Chromeracer

Any advice on what compact chainset I could use with a 6 speed friction shifting system? Square taper bb, Campag friction shifters, Campag NR rear mech, Campag NR front mech, currently have a Campag Record crankset with 144 BCD and 52/42 chainrings.

I know I could upgrade the frame but don't want to. I know I could upgrade the entire groupset to a modern one but don't want to!

Thanks!

Salamandrine 

The usual old school choice would be TA. You could also go with vintage Stronglight 49. Lastly there are many new retro cranks from SunXCD, Velo Orange, Herse and probably others I've forgotten.

Ex Pres 

I'm using a Sakae CX and an SX on two bikes, both 110BCD and from the 80's. You'd probably need to swap the BB for a longer one, too. Sakae made a bunch of 110 models. See velobase

Wildwood 

There are some Holdsworth branded cranks available - new. I forget who is distributing, but British company. You may not want a Holdsworth brand tho'.

edit: here's the link: https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CSHOCNC...retro-crankset

gugie 

SunTour XCD and Velo Orange are two brands of 50.4 BCD cranksets you could use. If you want to stay vintage, TA and Stronglight 50.4 BCD cranksets are readily available on eBay.

Salamandrine 

Yeah, it should be noted that vintage TA or stronglight would probably work with the old BB. New cranks probably will need a longer spindle.

Lascauxcaveman 

Another choice would be an SR Apex triple, with two rings instead of three. Oddball BCD, but a nice retro look. Probably needs a long-ish spindle, haven't used the one I have yet.

Slash5

The Holdsworth crank. Easy to setup and shifts nicely. Pinned and ramped.

Wildwood 

Wish I had known about the PlanetX offering before I bought another crankset for my Harding badged Holdsworth.
Still might.

embankmentlb

That crank makes for a nice looking setup!

Narhay

Your NR rear derailleur may have issues with chain wrap. I had a 49/39 with a 14-28 rear cluster and I was at the theoretical max for chain wrap.

nlerner

In the vintage realm, a Stronglight 99 or other 86 bcd crankset will give you a wide range of possibilities, or take a 110/74 triple and just use two rings.

embankmentlb

Another vintage option is a Campy Victory or Triomphe crankset. They except rings down to 35 teeth. Not an easy thing to find but out there.

RobbieTunes

Shimano Exage in compact, rub off the logo and polish it to a shine. 110BCD was around then.

rccardr 

There are a bunch of 80's Sugino and Shimano cranks out there that are 110 doubles or 110/74 triples with stenciled logos that are easily removed during the polishing process. Some of them have a lot of offset and require long-ish spindles, but nothing that an enterprising C&V'er can't handle. Although somewhat plain in design, they blend well with many groupsets.

Must admit the SR Apex is a favorite of mine, goes well with either old Dura Ace or Campagnolo, but the BCD's are kinda funky. You can't have mine.

JohnDThompson 

Stronglight 99 and certain Sakae Ringyo "Apex" cranks have a useful 86mm BCD to allow rings as small as 28T. Zeus Criterium and 2000 cranks have a 120mm BCD that allows rings as small as 36T, but these are hard to find. And vintage Sugino "Mighty Tour" and "AT" cranks use the now ubiquitous 110mm bcd that allows rings as small as 34T.

bikemig 

Chromeracer: I'm pretty much in the same boat as you are. I have an older bike with campy NR stuff on it and I'm looking for a replacement crank. I like the stronglight 99 but good luck finding 86 bcd rings. Hilary Stone in the UK has them and Spa cycles might but not readily available in the US. TA 50.4 bcd rings are more readily available. The old French cranks look really good and may be your best choice if staying vintage.

You should check out the offerings from IRD. Not the cheapest around but the looks will go well with your campy stuff. You can get a compact 50-34 or a wide compact 46-30. Cranksets/Crank Arms I'm leaning towards the IRD wide compact. Replacement rings are available (94 bcd). It works with a modern BB (shimano sealed) and the rings are ramped and pinned.

Chromeracer

Thanks for all the input here, really appreciate it. I have plenty of options then
@Slash5 I emailed planetX about their Holdsworth crank (Holdsworth Retro Crankset | Planet X) and they said it wouldn't work with my retro freewheel. But good to know it would do.

The Golden Boy 

The SR Apex is the same BCD as the Stronglight 99.

Lots of different sizes and types of rings available.

rhm

How would it not work?


Other options, real vintage options, include...

The SR Custom Three (I think the rings on this are 50 and 36):


Sugino Mighty Tour (shown as a triple, but just as easy to run as a double; wide variety of 110mm bcd rings available, as small as 34t)


This Shimano 600 had great potential, but they didn't make very many of them and they didn't make a wide enough variety of chain rings:

Chromeracer

@rhm I presumed it was because the Holdsworth retro-look crankset is 10 speed compatible so isn't the tooth spacing different?! Thanks for the ideas, love the SR Custom Three

Slash5

What's your setup? That's a six speed Grand Prix it's on right now. I''ll have to admit I haven't rode it much but you could always run a 9 speed chain if necessary.

JohnDThompson 

Some of them are, anyway. Sakae Ringyo made a number of different cranks under the "Apex" moniker. There is the 86mm BCD model you mention, and also a 118mm BCD model, and a 144mm BCD model.

I think "Apex" was used to indicate a forged crank, while "Custom" was used to indicate a cast (aka "melt forged") crank, regardless of the BCD used. There was an 86mm BCD "Custom" crank as well.

bikemig 

Why not? It's just a crank.

86 mm bcd chain rings? Where? I've been looking for some. The best sources I've found are in the UK, particularly Hillary Stone.

Lascauxcaveman 

Spa Cycles, Harrowgate England. I've ordered from them in the past, shipping price and times quite reasonable. Stronglight Zircal 86bcd rings starting at £17.00