Everyone knows that the quality of one’s character is measured by the size gear they can push, particularly when going uphill. It is also a well-established fact that no self-respecting Flemish Pro would ever ride a Compact, no matter what condition their knees are in or how ferocious the gradient. Which, by extension, means that Compacts are for sissies. In fact, a true Flandrian would rather lose their national race than ride a Sissy Gear.
The first time we rode with Johan Museeuw, we were shocked to find him aboard one of his carbon/flax race machines – and a compact chainset. Not wanting to offend an Apostle by suggesting he’s riding his son’s bike, I asked him what he thought of it. “I don’t like it. The big ring isn’t big enough for climbing.”
The standard Flemish chainset is – and has been for as long as the Ancients have tracked these details in their sacred scrolls – either a 53T or 52T outer ring paired to a 42T inner ring. On the occasions when the parcours will see them scaling the Koppenberg or Kapelmuur, the Belgians make a concession and dust off their trusty 41T inner ring in order to shorten the gear by a whopping single tooth. In the mountains or over in Wallonia (the land of savages) where they are far from the prying eyes of their proud public, the Flemish hardman may allow his mechanic to bolt on a lowly 39T ring, so long as no one brings it up at the dinner table. (It is worth noting that in Cyclocross it is standard practice to ride a 38T inner ring.)
Museeuw has never been a grimpeur, not when he was a Pro and not now. On Keepers Tour 2013, we had the opportunity to do several more rides with him, one of which was over the roads of Liege-Bastogne-Liege. It was customary for him to suggest alternate routes that avoided the steep hills, and so it was that he tried to talk us out of riding the Stockeu. We rode up side-by-side, taking our time. As we alternated between pedaling and doing track stands, he asked if I was riding a compact. I feigned a combination of exasperation and insult at such a question and told him it was a Flemish Compact.
“Oh, a 39? Goed.”
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Belgian Compact/”/]
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I just finished up The Rules last night and perhaps my favourite entry was that accompanying Rule #90. The Apostle is definitely badass. 'The big ring isn't big enough for climbing' - I don't know that I'd even say that about my cross bike.
museeuw is only a doper!
I had a compact that came on my #1. I rode it for a season, but it never felt quite right. I switched to 53/39 (run 11/25 in the back), and even on the really big climbs around these parts, I seem to be faster (as evidenced by comparing on a site that has segments, that I may or may not use). Don't think I'll go back until my knees blow up.
Yup, feel the same way about them, scaler. My steel Casati has a compact and I have never, ever liked it. If my damn cx crankset hadn't died I could have put those funds towards a standard crankset. Gonna swap that out as soon as I can. My legs just don't get along with it. Ha, I've now got a Flemish compact on my cx bike, the 39 ring that came with the standard road crankset looks better than my 38 cross ring, paired with a 46.
How could you not ride like a stud in that kit, on that bike, with a white hairnet and those shades?
I've been riding a lot in basic kit, blacks and whites. Yesterday I pulled on an old multi-colored Lotto jersey. Damn, it was fun to get some color back in my life!
It doesn't matter what chainring size I could afford to put on my bike. I would still suck.
timely post as i just picked the braquets for my new #1 : 52-42 and 12-25
(was running 51-39 and 11-23)
As a mountain biker first who has now crossed over to the smoother side of things, the compact feels right for me at this point. I do feel like I'm cheating and hope to grow up to the full 53-39 soon. I'm always in awe as I watch the pros climb in the big plate and hate it when I try and succumb to the down shift.
I am currently building my new Number 1; going with a 110bcd crankset, giving me the ability to go 52x38, 52x36 or 50x34. I think it is a pretty good compromise. Personally I never felt the need for a 34 chainring, but I am dreaming of riding Mount Evans next summer, where I am sure to find The Man With The Hammer. Maybe the 34 will allow me to delay the meeting.
Or you could meditate on rule #5.
Rode the Audax ACE250 route as part of a small group earlier in the year, from Bright over Mt Hotham, Falls Creek and Tawonga Gap. 53-39 on front, 11-23 on rear. Ok, not seriously badass, but the back side of Falls Creek after Mt Hotham and 160km would get testy in the big ring. No compacts for me, thank you very much. http://www.cyclingprofiles.com.au/HTM/Audax/REC_ADXACE250.htm