cydewaze

I've been thinking about putting a compact crank on the beater bike, and this morning I was checking out Universal Cycles' website and they have an FSA Gossamer MegaExo for $166, plus a 10% off coupon. I had it added to cart and everything, but then I got cold feet.

Too many other bills and things to pay down before I go buying bike toys.

blandin

Maybe this will get you over the edge. A.E. Bike has Ritchey WCS compact cranks at $125.99. I put one on my KHS Flite 2000 earlier this year and it's great. Here's the link: https://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=CR3255

huytheskigod

https://www.fullcycles.com/product_in...roducts_id/279

$129.77

jet sanchEz

Hrm, what exactly is a compact crank*


*sorry for the super-newb question

cydewaze

It's a road double crankset with smaller chainrings than normal - usually 50/34 or 50/36 - that gives a lower gear range without going to a triple. It's helpful if you want lower gears without having to switch to a triple (and replace shifters, etc).

@blandin: The Ritchey WCS is a good crank, but I'd have to get a new BB for that (the FSA comes with BB) so the price wouldn't be much different.

@huytheskigod: Why did you have to post that?

Must.... resist....

blandin

I had no idea that the FSA could by had at that kind of price - including the BB, so that certainly trumps my Ritchey recommendation. I just picked up a new frame and was thinking about another wheelset to go with it and now I have this to contend with too. Damn you huytheskigod!

cydewaze

I wonder what the shipping is like from that place. Every once in a while I find a low price, then at checkout they hit you with a bloated shipping charge that makes up for the price difference.

blandin

Good question. I just added one to the cart at their website and went to check out and ground shipping is $9.10. Not bad.

huytheskigod

about $9.10 for ground shipping...don't know if that's bloated or not.

edit: ah you beat me to it

cydewaze

$9.10 is not bad at all. Universal wanted $7.99, so that's really only about a buck difference.

briscoelab

I bought mine from Full Cycles earlier this year when they had it on sale for that price. They shipped it quickly and there were no problems. I love mine!

blandin

For what it's worth, I discovered that the FSA Gossamer MEGAEXO Compact crank weighs in at 908 grams, BB included. That's kind of heavy for a compact. I run the Ritchey WCS with a DA 9 speed BB and the combined weight is around 775 grams. That doesn't offset the price difference considering the FSA comes with a BB, but it's worth considering.

Plainsman

FWIW, I swithced out my '05 Ultegra crank for the Gossamer compact Mega-Exo this past Fall. No regrets. Yes, it weighs a bit more, but I'm not a racer, and for the price the advantage of lower gearing far outweighs the weight gain, and for an "inexpensive" (relatively speaking), it has a really nice feel to it.

SteveE

I'm seriously considering swapping out my triple for a compact crank when I switch from 9-speed to 10-speed. I was wondering about the big jump between the chainrings. Do you guys who've made the switch shift to a smaller cog in the back when you shift to the small chainring?

cyclezen

Yup, the shift to smaller ring usually finds me having to back the rear down 2 or 3 cogs also.
Other issue for me is less choice of gears in the 70's to High 60's inches. Mostly cause even though I run 1 tooth difference until 17, then jump to 19. Losing that 18 means less one less gear in the 70's on a compact (also loses it on a std double).
The answer for me is just to have a straightblock 12-19 on my 8 gear block for those kinds of days and rides. Otherwise, I'll sacrifice the 12 and the 18 to get a 13-23 or 24 for more climbing days.

Thing I really dislike about current 'racing' STD doubles - 53x39 - the huge amount of gear overlap compared to a 53x42. They do that cause of the sheer number of cogs you have in a 9 and 10spd rear, less problem to double up, so easier to provide a lower end - wider spread of gears. I don't like all the overlap. You can;t be as cavalier if you're running a 7 or 8 spd setup.
If I'm using STD double, I run 52or53x42 (same for triples - 52x42x30) or use a compact 50x34.
I'm slowly moving all my road bikes to 'compact' and keeping triples on one training bike (the 'Do-It-All' daily rider) and one 'tour' machine. Gonna sell all the STD 53x39 cranks that aren't Olde ****e... err... vintage , yeah, vintage.

cydewaze

Yikes! Guess I shoulda checked weight weenies.

Oh well, it's not like the bike is a super lightweight anyway, being the beater and all, but I was hoping to either lose a little weight or break even with this swap. Right now it has an old DA 8-sp crank with the square taper BB, and I have no recollection of what that combo weighs.

blandin

Weight isn't always everything, I only brought it up because it is quite a difference. Given the bike you're using it on and the great price on the FSA it might be just what the doctor ordered.

Plainsman

Now that you mention it, I would have to say "not as much as you might think." I find that now I can spend most of my time in the 50 chainring. My front derailleur gets a lot less work than when I ran my 39/53. When I'm starting a decent climb, I've already shifting to a larger cog in the back, so the drop to the 34 chainnring is simply a welcome relief as I spin on up the hill For the most part, keeping it in the big ring up front has been the way to go.

blandin

That's been my experience as well, front ring almost all the time.

SteveE

I don't think the Santa Cruz Mtns will let me do that.

blandin

Not too many mountains in Sacramento, I'll defer to your knowledge of Santa Cruz!

cydewaze

You're probably right. In fact heavier = more ballast = better training.

2Rodies

I pulled the trigger on Thursday. I should have it installed next weekend. I got the SLK mega exo, that I will run with a 23/11 cassette. I also purchased a 36t inner ring for the flatter races. After doing alll the calcualations this package should give me all the gearing I need plus at a couple of the stage races keep me from having to change cassettes. I now only need to swap out a chain ring!

56/12 and 22/28

I think someone's a Weight Weenie...

blandin

I resemble that remark! Actually, I do look at weight, especially rotational weight, when considering components. Also, bringing my my Ellsworth in under 17 lbs. was fun and I do like the way it rides.