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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
SRAM red compact cranks

alui

Nov 21, 09 7:45

Post #1 of 6 (292 views)

SRAM red compact cranks	Can't Post

Anyone riding these? Is the flex of the chain rings that bad as some of the reviews make them out to be? They aren't offering the 50/36 this year so I'll probably end up getting a 50/34. Is it possible to put on a 36 from a 52/36 or do I need to find paired chain rings?

rroof

Nov 21, 09 10:22

Post #2 of 6 (249 views)

Re: SRAM red compact cranks [alui] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm riding them (52/36) and they are great. Shift great with no flex at all. Not sure what you are reading, but even at the pro level and larger rings (i.e. 53/39) they are doing quite well ;) You do not need to find a "paired" ring. As long as it is 110 BCD and less than 16 tooth difference, all rings will work. I used some FSA 50/34 rings (didn't shift near as well) for a hilly training ride and they were fine.
____________________________________
Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD

MOP_Mike

Nov 21, 09 10:30

Post #3 of 6 (244 views)

Re: SRAM red compact cranks [alui] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm running 50/34 Red Compact on my road bike. No issues whatsoever. (Then again, I don't have a 400W FTP like everyone else around here.) ;)

"...Sometimes it's about getting the most speed out of the motor you have." -- Tom A.

alui

Nov 21, 09 12:33

Post #4 of 6 (201 views)

Re: SRAM red compact cranks [MOP_Mike] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Any issues with chain rub? Is the setup really that difficult. Some people say that they can only use 7 of 10 cogs without rub? Do they just not have their FD set up properly?

MOP_Mike

Nov 21, 09 13:07

Post #5 of 6 (186 views)

Re: SRAM red compact cranks [alui] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I run 34/50 in front and 12/27 in back. (There are hills in North Idaho!)

I can use the smallest 7 cogs while in the big ring w/o trimming the FD. At the "big ring 1/2 trim" FD setting, I *could* run any of the biggest 3 cogs, but if I need either of the biggest 2 cogs, I always shift to the small ring to get a better chain line. That's just a habit I developed on other bikes, not a limitation of the Red groupo.

I don't ever use the smallest 2 cogs on the small ring, so I'm not sure if that would work at all.

I imagine both issues depend a lot on chainstay length and may be more critical on a short-chainstay tri bike...

"...Sometimes it's about getting the most speed out of the motor you have." -- Tom A.

dietzpa

Nov 21, 09 14:22

Post #6 of 6 (167 views)

Re: SRAM red compact cranks [MOP_Mike] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've bent 2 of these chain rings in 4k miles.
my teammate bent 2 of the standard size.
I've heard reports of other people bending them from my mechanic.
very annoying, but SRAM has replaced all of these no questions asked.
cranks are fine, but the chain rings suck.