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Look Pro: The Flemish Compact

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/”/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

frank says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:19 am

@Marko

Don't look now but The Lion is in Rule #37 violation.

Eyewear always goes under hairnets for the same reason they go over helmets, which is to say the Ancients on Mt Velomis have made it so without explanation. ( Rule 37 only applies to helmets.)
unversio says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:24 am

@PeakInTwoYears I'm with you. With diligence I have stocked 52s and 42s in the flat drawer. 11-21 is a good choice most all season. And 13-26 in winter just to say that all things may slow down -- as most might expect. I believe -- that 52/42 also demands that you do not indulge any current or previous habit of cross-chaining.
frank says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:28 am

@Souleur

I say that to say this, like any gear, its all about the mind, your will and your will being superior to the extent you submit everything else to IT, including your gear. See Rule V for reference

Poetry.
frank says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:35 am

@Balexander

@gianni is right. 52/42 is where it's at. Shifting is crazy smooth, all the time, and combined with lots of spokes and some nice heavy steel, that'll get your legs in Rule V shape. I had a 50/34 on my CX build for a little while because they are super cheap, and it either wouldn't shift at all, or drop the chain half the time. Drove me crazy.

I've been watching with bemusement as more and more compacts wind their way onto CX bikes. The outer ring is too big for grinding the steep stuff, and the 34 is waaaaaay to small to keep traction going. I have never once used the inner ring on a CX course; you can ride the short steep bits on a 42T or 44T outer ring and keep your traction going (admitting full well that you'll be crossing the chain in some cases). No need for small BCDs on CX rigs.

On gravel rigs, its a totally different matter - in fact, I was very tempted to get a compact and if I'd have been able to find one under the circumstances (long story) I would have taken it for that situation. Gravel forest roads can get seriously steep.
frank says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:38 am

@scaler911

No idea what size rings Big Mig is running here, but I can guarantee it ain't no compact.

Great shot, and some belly breathing to boot. It always amazed me how much his legs sweat. Next Look Pro will have to be on sweaty legs.
PeakInTwoYears says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:38 am

It's true, though, looking at big rings and a straight block is exciting--like looking at the muzzle of a big-bore revolver.
frank says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:40 am

@scaler911

Pretty sure you don't need to "gear down" for 'cross either.

Two in a row. Top marks, my man. Top marks.

Those are manly CX tires, too. I'm guessing 28mm file treads.

And with this we close the question and answer portion of "Why is Roger DeVlaeminck More Manly Than You?"
frank says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:42 am

@unversio

@PeakInTwoYears I'm with you. With diligence I have stocked 52s and 42s in the flat drawer. 11-21 is a good choice most all season. And 13-26 in winter just to say that all things may slow down "” as most might expect. I believe "” that 52/42 also demands that you do not indulge any current or previous habit of cross-chaining.

Good point, what is the quality of your character when you're in the 53 but crossed over into your 32T in the back?

None quality.
frank says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:55 am

@PeakInTwoYears

It's true, though, looking at big rings and a straight block is exciting-like looking at the muzzle of a big-bore revolver.

Machine gun jumblies? How did I miss those?
wiscot says:

Aug 13 2013 at 10:58 am

@Cyclops

@frank

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."

Yeah, but the Apostle also rode a Colnago sporting a Group-san so WTF does he know?

His glasses are also under his helmet straps. Tsk, tsk, tsk.