

That rant said, it works fine.

I wish Shimano made a 46/32/34 available to the public. It's time for a sub-compact with multiple ring choices available for sale to all riders from, say, 30-46 and everything in between for inner and outer rings, at least at a non-branded level.

This works. I just wish it looked better.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5581/30705313116_9503509d35_c.jpg

[m_sasso]

I run a 48/34 on my Team Miyata with a Sugino OX801D crank and 7900 DA front derailleur. Yes, it is a slow shifter, however, OK as is, reason my designated climbing bike.

[commonguy001]

I run this on a shimano ultegra crankset with no issues. Great setup.

Ditto, running this on my Lynskey Urbano and it works perfectly.

[oldpotatoe]

Used to have a 48/32 on this type of bike. For a few reasons I am now on a 50/34. Its fine but I miss a smaller big ring, where I ride I never really need a 50 and prefer to have a 48 or 46 as the big ring so I can have more useable gears.

For this crankset (FSA powerbox) I have the option of 46/36. I definitely want a 34 so I was thinking of going 46/34. Of course they don't recommend that because the ramps are set for 46/36 or 50/34 yada yada. I don't really care if the shifting is the fastest or most precise ever, I don't race, I like to go slow and stead. Of course I don't want it to be crappy and not shift properly but who here has done 46/34 and it was ok?

Not 46/34 but 48/36(12t difference)...Campag EPS with the front der higher than it should be(brazeon tab)..and letting up on pedal pressure when shifting and it shifts just fine. TA outer ring, Campag inner..

[R3awak3n]

Thanks everyone.


I have purchased the ring and will see how it fares.

I never used a 46 up front so we will see, I did love the 48. Was just low enough that could keep me on the big ring for longer but still have a good low end (never really pedaled it out). 46 maybe be too low but maybe not and it will let me be in the big ring even longer.

[unterhausen]

back before I went compact, I had a 54/44, and I really liked the utility of the 44. So now everything has a 46/34 on it. I'm a little annoyed I have to buy the 34 to go with the 46, but inner rings are cheap. I'm still not quite used to the fact that shifting to the inner ring doesn't drop the gearing all that much, but it's only a problem if I get bogged down climbing.

[donevwil]

I moved to 48/34 pretty soon after retiring from racing in Y2K. Ditched all my 50/39 Campy 180mm cranks for 180mm SRAM Rival compact cranks. 6 or 8 years ago I stumbled onto my first set of Praxis rings in 46/36, mounted the 46 with the SRAM 34 and loved the 12T difference. It did ultimately make me move from a 13-29 cassette to 12-30, 46-13 was just too limiting on my "go fast'ish" bike.

[R3awak3n]

That is cool to know everyone has been on this, to me, I thought I was going to pioneer this new ring combo :banana::eek: :hello:


I just can't believe I had 53-39 bikes at some point.

[jruhlen1980]

That is cool to know everyone has been on this, to me, I thought I was going to pioneer this new ring combo :banana::eek: :hello:


I just can't believe I had 53-39 bikes at some point.


I think it's because the combination of 46/36 CX setups and 50/34 standard road compact setups are pretty common, so there will be more common opportunities to combine the two.

At least, that's how I ended up with a 46/34 on my gravel bike. I'll replace with a 48 once it wears out though.

[R3awak3n]

I think it's because the combination of 46/36 CX setups and 50/34 standard road compact setups are pretty common, so there will be more common opportunities to combine the two.

At least, that's how I ended up with a 46/34 on my gravel bike. I'll replace with a 48 once it wears out though.

46 too low?

[jruhlen1980]

46 too low?

Sometimes. I live on the prairie though.

[jruhlen1980]

46 too low?

Sometimes. I live on the prairie though.

Let me expand on that because I'm bored at work and also it's not like I'm spinning around in the 11-tooth cog all day because I'm not.

This is just personal preference, I know chainring discussions are just about as divisive as steel vs. carbon or chain lube threads, but here's my rationale:

Most of the time I'm somewhere in the middle of the cassette, obviously if I'm spinning in the 11-tooth cog I'm going around 30 mph regardless of whether I have a 46, 48, or 50-tooth big ring and I'm not doing that very often.

But in the middle of the cassette, let's say I'm on the 19-tooth. At a cadence of 90 RPM, that's the difference between 17.5 mph on a 46-tooth versus 18.3 mph on a 48 tooth.

That's the sort of difference that my legs can adjust to without much difficulty, but the net result is that I go faster in the long run.

So it's not really about spinning out on the top end, it's about a marginal gain in the middle that ends up paying off over time.

[efixler]

Interesting! Thanks for that idle-time explanation :)


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[R3awak3n]

Let me expand on that because I'm bored at work and also it's not like I'm spinning around in the 11-tooth cog all day because I'm not.

This is just personal preference, I know chainring discussions are just about as divisive as steel vs. carbon or chain lube threads, but here's my rationale:

Most of the time I'm somewhere in the middle of the cassette, obviously if I'm spinning in the 11-tooth cog I'm going around 30 mph regardless of whether I have a 46, 48, or 50-tooth big ring and I'm not doing that very often.

But in the middle of the cassette, let's say I'm on the 19-tooth. At a cadence of 90 RPM, that's the difference between 17.5 mph on a 46-tooth versus 18.3 mph on a 48 tooth.

That's the sort of difference that my legs can adjust to without much difficulty, but the net result is that I go faster in the long run.

So it's not really about spinning out on the top end, it's about a marginal gain in the middle that ends up paying off over time.

I get that but if you are at 17.5 and ant to be at 18.3 can't you just go down one gear and be similar on the 46

[jruhlen1980]

I get that but if you are at 17.5 and ant to be at 18.3 can't you just go down one gear and be similar on the 46

Similar yeah but it's not a 1-1 comparison. Plugged in the numbers once on a gear calculator and I don't remember exactly but it's different enough that I notice.

Like I said, it's personal preference and it's not enough of an issue that I'm rushing out to change my chainrings before they wear out. I'll freely admit that my engine has much more impact on my overall average speed than my chainring selection, and it hasn't been good recently.

[David Benson]

I wanted to use a 46t big ring on my new bike, which has Campagnolo 10 speed, 80mm bottom bracket drop, 72.5 degree seat tube angle and 13-29 sprockets, but in the 46 ring the chain rubbed on the top of the derailler cage when in the 26 and 29 cogs.
On a frame with less BB drop and/or a steeper seat tube I guess its not a problem.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7904/44663215540_5ca213e367.jpg

[R3awak3n]

I wanted to use a 46t big ring on my new bike, which has Campagnolo 10 speed, 80mm bottom bracket drop, 72.5 degree seat tube angle and 13-29 sprockets, but in the 46 ring the chain rubbed on the top of the derailler cage when in the 26 and 29 cogs.
On a frame with less BB drop and/or a steeper seat tube I guess its not a problem.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7904/44663215540_5ca213e367.jpg

that is a good point I did not consider, I will be running this with a 32T cassete but also with a 36T cassette. I am ok if the 46-36 rubs because I am not going to be cross chainring but would like to have 46-32 available which I think will be fine.

[bigbill]

My gravel bike has a 6800 with a 46/36. Would rather have a 34. The 36 isn't a significant drop IMO, with a 11-32 cassette. If I need the small ring to grind up a climb, I'd rather have a 34. I've done entire events on the 46, it just depends on the length of the climb and how I'm feeling. That 36 just isn't worth carrying around.

My commuter in the PNW had a DA 7410 crankset with Stronglight 38/44 rings and a 13-26 cassette. I could find all kinds of cadence friendly gearing with that 44. It was a 130 crankset, 38 was as low as I could go. I had heard of a 37 but it required filing the spider.

[vitaly66]

A 12 tooth chainring diff works out really well with a wide 9 speed cogset, gives something like "2 and a half step" gearing between big and small rings.

So I run both 46/34 and 44/32 doubles with 11-32 9 speed cassettes, front shift fast and no ever any probs with any shimano derailleur (dura ace and cx70) I've tried.

Yep, still on 9 speed cassettes, gack, can you believe it?

[fogrider]

46/34 on my Indy Fab. It’s great and the 12-tooth shift is nicer, by far, than a 16-tooth shift.



Pics later....



Edit, with pics:



Here's my modified Shimano 9000 crank, with a Ultegra 46-tooth cyclocross chainring in place of the 50-tooth road ring. It has the ultra ugly fitting pieces that are intended for Ultegra cranks. There are no DA pieces available to the general public AFAIK. It works fine. It's really, really lame and ugly. If they can't make a DA chainring in a 46 you'd think they could/would at least make an appropriate matching ring and CX pieces......



That rant said, it works fine.



I wish Shimano made a 46/32/34 available to the public. It's time for a sub-compact with multiple ring choices available for sale to all riders from, say, 30-46 and everything in between for inner and outer rings, at least at a non-branded level.



This works. I just wish it looked better.



https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5581/30705313116_9503509d35_c.jpgI've seen worse...as long as it works, enjoy it!

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[saab2000]

I've seen worse...as long as it works, enjoy it!

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Thanks! Yeah, it works fine. I just don't like how it looks. It's a rare day when I wish I had a bigger gear on this bike than a 46x11.

I do wish Shimano would introduce a subcompact crank for the adventure and gravel market. Given the number of off brand cranks on the market I'm sure there is a demand.

[belopsky]

The cheapest cranks I’ve seen have been the cx50 in 46/36.

I’ve recreated such with 110/74 bcd cranks.

Is ther anything new on the market for a smaller configuration? The sugino ox is nice but $$$

I do like square taper bottom brackets but I can be persuaded otherwise.

Edit: https://sep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-3773699254952_2268_17412653

Now that I revisit this photo of the sugino, it’s just a 110/74 with the main ring on the inner and then a ring in the 74 spider. Might as well reconfigure my sugino at for a better chain line.

[GregL]

I'm a big fan of 46/34 chainrings for road and gravel riding. I use this combination on a Shimano 6800 crankset on my gravel bike. I bought the 6800 cyclocross-specific cranks with 46/36 rings and swapped the 36 for a 34. Shifting is typical Shimano, smooth and quick.

For folks with a Dura Ace 9000 crankset, Specialites TA makes color-coordinated chainring bolts/covers for more pleasing aesthetics when using smaller front chainrings: https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/ta-chainrings.php#x110hardware.

Greg

[belopsky]

^sounds pretty good. maybe I'll go that route with the 105

[josephr]

^sounds pretty good. maybe I'll go that route with the 105

also look for the RS500 crank (essentially 105) which also comes with a CX range. I have this config on the GF's bike, so I know they're out there.

[GScot]

I've done even worse and run 44/34 WickWerks rings on the Monster Cross using a 6800 crank. Works just fine for me.

[belopsky]

also look for the RS500 crank (essentially 105) which also comes with a CX range. I have this config on the GF's bike, so I know they're out there.Oh that's right! Thanks. I actually had that but sold it to a coworker.
Guess I'll buy it again if I go this route..

[fogrider]

Thanks! Yeah, it works fine. I just don't like how it looks. It's a rare day when I wish I had a bigger gear on this bike than a 46x11.



I do wish Shimano would introduce a subcompact crank for the adventure and gravel market. Given the number of off brand cranks on the market I'm sure there is a demand.I think the market is still too small for Shimano to go sub-compact...just put a dinner plate cassette in the back and you get low gearing and a smooth running drivetrain...but I'm not doing loaded touring.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[R3awak3n]

I rode my 48/32 yesterday, cant wait to get that 46/34. It really is a much better gear combo here where I am where the flatest ride is about 2k feet in 30 miles

[livingminimal]

I've done even worse and run 44/34 WickWerks rings on the Monster Cross using a 6800 crank. Works just fine for me.

I had the worst chain suck with wickswerks. Real bummer as I wanted that combo for cross (and gravel).

I’m running 46/30 Absolute Black on my do-everything bike and I totally love them. I don’t spin out until I’m doing 32ish, quite fine for me and for climbing I can do a friggin 30-34 combo. Love it.

[livingminimal]

I think the market is still too small for Shimano to go sub-compact...just put a dinner plate cassette in the back and you get low gearing and a smooth running drivetrain...but I'm not doing loaded touring.

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Pretty sure their new gravel group, whenever it drops (Sea Otter?) will have a couple of subcompact variants.

[R3awak3n]

I had the worst chain suck with wickswerks. Real bummer as I wanted that combo for cross (and gravel).

I’m running 46/30 Absolute Black on my do-everything bike and I totally love them. I don’t spin out until I’m doing 32ish, quite fine for me and for climbing I can do a friggin 30-34 combo. Love it.

Chain suck or dropped chain?

[saab2000]

A buddy of mine got a lot of chain suck with a Praxxis 48/32 that came on his Specialized Diverge. Changed to a 9100 crank and the problem went away immediately.

[R3awak3n]

A buddy of mine got a lot of chain suck with a Praxxis 48/32 that came on his Specialized Diverge. Changed to a 9100 crank and the problem went away immediately.

That is good to know. That was a nighmare and crank changes and knock on wood no chainsuck what so ever so I will attribute it ro the combo of crank and bike (the same crank is now working flawlessly on another bike).
The last thing I want is to have chainsuck again thats why when he mentioned I got alarmed.

I got the chainring so I might as well try it and hope for the best becauE after rissing 300 miles last week on this setup, I have come to a realization that I would love tonhave a smaller big ring for around here

[GScot]

I had the worst chain suck with wickswerks. Real bummer as I wanted that combo for cross (and gravel).

I’m running 46/30 Absolute Black on my do-everything bike and I totally love them. I don’t spin out until I’m doing 32ish, quite fine for me and for climbing I can do a friggin 30-34 combo. Love it.

That's a bummer. I have had no issues with that even shifting under load. Upshifts can occasionally be a little loud or slow but it always goes on the ring I want. Black Mount Cycles Monster Cross frame so long chainstays may help. Also using a CX-70 top pull derailleur.