Would like to go faster!!!

[knapdog]

Would like to go faster! Bigger Sprockets??

I've bought a Spesh Secteur Elite and fairly new to road cycling after pottering around previously on a hybrid. My aim, before Christmas is to get a century ride under my belt, as I've signed up for the RAB challenge next year.
At the moment the farthest I've gone is 56 miles though I also occasionally cycle to work and have done a few12/15 mile rides over different routes. My progress is OK though I do find the longer runs a bit hard and I'm usually glad to get home.
And at last I get to the point: When I'm on the flat and in top gear I wish I could go a bit faster but the gearing on the bike won't allow it. I could do with a bit more "push" on the pedals.
So, do I invest in a larger front chainring (and if so, what?),or do I stick with the existing set up on a bike that after all is only 6 weeks old?? If I change, will this "upset" the smooth transition up from the middle to the top ring?
The current set up is Cassette:12-27 and Chainrings:30-39-50.

 

[Pimperial]

In that top gear, you should be cruising along at 30-35 mph, and if that feels too easy for you to maintain over a distance then you're a better man than me. Either that, or your cadence is just too low and you need to work on leg speed rather than wanting more "push" as you say.

 

[raindog]

<<Would like to go faster!!!>>

wouldn't we all......

 

[Fab Foodie]

Race bikes used to come with 53/39 chainsts as 'Standard' so you could possibly go to 53Teeth IF the capacity of your front and rear mech is sufficient. I find 53 to 39 too big a gap require double shifting for smooth progress. my 52/42/30 being (for me) ideal.

Agree with Pimperial though. You should be a pro!

 

[Tynan]

50x12 tops out at about 33mph for me which is bloody fast on the flat and some

something not right here

 

[Garz]

Yep, on the flats im never in smallest gear on the big ring as this would be 30+ mph. I usually top out at 28mph on flats so them solar speed sign things say! (still have couple more gears to use if I wanted to and I have a 50/36 compact)

 

[gaz]

i can easily hit 30+ on my 48 - 14 on my hybrid.
i can't see you having an issues pushing over 35 with 50 - 12

 

[GrasB]

I wonder if the OPer is one of these who sits there at 50 to 70ppm? I know a guy that rides mainly on 55/12 at a lazy 60-70ppm & stay there all day every day. Sure he can hit 100ppm for short periods but sustaining much above 70ppm is on-nigh impossible for him hence the massive gearing.

 

[ajb]

As said above, I think you need to work on cadence,
What cadence do you "top out" at ??
I run a 12/25 with 50/39/30, I can go along in a chaingang at about 33/35mph
When doing intervals on my own I can hold 31/32mph in 50/13.

 

[gbb]

50x12 tops out at about 33mph for me which is bloody fast on the flat and some

something not right here

Bloody right
50/12 for me on a wind-less day on the flat..i'd be lucky to push out 30mph for very long...let alone cruise at that speed.
I've been road cycling for 8 years, (although age is against me at 51) and i dont hang about, but i cant achieve those speeds...and i suspect 90% of average cyclists (which i consider myself) could'nt either.
Cruising speed for me is 19mph on a true flat...and i dont get overtaken by other cyclists very often.
I think you have to be realistic about age / fitness/ mileage on the bike / conditions / terrain.

 

[Randochap]

Pedal faster.

 

[knapdog]

Thanks Everyone! I appreciate all your comments to my post!
All I'm saying is that in certain conditions, on the flat, I am pedalling at a certain rate, in top gear, that is faster than the resistance on the pedal and so, therefore, I was just enquiring as to whether changing the chainring to one with a higher gearing would be worth it. I knew nothing about larger chainrings and the number of extra teeth there were available, plus possible problems with the smoothness of change involved if I change.
I'm a little more knowledgeable thanks to your help!

 

[Stereo]

Bloody right
Cruising speed for me is 19mph on a true flat...and i dont get overtaken by other cyclists very often.

That's good to hear - all of this talk of cruising at 30mph was getting this newbie down.

 

[GrasB]

I know very few people who can cruise at 30mph, but a large number of people who can push hard & get there for sustained periods before dropping down to around 20 to 25mph again.

 

[fossyant]

If you can out spin a 50 x 11, which is like a 53 x 13 on the flat.....hat's off.... I find that gear good for 40, down hill, then it's aero tuck.

You are not pedalling efficiently to be honest. Ideal RPM is from 80 to 100