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Compact or Standard Crank -Help Please!?

Dawn CassDawn Cass
in General Training Discussions

Hello all...looking for opinons regarding crank upgrade.  I am getting a quarq power meter...now just not sure if I should go for the compact or the standard.  Doing IM Wisconsin this year with hills....but will of course be doing other courses in the future as well.  Think a compact could make the most sense for Wisconsin...but not sure it will for everything.  I know you can add a cassette to the back however not sure that's as efficient as a standard.

Help...thoughts??

Comments

  • Jeff UnruhJeff Unruh

    Dawn - welcome... first off

    Coach Rich will likely chime in but I would bet my right foot the universal response will be COMPACT.
  • Cary BlancoCary Blanco
    Almost always the answer is compact. An 11 in the back combined with the compact's 50 will go "faster" than a 12 in the back and a standard's 53.

    That being said, are you running 700s or 650s?
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott
    Unless you can routinely cruise for 2+ hours @ 22-24 mph on the flats, a compact with the proper cassette in the rear will serve you best. This assumes you have 700c  wheels. If you have a 650 bike like me (uncommon), it's already "compact" due to smaller wheel size.
  • Dawn CassDawn Cass
    Thanks all for quick comments! I have 700 c wheels so seems opinion is compact at this point...

    If I have the right cassette set up, would it still be suitable for the flats?
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    Dawn, where do you live? What's the terrain like? What races are you doing?

    That will play into your choice as well.
  • Dawn CassDawn Cass
    @Bob - I live in Cleveland, Ohio....so more or less pretty flat. The course I train on has some pretty big climbs however...probably similar to the Madison course. I will be racing IM Madison, and Racine 70.3 in July...and if all goes well will be doing more in the future but at this point, could be anywhere. Racine is pretty flat, and from what I understand Madison is pretty challenging on it's hills.

    Dawn
  • robin sarnerrobin sarner
    COMPACT !!!   Unless your Ironman bike 4:45 or better.            can do 11/23 on the back for flat races.       11/28 for hills.
  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    x10 on Compact. And with an 11-23, you do not spin out on flat courses (unless there is a massive tailwind and you get up over 35mph). You are more likely to spin out on the downhills of a hilly course, but that is exactly the course you will want the added benefit of the compact on the uphills...

    There are plenty of people in da Haus with FTP's north of 300W that are quite happy with their compact cranks.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    This link has a great graphic comparison tool:
    http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/bikegears/CompareBicycleGearing

    Compact cranks usually come with 50/34 in the front. I run an 11/26 in the back because I don't climb too many 15% grades. One thing that this site will let you do is change the cadence. At least for modest periods of time, it's not a big deal to spin 100-110 rpm for most people, so a 50/11 gets you into the 40s downhill.

    Wm
  • Dawn CassDawn Cass
    Think you have all convinced me...will be ordering my compact this week...will let you know how I get on with it!
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