So what does a guy do when he invests $3,795 on  SRM wireless training system Dura-Ace 7900 in a 53T/39T standard chainring set up and you sometimes wish you had a little more climbing gears BUT don’t want to buy a compact SRM crankset?  Well you seek out the the largest manufacturer of performance bicycle accessories in North America– Blackspire Designs and source a 38T chain ring.

The quality of the 38T chaining is excellent.  My shifting hasn’t been effected at all.  The spread for my chainrings is now 15 teeth, well within the maximum allowable range by Shimano’s Di2 front derailleur.  The new Shimano drivetrains, specifically the rear derailleur, now allows the use of an 11-28 cassette.  A 38T Chain ring and and the 28T cog and you have an easier gear to climb the steeper stuff.

I would strongly recommend using the Blackspire 38T chain ring if you just need a little help with your climbing.

Newport Coast Drive in 38 x 28T holding a 100 Rpm average cadence.  Notice the grey line (torque) average was only 210 lb-in and lower than my average power of 250 watts (yellow).

Now compare the higher torque on the bottom portion of Newport Coast Drive and you will see the torque line skyrocket on the 8ish percent grade.

What to glean from the chart above:

39 x 27– 38.4 Gear Inches

38 x 28–  36.1 Gear Inches – Smaller Gear Inches makes it easier to climb

At 8 Mph

39 x 27- 70 Rpm

38 x 28- 74 Rpm – higher cadence means a little easier to pedal to maintain the same speed up a climb

At 80 Rpm:

39 x 27 – 9.1 Mph

38 x 28- 8.6 Mph  – being able to have a lower Mph while having the same cadence just another way to show it will be a lot easier.

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 39T Chain Ring

Blackspire 38T Chainring