Chainrings and things.

[spandex]

They are the rings on the front you will have 1, 2 or 3 rings

 

[mickle]

Hey porridge, it's the circular disc attached to your pedal cranks which drives the chain, bikes can have one, two or three chain rings. When describing them we refer to number of teeth, so if you read 52, 42, 32 somewhere it refers to a 'triple chainset' and the number of teeth on each ring.

 

[DLB]

Agree with the Doc - need my triple!

 

[porridge]

Hey porridge, it's the circular disc attached to your pedal cranks which drives the chain, bikes can have one, two or three chain rings. When describing them we refer to number of teeth, so if you read 52, 42, 32 somewhere it refers to a 'triple chainset' and the number of teeth on each ring.

Thanks, i'l have a look, so much to learn !, this time one month ago I thought you just had to get on a bike and pedal, until Saturday I thought a bike was a bike, was a bike, then new bike and wow what a difference!.

 

[spandex]

Your just looking at the tip of the iceberg with out even touching it. There is loads of fun to be had!

 

[porridge]

Ok, follow on question, what function do chainrings perform?, is better to have more?, I always thought those plastic bits were there to protect the chain in some way.

 

[Maz]

pretty much redundant now with compact double chainsets.

Woh, time-out...I thought double and compact were synonymous.

 

[spandex]

Ok, follow on question, what function do chainrings perform?, is better to have more?, I always thought those plastic bits were there to protect the chain in some way.

Function To help you go forward. The plastic "bits" are to keep most of the oil off your clothes.

 

[mickle]

This is just about road bike gearing. For now.

Double clangers have traditionally been 52/42, sometimes 53/39. Fine if you ride in the peleton at 45kmh but rather highly geared for lone mortals.

The introduction of triple chainsets was a (successful) attempt to provide a wider range of gears on road bikes, however, purist anoraky fukcers like me can't look at them without wincing; THEY JUST DON'T LOOK RIGHT! The rear mech is too long etc etc. I have no objection to them on principle, each to their own, bums on seats and all that. I just don't like triples, I don't even use one on my Mountain bike, sacrificing a bit of top end and preferring the slick shifts of a double 30/40 set-up.

Compact 50/36 is an attempt to provide a more useable set of ratios for non super heroes but which still retains the benefits of a double ring set-up, light weight, short cage etc.