Need an advise on 53/39 vs 50/34 Crankset

[RESTONTODC]

I have been riding FSA 50/34 for years and feel great. Recently, I bought a new upgraded bike with SRAM Red 53/39 crankset for weekend rides and often got drop on climbing the long hills. Would the 50/34 help?

Before buying another SRAM Red 50/34 Crankset, I want see if anyone else experienced the same issue or I’m getting old.

Thanks.
Rick

Topic

[ponchera]

Allow me revive this thread. After a a couple weeks of riding the bike including different commuting routes, I find that taking hills when on the way back home through the Custis Trail is a bit challenging and will burn me out half way through the commute. I know it will get better as my condition improves but I was wondering if it would help to change my CAADX from a 46/36 to 50/34.

My bike has a BB30 bottom bracket shell with a FSA Gossamer 36/46 setup and 12-25 10spd cassette. (hopefully i said that right, i was copying and pasting from another site )

Is this an easy / low cost upgrade that would significantly ease up my commute? Feel free to tell me “pedal harder fatty, it will get better”.

[jabberwocky]

36 to 34 isn’t much of a change… About a 6% change in gear low gearing. It will make it easier, but not dramatically so.

You might consider getting a 12-28 cassette instead. Going from a 25 to a 28 gives you a 12% change in low gearing, or about double the advantage of switching cranks. And a cassette swap would probably be cheaper.

[Author]

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