Bicycle Mechanics - Campy centaur chainring

Hi all,

I'm thinking about getting the new UT centaur crankset 39/53. I want to put it on my cyclocross bike with already has a 2006 centaur drivetrain...except for the crankset...of course.

I have the feeling that 53/39 will be too much for cyclocross, especially that I run an 11-23 cassette. My question is: Is it possible to switch the 53 outter chainring for a 48 (48/39 configuration)? If yes, where can I buy them?

Eventually I could also put a 13-29 cassette.

Thanks for your input.

There is an alloy Centaur CT 50/34 crankset if 53/39 seems too big. I have one on a bike that also has a 13-29 cassette. I have found it to be a good combination.

There is an alloy Centaur CT 50/34 crankset if 53/39 seems too big. I have one on a bike that also has a 13-29 cassette. I have found it to be a good combination.

I've the same setup, 50/34 and 13-29 on my cross bike. If you live
in FL. it may not matter but we have some hills in CO. I never made
the measurements or did the arithmetic, but cross tires have a larger
diameter than your standard 700-23 so the effect is higher ratios.

Do you ever use 50/34-13/29 setup in road conditions?

I imagine that riding with 23mm tires with a gear ratio like that, you must run out of speeds pretty quick....flat sections, going down hill for example...

I have lots of hills near my home, so the range comes in handy. I suppose in flat parts of Florida, a closer cassette cog cluster might be more useful. I never ride with 23mm tires anyway, 700x25 is my narrowest, and really I like 28mm or bigger.

Sheldon Brown's Harris Cyclery web page lists 50T Campy chainrings in 135 mm BCD but nothing in 48T. Look here: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/chainrings/135.html

Try Peter White (www.peterwhitecycles.com). He carries TA Specialties 110 BCD chainrings that can be used with 110/74-compatible cranksets. They make 48t rings, and many other sizes. He says these are compatible with 10-speed Campy drivetrains.

Thanks for the info and links!
I think I'll first give it a try 39/53 with 11-23 cassette and see how hard it gets....From there I'll make a decision....

Try Peter White (www.peterwhitecycles.com). He carries TA Specialties 110 BCD chainrings that can be used with 110/74-compatible cranksets. They make 48t rings, and many other sizes. He says these are compatible with 10-speed Campy drivetrains.
They won't fit his current Centaur crank which has a 135 mm BCD. The may fit a new compact Centaur but only if Campy has gotten away from their proprietary bolt pattern (110 mm but with one bolt off-set so no one else's chainrings fit.)