SRAM also majors on single rings across its mountain bike range, from SX Eagle through to the flagship XX T-Type Eagle Transmission. And last but not least, the developers envisioned a Shimano GRX group that delivers top performance in gravel racing while offering options that make it affordable for cost-conscious drivers. By setting these design goals, Shimano has developed components that are also suitable for cyclocross, bike adventures and almost every similar type of bicycle diszplin. Simply put, the Shimano GRX is the world's best way to move freely and discover new territory on the Gravel bike.

What’s more, the move to 12-speed gearing means the standard double crankset is no longer standard on the latest WorldTour bikes featuring SRAM or Shimano groupsets. Yep. I noticed this with a few people I've ridden with - particularly on gently rolling terrain - they were swapping frequently between big-big and small-small. Fitting a wider range cassette isn't really a proper solution. I'm very impressed with the FSA Energy Modular BB386EVO crankset. It shifts well, provides a useful drop in gear range, looks good and is straightforward to fit. It's a bit pricey compared with similar-quality chainsets like Shimano Ultegra, but I think the lower gears it provides are worth it. If you want a chainset that provides a substantial reduction in your overall gearing, it's currently your best option. Verdict Those looking for something sub compact double chainset, the FSA Omega Adventurer range has 48/32 46/30 also 50/34. You can’t easily swap the number of chainrings your bike is set up for, because the front derailleur and associated shifter will be specific for your setup and would need to be replaced, too.

SRAM SX Eagle 12 Speed Mountain Bike Chainset

It is also worth being aware that many of these gravel inspired subcompact cranksets also adhere to the new “wide” standard. The chainrings sit 2.5mm further out than a standard road compact crankset. With some frames, this difference alone will require that a wide derailleur be used in conjunction. Sometimes some experimentation at the shop level is necessary to figure out how things will work. Subcompact Crank Conclusions

I think one more improvement will put a bigger smile on my face, and that is changing my cassette from a 12/30 to a SRAM 11/32. It will get me a bit lower low gear and a bit higher high gear. My 105 rear derailleur is supposed to handle up to 32 teeth, and I have about half of my B-tension screw left for adjustment. A run-down about which speed chainsets work with which speed groupsets would be very helpful for me to read. Seems for example if your bike has an 8 speed groupset (still not at all uncommon on entry level road bikes), your options for chainwheel upgrades are very limited. Is a double 9 speed chainset ok to put with a double 8 speed group? I've been told that with a double 8 speed groupset a 10 speed would have issues and 11 speed a no-go with major issues. For 8 and 9 speed chainsets, it doesn't seem there are a lot of options to chose from. With speeds having increased a lot of over time looks like there are no high spec (lightweight) 8 and 9 speed chainsets made by any manufacturers nowadays though maybe I have missed something. Great point about the excess front shifting because the high and low ranges cross over just where you spend the majority of your time. I've just fitted a 12 to 28 cassette on my road bike because on rolling roads there were too many changes with the 11-25. No other combination or mix of rings will work. Due to special mounting construction, aesthetic bolt covers are not offered for this design

SRAM Force DUB 2x12 Speed Chainset

Don’t forget that at a cadence of 90rpm, with a 48x11 gear combination, you are riding at 50kph,” says Bellin, himself a former pro. Place the spacer (if required) on the drive side of your crank, this has the effect of pushing the crank rings out slightly and thus allowing proper adjustment on the lower limit on the FD The crankset is the engine room of your bike, so ensure you're pedalling on all cylinders with top quality bike cranks from Wiggle.

If a 48/31 subcompact sounds appealing, remember that most front derailleurs are designed to work best with a maximum chainring difference of 16 teeth, i.e. 50 – 34 = 16, 48 – 32 = 16, or 436 – 30 = 16. If you switch to a Shimano RX810 48/31 crankset you may want to replace your front derailleur with the Shimano GRX FD-RX810 front derailleur, designed to work with a 17-tooth difference, for maximum front shifting performance. For those who may find this worth considering but feel that a 46-tooth front chainring is unacceptably low, they might consider the Shimano GRX FC-RX810 crankset, with a 48/31 gear combination. This combination will provide a higher top end than a 46, while the 31-tooth chainring will offer a climbing gear that is just slightly higher than a 30. Or maybe consider the various offerings by Shimano, Praxis, FSA, Rotor, etc., of a 48/32 combination. As you can see, there are a lot of options that allow riders to tailor their gearing to specific desires. Subcompact Front Derailleur CaveatsIn use, the Energy Modular feels just like, well, a chainset. There's no detectable flex from the arms, 30mm axle or the outer chainring (which also does service as the spider, supporting the inner ring). The FSA Energy Modular sits below the K-Force and SL-K chainsets, both of which have carbon fibre cranks, but above the aluminium Gossamer, Omega and Tempo chainsets.

The Eagle moniker represents the American company’s wide-ranging, 12-speed, single-ring only groupsets. Its top-end XX T-Type Eagle crankset is available with 32, 34, 36 or 38-tooth chainrings, while the cheaper lines tend to offer a subset of these sizes, usually 30, 32 or 34-teeth. I particularly notice the difference climbing. Just seems to be easier and I feel like I’m turning circles rather than ‘mashing’." The chainset, called a crankset in some parts of the world, is the name given to the chainrings and the crank arms that turn them. Different chainsets make a big difference to the character of your bike and the way it feels when you ride. Choose from the latest road bike cranksets and MTB cranksets from the world's biggest component brands, with a choice spanning entry level to pro. Swapping from a double to a triple, or the reverse, is quite an expensive process because you need to change other groupset components too.If you want a lower climbing gear, or tighter gear jumps, one of the several subcompact cranksets on the market could be a great option for you. Many riders will get undeniable climbing benefits with minimal disadvantages changing from a 50/34 to a 46/30.