- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Add new comment
6 comments
Ok thanks all, if i do get that bike I'll stick with the 50-34 for starters at least.
Cheers
It's a braze-on FD, so height might be an issue, and chain drop thus a concern. I'd ask the bike shop for their take. If you're keeping the old set I'd definitely try for the 46, seems a little more worthwhile. 46-11 is still a bigger gear than an old school 52-13.
I'm not sure it's worth it. My lowest gears are 34/32 on one bike and 34/34 on the other, admittedly slightly heavier, one. I'm hard-pressed to tell the difference. Either way I'm defeated by certain local hills.
Can't see how there would be - it's still a 16t jump, and only 2t smaller rings, so not like the difference in mech cage curvature you might see between a MTB (44t max) and a standard road cage (53t max). But maybe others know different...?
Thanks, I was thinking along the same logic myself.
Road front derailleurs can still handle a 46/36T cyclocross chainset, so as far as big ring curvature is concerned a 48/32 won't be a problem. At least that's the case with my 105 5700 unit.
With a 46/36 crank the tail of the cage is pretty far away from the big ring though.
Ultimately your main concern should be the amount of travel your front derailleur mount/adapter has. It should be able to go low enough to accommodate your desired set of chainrings, be it a 48 or 46. On a band-on front derailleur this shouldn't be a problem.