What does the 52 36 MT mean on an Ultegra chainring?
A semi-compact chainset, sometimes called mid-compact or faux pro, has a 52-tooth outer chainring and a 36-tooth inner chainring. This means that the biggest gears aren’t quite as big as those of a 53/39 chainset but they’re not far off, and they’re larger than those of a compact.
What is the best crankset ratio for road bike?
Most new endurance and entry level road bikes are specced with 50/34 chainsets, racing bikes with 52/36, and time trial bikes with 53/39. This is good news for most riders as the gearing corresponds to the type of riding for which the bike is intended.
What does compact crankset mean?
A compact crank refers to a road bike crankset with relatively smaller chainrings that can make pedaling easier. While ‘standard’ cranks come with a 53-tooth large chainring and a 39-tooth small ring, compact cranks usually feature 50- and 34-tooth rings.
How many teeth does a road bike crank have?
Crank Set (Front Gears) You may sometimes hear cranksets referred to as ‘compact’ or ‘standard’. A compact crankset typically has a 50 tooth (50T) big ring and a 34 tooth (34T) little-ring. Standard cranksets are typically 53T/39T.
What is a good gear ratio for hill climbing?
In other words, 46 to 49 on the chainring and 16 to 18 on the cassette will meet most people’s needs. If you don’t want to stray out too far, a 46/17 to 42/17 are good gear ratios for smaller and occasional hills. These gear rates are considered a good middle ground that can be used in flat and hilly areas.
Is higher gear ratio better?
Gear ratios can be boiled down to a single statement: Higher ratios (with a lower numerical value) give better torque/acceleration and lower ratios allow for higher top speeds and better fuel economy. Higher ratios mean the engine has to run faster to achieve a given speed.
Are compact crankset better?
Compacts have a 50/34 gearing, so losing three teeth on the big ring and five teeth on the little ring compared to a standard. Compact cranksets are preferred for climbing races or for people who like to ride fast but not race.