using a 54-56 tooth chainring?

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2008-02-08 8:51 AM

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Russiaville, IN
Subject: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
Do any of you use a 54 to 56 chainring? I'm currently in a indoor stage race and on the last time trail, I got beat by a guy using a 56 tooth chainring, I was just wondering if anyone else has tried using a bigger rings in races.


Ron

2008-02-08 8:57 AM
in reply to: #1200743

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Resident Curmudgeon
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Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
I have a friend who thrives with a low cadence and pushes a 56-tooth. I could imagine if you're spinning out on a low-resistance indoor cycle the move to a 56 might help, as long as it gets you to your most efficient cadence.
2008-02-08 9:07 AM
in reply to: #1200743

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2008-02-08 9:26 AM
in reply to: #1200743

Master
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St. Louis
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
I like staying in the mid-range of my rear gears, so if you are really spinning out the 53t, and want to maintain a nice straight chainline, then moving to 54-56t might help.

I could see using it indoor a lot more than outside, unless it was dead flat.
2008-02-08 10:00 AM
in reply to: #1200856

Cycling Guru
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Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?

If you can't push the gear, what's the point????

Someone running a 53/11 that can actually turn it is going to smoke someone running a 56/11 that can't ......

2008-02-08 11:50 AM
in reply to: #1200743

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Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
I wonder what the pro's use in a TT. I know LeMond used a 55x12 to win a time trial in the Tour de France, but Lance always rode at such a high cadence he may have been using a normal 53T.

2008-02-08 2:02 PM
in reply to: #1200743

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Arnhem
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
I have a 53/39 and a 12-25 cassette.
I was wondering if a 56/39 would be better for a hilly course. When going downhill 53-12 is frequently too "light". Would that make sens ?
2008-02-08 2:40 PM
in reply to: #1200743

Extreme Veteran
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Orangeville, Ontario
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
I use a 55t, it fits my race strategy, which is to hold 290w steady on an Olympic ( 40km) and 250w steady on 1/2 Iron ( 90km).

I keep my watts the same, up hill or down hill, no change, so it helps with down hills.

Geoff
2008-02-08 2:40 PM
in reply to: #1201634

Cycling Guru
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Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?

If you are spinning out a 53/12, then I'd say yes, maybe going with a 54 or 55 might make sense.  But there are very few non-professionals out there that are doing that.  Even then, the increase in top end is not much ...... here is a comparison of a 52, 53, and 55 at 100 cadence:

 553.8 %531.9 %52
1235.8 34.5 33.9
8.3 %
1333.1 31.9 31.3
7.7 %
1430.7 29.6 29.0
7.1 %
1528.7 27.6 27.1
6.7 %
1626.9 25.9 25.4
6.3 %
1725.3 24.4 23.9
11.8 %
1922.6 21.8 21.4
10.5 %
2120.5 19.7 19.4
9.5 %
2318.7 18.0 17.7
8.7 %
2517.2 16.6 16.3

Edit: And here is what changing to an 11 would do (which is always the more effective solution to top end speed):

1139.1 37.7 37.0



Edited by Daremo 2008-02-08 2:42 PM
2008-02-08 3:31 PM
in reply to: #1201634

Elite
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Armpit of Ontario
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?

Simondk - 2008-02-08 3:02 PM I have a 53/39 and a 12-25 cassette. I was wondering if a 56/39 would be better for a hilly course. When going downhill 53-12 is frequently too "light". Would that make sens ?

56/39 is too big a gap and you'll have shifting issues/chain drop. I think you need to keep your chainrings within a 12-14 tooth range so you'd be looking at a 42-44T to mate with a 56, or go 54/40

 

2008-02-10 8:37 AM
in reply to: #1200743

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Arnhem
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
I was on my long ride yesterday and payed some attention to when I was spinning out with my 53/12. It's on downhills with not too much grade (probably 5% or so) but with a strong tail wind (it's always very windy where I live). I'm at 55-60km/h, that's about 35mph or above which corresponds to 100rpm or above according the table Daremo posted above. What I would like is to be able to keep my cadence at 85-90. at 100rpm and above my heart rate goes too high.

I went to my LBS and asked if I could just change the 12 tooth to an 11 tooth on my cassette (keeping the rest). I was told that technically that should be no problem. He's going to see if he can find a old used cassette for me as I can't just buy a new 11 tooth (and the 11 tooth on a worn out cassette should still be in good state).

but a 39 - 56 should be possible. On cervelo.tv I recall seeing an interview of a pro woman presenting her bike for IMLP. She had a 38/56 and an 11/27 cassette!


2008-02-10 8:42 AM
in reply to: #1200743

Coach
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Boston, MA
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
rpm1418 - 2008-02-08 8:51 AM Do any of you use a 54 to 56 chainring? I'm currently in a indoor stage race and on the last time trail, I got beat by a guy using a 56 tooth chainring, I was just wondering if anyone else has tried using a bigger rings in races. Ron
me thinks that the guy would have beaten you regardless of gearing. Unless you are generating so much power that you are running out of gears I wouldn't worry about it too much and just ride lots...
2008-02-10 8:48 AM
in reply to: #1201634

Coach
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Boston, MA
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
Simondk - 2008-02-08 2:02 PM I have a 53/39 and a 12-25 cassette. I was wondering if a 56/39 would be better for a hilly course. When going downhill 53-12 is frequently too "light". Would that make sens ?
why would you need to generate that much power going downhill? to begin with the cost is higher and you could go faster by tucking up and coasting down the hill (specially big hills).
2008-02-10 11:03 AM
in reply to: #1200743

Extreme Veteran
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Russiaville, IN
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?
I could not beat this guy in my lifetime, I just never thought about using a bigger chainring, I usually ride in the 53x15-16 range anyway. It did have a 1% downhill grade for 1 mile and the RD said he hit 50 mph and I only got up to 39. He averaged 31.1 mph for the 7.5 mile TT and I averaged 27.95. He is the midwest region TT champ and usually always does the 40k in 51 minutes or under.

Ron
2008-02-10 11:09 AM
in reply to: #1200743

Resident Curmudgeon
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Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?

You called it an "indoor stage race." Is this on your bike, on a trainer? If so, are you "spinning out" on any part of the course? By that I mean 120+rpm cadence in your highest gear.

2008-02-10 2:41 PM
in reply to: #1203635

Master
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West Jordan, UT
Subject: RE: using a 54-56 tooth chainring?

rpm1418 - 2008-02-10 10:03 AM I could not beat this guy in my lifetime, I just never thought about using a bigger chainring, I usually ride in the 53x15-16 range anyway. It did have a 1% downhill grade for 1 mile and the RD said he hit 50 mph and I only got up to 39. He averaged 31.1 mph for the 7.5 mile TT and I averaged 27.95. He is the midwest region TT champ and usually always does the 40k in 51 minutes or under. Ron

If you normally ride in the 53x15 range, by moving to 56, you'll just ride in 56x20 at the same speed.  No benefit.  The only way you could use a 56 chainring is if you run out of gear on your 53x12 right now.   Like Daremo said, you'd be better off going with an 11t cassette anyway. 



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