52/42 Compact from the mid 80's - what with ?

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi to you all out there. I am in a bit of a dilemma with an alternative offering on a totally restored but retro built Benotto that I have up for sale on E'bay.
The cassette on the Benotto is currently 12:13:14:15:17:19:21:23 and is a Campagnolo product on Campagnolo small flanged hubs. The Benotto is currently on a Stronglight 50:40:30 triple with my own short cranks (Thorn 140mm).

Originally it had a Gipiemme 52/42 Compact with a rather questionable 5spd/6spd screw-on cassette on a Shimano Exage hub. This was running on a Campagnolo Nuovo Gran Sport rear dérailleur albeit only on the 42 inner ring of the compact.

Question - What would have been a more suitable choice for rear sprocket selection than what I recall as being a 13:15:18:21: 25 and possibly a 28 to give a reasonable climbing gear for fit young legs ?

 

[TheDoctor]

I think 13-28 might be as good as you'll find these days. 8 speed Campag is a bit hard to find.

 

[fossyant]

52/42 is not compact...

 

[ChrisEyles]

I run a 52/42 double on my road bike, paired with a 14/17/20/24/28 freewheel.

It's perfect when I'm in good cycling shape, but I do wish for a lower gear when I'm not on form.

 

[Ian H]

Unless you know the rider & know to what use it'll be put, there's no way of answering in simple terms.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

52/42 is not compact...

No 52/42 ain't compact, I remember, it usually had a 14-24 5 speed block on the back and a lot of us ran mostly on the 42, but it didn't matter, I was young then and fitter than the proverbial butchers dog.

 

[rogerzilla]

52/42 was your standard double. The slightly wider 53/39 is more common now as a racing option.

"Compact" is usually 50/34 and may need a different front mech to a standard double. The trouble with compacts is that, depending on preferred cadence and cruising speed, the gear you want always seems to be between the two! 34 x 28 is pretty soft on a racing bike, anyway, unless you have to haul yourself over a mountain. 39 x 23 is quite sufficient for me.

 

[cyberknight]

i remeber the days 52/42 with a 13-18 6 speed block , leg burner!

 

[tyred]

The Raleigh Vitesse I bought for a tenner last year has 42/52 Biopace and a 14 - 19 6 speed block.

I was able to ride with that too in reasonably hilly terrain which surprised me. Sadly I won't be fit enough to ride that gearing again for quite a while.