chains for different size rings
 

I've started building another bike, a Terry Dolan alloy road frame that has the original Shimano square taper bottom bracket fitted. The bb is in good condition so I've decided to use it and start looking for a compact 34/50 chainset. This will be an Ebay special 'cos of cost. when new the bike was fitted with a Dura Ace group set. I assume a 10 speed Shimano setup will be the most cost effective for me. I am thinking of 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace - whatever turns up for my budget. But the chainset can be anything that will fit the bb. So, what other makes will fit Shimano bb? FSA, SRAM...? Also, I've seen some 7/8/9 speed chainsets offered, but I assume 10 speed chains will be too narrow to fit those chain rings. This is going to be a slow process as all the components I need are the most expensive parts of the bike. I'd appreciate any suggestions, hopefully they will stop me buying expensive parts that won't work with the rest of the bike......:( Thanks for reading

Looking for a crank that fits your BB is akin to looking for a car that fits a transmission you found.
You pick your crank and then use the BB it needs.

10 spd chain will work ok on 8/9/10 spd cranks and it is likely it would work on 5/6/7 speed cranks
although older chain wheels may not have the ramps, tooth shape and pins that so much improve shifting
in modern era CW. The inside measurement of chains has changed very little compared with the outside
width. CW separations on 5/6/7 speed are wider than 10spd like and 8spd is also a little wider than
9-10 spd cranks but chain catchers can assist here with compact systems.

I agree with the above points. I'll add more. If the next crankset has the wider ring to ring spacing of a 7/8 speed design the narrow 10 speed chain might tend to not drop down into the teeth of the small ring, it might ride up on the teeth tops. If this same crankset is used with a 10 speed indexed ft, the ft der movement might not be enough (as controlled by the 10 speed shifter) to end up without chain rub on the ft der cage. Of course if you use a friction ft shifter then this concern is moot.


I have a number of bikes with mixed systems but all either use Campy ergo or bar end levers. Many also have 1990s/1980s tapered square cranksets with 34/36 by 46 ring set ups. The 46T are of modern ramped/pined/shift gated designs. I've ran this range for years before the term "compact" was a dream of a marketing department searching a reason to sell more to those who already have. Andy.

Go to your local bike co-op and see if they have a MTB or touring Sugino Crankset. You can take the granny off and use the crank - likely only a few dollars. You can always try on your BB but likely will need a longer one.