Campy 11: 53/39 w/12-25 or 53/42 w/12-27?

[caleb]

I've decided that this year's race bike will go to 11 - gears, not teeth.

In the past I've liked a 53/39 with a 12-25 10 speed setup. I use all the gears, but I don't need a greater range.

Now, with that 11th gear, I'm thinking about changing things up.

One option I've thought about is going with a 53/42 chainset so that the little ring is useful over a wider range, has a better chainline, and has a smaller jump to the big ring. If I go this route I'll probably need to go to a 12-27 in the rear so I don't have to push up any hills.

The other option would be to stick with the 53/39 and the 12-25, so that the 11th gear is an 18t (or something like that).

Any opinions? Is closer gearing more valuable than a small ring that's useful over a greater range?

[sw3759]

where does one find a 42 tooth ring for campy 11?i didn't think Campy offered it.i would certainly like to get a hold of one.42's are perfect.the 39 to 53 jump is larger than i care for unless i have 15% grades to climb up all day.
thanks,
Scott

[RPS]

Any opinions? Is closer gearing more valuable than a small ring that's useful over a greater range?Since the overall gearing range is essentially identical for both new options as well as the existing, then it comes down to upgrading from 10 to 11 speeds buys you the 18T in one case or upgrades the small chainring from a 39 T to 42 T.

Given those two choices my first reaction was that I’d always take the 42 T small ring. I think my first road bikes all had 42T rings (with no more than 7-speed 12-21) and I’ve never completely warmed up to 39T rings.

However, what makes this a tough choice is that one of the common gears I ride on flats (basically a 3 to 1 ratio) would have a much better chainline with the 39T and 12-25 option (i.e. – with the 18T cog). With this option I’d use the 53/18 (close enough to 3:1 for comparison) and not the 39/13. If I went with the 42T and 12-27 option (thereby giving up the 18T cog), it would force me into the 42/14 which is less desirable from a chainline basis than the 53/18.

From a math standpoint the problem comes up because the “numerical” center of the cassettes do not coincide with the physical center of the cassettes. This then means that the “gearing” center is not symmetrical about the center of the cassette. However, it’s closer on the 12-25 than the 12-27.

Of the two choices and because of this gap where I ride often I’d take the 39T and 12-25 – although in all honestly I probably wouldn’t be completely happy with the results of either choice.

[Grant McLean]

where does one find a 42 tooth ring for campy 11?i didn't think Campy offered it.i would certainly like to get a hold of one.42's are perfect.the 39 to 53 jump is larger than i care for unless i have 15% grades to climb up all day.
thanks,
Scott

good question. I've looked for 42 11speeds, and QBP doesn't list them yet.
Campagnolo will make them, let's hope it's soon. Right now? I don't know
where to find 'em.

PS- I love having 17-18-19 on the cassette. Presently, i'm 12-23 on my
10 speed bikes with 52-42. If I went 11, it would be 12-25 x 52-42...
but everyone needs to sort it out for themselves... but I say the 18T
is great between the 19-17 gap.

-g

[sw3759]

hey Grant
yes,i hope Campy offers one up soon too.or at least someone.i am a fan of the 53-42 and 12-23 10 speed combo.it's perfecto for my area and ability.i could use an 11 tooth so rarely i could count on one hand the times i could have used it.
if someone has tried some other brand of 42 on the Campy 11 please let us know.thanks.

Scott

[caleb]

I didn't realize that availability could be an issue.

I'll check with my LBS this evening and see if any of their suppliers have the 53/42 yet.