Originally Posted by vampares

With only 9 speeds a triple seems to me to be the only good option. You still may need a long rear derailleur. Thats a lot less than a new crank though. How long is your crank anyways? A goofy compact could do it but you need to mix and match some rear sprokets and the chainrings. And the front derailleur would have a lot of work to do but you only have to worry about the two rings of course. 54 - 29 Got shift ramps?