Stick with 53/39 or would something else be better?

[spence]

Hi, been using the bike for a few weeks now and starting to think a few things may need changing.

Currently have a 53/39 double running a 12-26 cassette. Now I'm finding most of the time I'm in the big ring but up the top of the block. Not enough in the legs. If I use the smaller ring I'm quite quickly down onto the small cog. This is all on the fairly flat terrain around here but on the occasional hill with a steeper gradient the 39 ring can easily run up onto the big cog.

Now I'm thinking of swapping the crank set for a compact with the hope that it would give me full use of the cassette range and spin up anything steep. So question is a 50/36 or a 48/34? Any comments besides getting fitter?

Thanks

 

[ajb]

I would stick with what you've got for a bit longer.
As you get fitter and stronger you will find you will come done on the cassette.

My bike has got a compact on it, when I started I was nearly always on the 39, Now I'm mainly on the 50 but coming down to the smaller cogs on the cassette.

Alan.

 

[bonj2]

get a triple. compacts are a false god.

 

[bonj2]

also see this thread http://cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=29436&page=5

 

[spence]

Thanks guys, found the answer, well half the answer this lunch time. A strong tail wind........

Thought about a triple but that'll mean a new shifter and probably front mech.

 

[fossyant]

Triples are for grandads....