Now that I have had a couple of runs up Honey Springs, the Alpine Challenge, and the latest edition of the Tour de
Francis in my legs using my Shimano FC-R700 compact crankset, I have to admit…I’m definitely a believer in compact
cranks!
I first
considered switching to a compact crankset after a friend of mine, who has achieved Cat3 status due to his climbing prowess,
told me that the compact crank gave him those “in-between” gears that helped him to find a good rhythm on long
climbs. Still, that was not enough to convince me to make the swap since I was so concerned that I would
be spinning-out on the downhills, or that using a compact would affect my ability to sprint. Besides, I
had just dropped a good chunk of change on my new Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels, and I needed to wait for the next bonus check!
Then came the Tour
de Francis Three Lakes Ride (also known as the Tour de Pain-n-Suffering) which covered an agonizing 100 miles and 10,000 feet
of climbing. With about 12 miles to go to the finish and a couple of huge climbs still to conquer, I found
myself struggling to turn my 39/25 combination wishing I had a few more gears at my disposal! The debilitating
pain in my knee, which began many miles earlier, had finally crippled my forward progress, making me feel every vertical inch
of the last few climbs. As the group I was with disappeared into the distance, desperation set in, and
I realized that maybe it was time to make the switch.
So after licking my TdF wounds, and with additional advice of some
fellow riders, I decided to drop a few bucks to see just what impact the use of a compact would really make in my performance.
There was a variety of compact cranksets to choose from, but I made my decision based on price and the ability to use
my existing bottom bracket. The Shimano FC-R700, which was within my meager budget, allowed me to simply
remove my existing crank and slip the new one on. I was surprised at how simple the installation actually
was. Furthermore, the Shimano name assured me that I had installed a quality product.
To date I have climbed about 20,000
feet using the compact crankset (in conjunction with a 12/25 cassette), and I must say that I am sold on the compact’s
virtues. Just as I was told, the compact allows me to find just the right gear to establish a more comfortable
rhythm up the big hills than I could find with a 39-tooth chainring. Rotating the pedals is smooth, and
I can gear down and turn the pedals over a bit easier on those steep, steep leg-burning ramps like those of the recent Tour
de Francis. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the compact cranks is that by spinning more comfortably I have
been able to conserve energy and increase my endurance on longer rides. Spinning-out has not been a problem
on flats as well as downhills, and I am still able to sprint effectively despite the smaller 50-tooth chainring.
Ultimately I would like to
put together a pure climbing machine, and you can bet that I’ll be using a compact crankset. Unless
you’re Raffy, who can make any climb look easy using a 53/39, you just may benefit from a compact crankset.
I would definitely recommend the compact for all of our Sunday routes, and hopefully if you, too, make the swap, we’ll
be riding side-by-side in the hills of the next Tour de Pain-n-Suffering!
Details:
Shimano FC-R700 50/34 Crankset: www.shimano.com
Price: $150-$175
