Options for a super-compact crankset for touring (replacing Shimano 105 crankset)

Asked by: Jim Jacobson

Are compact crankset better?

Compacts have a 50/34 gearing, losing three teeth on the big ring and five teeth on the little ring compared to a standard. Compact cranksets are preferred for climbing races or for people who like to ride fast but not a race.

Can I use 105 crankset with Sora?

Does the 105 crankset work with a Sora group? Would the 9 speed chain work with it? In short yes, the crankset will work fine, but the issue lies in the chain. The difference between chains as you go up in speeds is a decrease in the outer width of the chain (accomplished through thinner outer links and shorter pins).

What is the difference between a compact crankset and standard?

A compact crank refers to a road bike crankset with relatively smaller chainrings that can make pedaling easier. While ‘standard’ cranks come with a 53-tooth large chainring and a 39-tooth small ring, compact cranks usually feature 50- and 34-tooth rings.

What is a 50 34 crankset?

Standard Setup. Currently, the most common gearing setup on new road bikes is a 50/34 chainset with an 11-28 cassette. This means that the big and small chainring have 50 and 34 teeth, respectively, and the cassette’s smallest cog has 11 teeth and its largest cog has 28 teeth.

Can I put a bigger crankset on my bike?

Yes, you can. This will make it suitable for diverse terrains and make pedaling easier. Putting a smaller chainring on your road bike isn’t a problem but you may have to change your crankset.

How do I choose a crankset?

Cranks come in a range of sizes, most commonly from 165mm to 190mm, and ideal crank length is often determined by three factors: your height, your cycling discipline and your personal preferences. If you change your crank length, it will change how it feels to pedal your bike, and it may change your fit on your bike.

What is the difference between Shimano 105 and Sora?

The main difference between Shimano Sora and 105 is the braking and shifting system. Shimano 105 has much more smooth shifting and braking than Shimano Sora. I personally used both groupsets on my road bike and experienced that Shimano 105 shifts much more better than Shimano Sora.

How much better is 105 than Sora?

The 105 dual-pivot brakes are responsive, dependable, and more aero than previous iterations. Sora’s calipers also got an upgrade and now have up to 20% more braking power than before. They’re bang-for-your-buck calipers that offer excellent braking, but don’t expect the same snappiness and stopping power as the 105s.

Why is ultegra better than 105?

There is no longer any real technological difference between 105 and Ultegra, and the only real difference is that Ultegra is a lighter groupset. That means we have 2 answers to the question of 105 versus Ultegra. If you want to make, a cash value judgment go for 105 if you want to save weight go for Ultegra.

What is the difference between 50 34 and 52 36?

Basically, the 52/36 will allow 5% higher top-speed before spinning-out compared to the 50/34. (Many say that your aero-tuck and other factors are more important at those speeds anyway.) But on the hills, you’ll find the 36 to be harder to turn than the 34.

What is the best chainring for climbing?

Mountain bike chainrings are available in smaller sizes all the way down to 26t, though I’d recommend most riders try a 30t or 28t first to experience how much easier it is to climb. For gravel bikes, I wouldn’t recommend going any smaller than 38t to maintain top-end speed on downhills.

Does crank length make a difference?

While longer cranks do produce more torque, they also decrease cadence for a given effort because the turning circle is larger. Likewise shorter cranks produce less torque, but cadence increases for the same effort because the turning circle is shorter.

What does a bigger crankset do?

The larger chainring gives you bigger, harder to turn gears that move you further per pedal revolution – so it’s suitable for higher speeds – while the smaller chainring gives you gears that are easier to turn but move you a shorter distance per pedal revolution – so it’s suitable for lower speeds, including riding

Does a bigger front sprocket make you go faster?

A bigger rear sprocket/ smaller front sprocket will give you an increase in acceleration but decrease your top speed. A smaller rear sprocket/bigger front sprocket will reduce you acceleration but increase the top speed.

How much difference does 2 teeth on chainring make?

In this size range two teeth in the front is about the same as one tooth in the back. It’s a very small change but sometimes it’s just that small difference that tips the scale in your favour.

What is a sub compact crankset?

In the case of 2x gravel groups, the new “sub-compact” cranksets have smaller chainrings than the common 50/34 compact rings many road bike come with. New gravel friendly road cranksets include the 46/30 Rotor, 46/30 FSA Adventure, 48/32 Praxis Zayante, the 46/30 Shimano GRX RX FC600 and the 48/31 Shimano GRX FC-RX810.

What is a compact gear set?

A compact chainset offers a middle ground between the more race-oriented standard road double and semi-compact chainsets with two larger chainrings (typically with 53/39 or 52/36 tooth chainrings) and heavier road triple chainsets with three chainrings that offer a wider range of gears (typically 50/39/30 teeth).

What is the difference between 11 28 and 11 30 cassette?

The difference is pretty easy to quantify mathematically. Going from a 28 to a 30T sprocket gives a 2/28th reduction in gearing – so about 7%. What that means is that if you’re going up a hill on your current 28T spinning at 100RPM, you’d need to pedal at 107RPM for the same speed.

What is the smallest chainring for 110 BCD?

33 tooth chainring

What is the smallest chainring you can put on 110 BCD crankset? The smallest chainring you can use or are going to find is a 33 tooth chainring.

Are oval chainrings better?

Oval chainrings maximize the part of the stroke where power is produced and minimize resistance where it isn’t. As a direct consequence, Oval rings enhance a cyclist’s ability to spin with a smoother power delivery and feel much easier on legs while climbing. Meaning you will go faster and get less tired.

What BCD are Shimano cranks?

110mm BCD

That’s changed with newer Shimano road cranksets, which have settled on 110mm BCD for all chainring sizes, giving you the option to increase or decrease your chainring sizes without having to change the cranks as well.