Lionheart

I have a Colnago C50 from about 2005 or 2006. It's got Campy Record 10 speed, with traditional 53/39 rings and 172.5mm cranks. I'd like to move to a compact chainring set-up. Does anyone know what my options are? Can I get by just replacing bottom bracket, cranks and rings? Or is there more to consider? I'm looking for suggestions and insight. Thanks in advance.
Danny

unterhausen

what chain rings are you thinking about getting? For example, you can get compact cranks with 46/36 chainrings. I assume your bike has a fitting on the frame for the front derailleur. That would be the only problem if it's not low enough for a compact. It would still shift, just not as well.

HillRider

You can't just change the chainrings on your existing crank since the bolt circle on your current crank (135 mm) won't take a chainring smaller than 39T, but you seem to know this.

If you buy a complete Campy compact crank it may be able to use the current bottom bracket depending on what you now have. Otherwise both a new crank and bottom bracket will be needed but that's all.

If you do have to change the bottom bracket, you aren't limited to a Campy crank anymore so any make of crank and matching bottom bracket can be used, probably at lower cost, unless "contaminating" your bike with non-Campy parts is unacceptable.

You will have to lower the front derailleur to obtain the proper clearance over the new large chainring but the current front derailleur and shifter should work fine.

Andrew R Stewart 

Back in the day when Shimano was just a raising presence and Colnago ruled we would joke that installing a Japanese component on an Italian frame would blister the paint. Something about Euro paint being incompatible with Asian metal... Andy

HillRider

Equally likely was the fact that European paint was notoriously poor back then. I recall that some importers would bring in bare frames and have them painted here. Maybe the Asian metal got an undeserved bad rap.

fietsbob

5 arm 135bcd? All you can do without buying a new crankset , is make the outer chain ring smaller .

Campagnolo Carbon fiber cranksets, I see, online just now, are now are 4 arm and offer 50-34t combinations..

Super Record crankset - Components Campagnolo..





Hope Your 'braze on FD ' can move down to a 50t radius , though I expect a 53 -36 combo can be done ,

buy the 4 arm 53-39 complete, + a 36t inner ring and swap.

your bike got a 'power torque' 2 piece, external bearing BB already?

Slash5

The Planet X Holdsworth crank is probably the cheapest and easiest way to get a vintage look compact crank. Otherwise you can use a Sugino or Stronglight crank for a reasonable vintage look.

HillRider

Uh, the OP currently has an '05 or '06 Campy Record crank. I don't think he is particularly interested in a "vintage look".

The lowest cost decent crank he might consider would be a Tiagra or 105 compact double and HTII bottom bracket if he doesn't want to stay with Campy.

fietsbob

Like to keep the Campag kit? Veloce is their basic level , they have an aluminum 5 arm (1 is the crank arm) 50-34.

Veloce crankset - Components Campagnolo silver or black finish.

Potenza is the lowest cost of the New 4 Arm type

https://www.campagnolo.com/US/en/Comp...za_11_crankset

As I read, They have 2 sets of bolt-circles, for each chainring .. to be bolted as close as practical to the outside diameter for stiffness.

<C> exclusive bolt circles too.. parts are thru them.





..

alcjphil

I recently did a similar switch, going from a 52/39 setup to a 52/36 semi compact crank. My new crank is a 4 arm Chorus Ultratorque 11 speed crank. Shifting is even better that with the previous 10 speed Ultratorque crank. The big advantage over the previous 5 arm crank is that there is no longer a need to buy a whole new crank to switch from standard to compact setups, all you need to buy are the chainrings. As well, you can buy replacement chainrings not only from Campagnolo, both Stronglight and TA make chainrings to fit these cranks

Pridedog

A year ago I made the switch you are talking about. I was running a Campy Ultra Torque Chorus crankset with 50/39 chainrings. I was able to get a Campy Ultra Torque Chorus compact crankset (50/34). It was a 2014 model I believe so it still had the 5 bolt rings (with the goofy offset). Since I already had the outboard bearing cups I didn't have to purchase anything except the crankset. Not wanting the 50 I was able to get a 46T Campy CX chainring. Bolted it all on, lowered the front derailleur slightly and it works like a charm. No other adjustments required. Good luck.

Lionheart

Thanks to everybody for the thoughtful responses. As I am considering this change expressly for increasing my lower gear range, I am drawn to the 50/36 option. And yes, I would like to avoid contaminating my rig with components other than Campy.

So, I think I'll look at the Campy Chorus ultra torque 4 bolt compact and see if I can't keep the scope of this project from stretching beyond rings, cranks and bottom bracket.

Whatever tools are required to a) remove old crank, and b) install new crank, I'm nearly certain I do not have. So, I'll likely be going to a LBS for the parts and the expertise.

You guys have been a great help. Thanks again for your responses.

Lionheart

Correction: I see the lowest ring option combination for Campy Chorus cranks are 50/34, not 50/36. Even better for me and my needs.

HillRider

50/34 is almost the dictionary definition of a "compact crank". Other variations are far less common.

shelbyfv

You might want to check UK prices for a new Chorus crank and bb and the Park Tool site for removal/installation instructions. It's not complicated, minimal tools are needed and prices may be astonishingly less than LBS for Campy. If you go below the Chorus level, you get Power torque cranks, which you'll want to avoid unless you are constrained by budget. You can google and read more than you want about that issue.

alcjphil

Yes, your options are either 50/34 or 52/36. The unique thing about Ultratorque cranks is that the BB bearings are attached to the crank spindle rather than the BB cups, so the cups are relatively inexpensive

alcjphil

Chorus cranks are Ultratorque, not Powertorque

shelbyfv

Yes, that was my point

alcjphil

Sorry, misread your post. Up too early today

shelbyfv

Lionheart

Hi again,

Well, I decided to go with your suggestions. I got the Campy Chorus compact crank (50/34). My pedals were pretty old. So, I got a new pair of Look Keo's. I put it all on my rig last night. As suggested the front derailleur needed to be dropped down a bit, no problem. The limit screws needed a little adjustment, no problem. I now see that I'll need to either remove a link (or two) from my chain, or replace the chain too. The chain is Campy record super narrow. My local LBS guy suggested adding a quicklink. Do you guys agree?

Thanks again for all the advice and wisdom.

fietsbob

Manufacturers are putting 50-34t cranks on road bikes a Lot..

Campag took the liberty of making 4 bolts 110 circle, 5th one is not,

thereby having you going back to them for a replacement chainring in the future.

might be time for a new Cassette, then a new chain and yes why not get one with a master /quick link?
the 'Speeds' count is the data for chain selection across the brands ..




...

markjenn

I just did a similar conversion of my 53/39 Campy-equipped mid-90's 9s Litespeed. I wanted lower gears and 10s if possible. I looked at a lot of options including converting to Shimano or SRAM, but I didn't want to replace the wheels and my Record rear hub was the interface that sorta kept me in the Campy boat. I looked at piecemeal replacement but with the prices of complete groupsets from the UK vendors, it just made more sense to get a completely groupset. I ended up with a Veloce 10-speed compact setup (50/34 and 13-29) and paid about $310 to my door for everything - crank, bottom bracket, chain, FD, RD, cassette, shifters, cables, and brakes. Works swimingly.

- Mark

TimothyH

Check Bicycle Recyclery.
He has all kinds of Campy drivetrain parts.


-Tim-

rm -rf

On Campagnolo 10 speed (ultra narrow) chains, I always used the Connex Link 10 speed, the 6.1 mm one. The previous version, slightly wider, seemed okay too. It's extremely simple to install or remove without tools. Just make sure you are holding both ends of the chain when removing the link, otherwise one of the link halves will go flying across the room.

I used the same Connex link on at least two chains. Even though it's only held on by chain tension, it never comes loose.

On 11 speed, these were $25 or more, so I switched to Sram Powerlock 11. It's quite easy to install without tools, but needs a tool to remove.