what are the square taper compact crankset options out there? double chain rings only. not triple. i tried a FSA (vero?) one, but i did not like it.

did suntour ever make one?

Very few older ones that I know of. Shimano made a compact triple for the RSX group.

Shimano makes a current compact double with a square taper, and I just bought one on CL.
I'll try to get the model #.

Campy made a compact double, a Centaur, that uses a square taper BB.

I'm familiar with the FSA Vero, and it's the only modern choice I've seen.

Campy also made a compact double Veloce, std. square taper. I have one on 50/34 on my Trek franken commuter.

AFAIK "compact" chainrings are a modern concept, since you really need a freehub mechanism that can take a 12 or 11t smallest cog to benefit (on a roadbike anyways), and that excludes any bike with a freewheel. However, you can make almost any crankset "compact" by installing smaller chainrings, assuming the BCD is small enough, see the column labeled "smallest ring" on this chart from the Sheldon Brown site:
Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Crank/Chainring Bolt Circle Diameter Crib Sheet

For an example, consider my '83 Stumpjumper with a Sugino AT crank (110bcd) that's set up as a compact double (48-38 rings). I'm using this crankset this way because I don't really need the very small gear of a triple crank, and this lets me use a narrower BB spindle.

I saw an RSX compact double at recycled cycles today.

Sugino pioneered the 110 BCD, AFAIK, so even when they didn't equip their cranks with small rings, they're a good candidate for them. I have a set of Sugino GT cranks in the basement set up with 48/34 rings, waiting for the right bike.

IMO, Sugino is the way to go:
Universal Cycles -- Sugino XD2 Compact Crank Arms

Agree with Jeff, the Sugino cranksets are lovely and do the job (I have several, two set up as doubles and two as 'compact triples' with 50/34/24 gearing). But any 'small BCD' crankset can be converted to a compact-type with the proper rings and still look vintage. SR Apex triples with an 86 BCD work great (have one of those with 48/34 on my '82 Faema) as do Sugino GT's with 110 BCD (got one of them on my Cannondale SR500).


Might be easier to find the FSA or Truvativ square tapers, which work fine but IMHO are not as aesthetically pleasing on a vintage build.

I use a sugino alpina compact on my merckx, it serves me well and looks pretty while doing it!




Not sure if they are still in production...

Sugino is a good option, also try Velo Orange. The Gran Cru has a large selection of chainrings available and a retro look to them.

Marc

I saw a newer steel bike on another forum equipped with an older campy crank, one of their MTB offerings - looked like a C-record era road crank, but sporting two rings in 'compact' configuration (50/34 or 50/36?).

I believe that crankset was a triple (110/74), but only running the two rings. Looked very elegant on a new custom steel frame, and would look equally so on an older one.

A viable sort of option, IMHO. Even if you're running a crank designed as a triple, no one's holding you to use it as such - provides many more 'vintage' options. The particular example I just cited would be a great work-around for Campy purists wanting to mess with gearing in this way while still matching kit of the era...probably not the best specific route for most, of course! I think that Campy MTB equipment ain't cheap or plentiful. A nice 80s Deore XT unit, or something like that, might provide alternative aesthetic options at reasonable cost.

It would likely be most practical to just source one of the Sugino cranksets mentioned in the posts above, of course. I have one on reserve to fill just such a need as soon as it (inevitably) arises. Nice cranks, and reasonably priced.

Indeed. TA "Pro 5," Stronglight 99, even Zeus 2000. Here's my 48 x 36 Zeus:

+ 1. Also this, Sugino XD Swiss Cross(48-34t) Double Crankset

Not that modern. There are a number of different French cranks that are compact; the sugino mighty tour has been around for a long time. Compact cranks have only recently become popular and that is helped no doubt by modern cassettes since you can have a pretty wide ranging rear and have reasonable jumps between your gears. I recently set up a vintage bike with a compact crank:

I bought a new old stock Shimano Tourney compact with Square Taper off of eBay. Not pretty, but functional.

I have this on my Velo Routier.

I've got the compact Campagnolo crankset that came off my 1987 Fuso. It's in a box somewhere. I'll see if I can find it or a picture of it.




There you go.

^-- Doesn't look very "compact" to me.

Since we're all posting pictures, here's that Sugino I mentioned earlier:



All dressed up and no place to go.

I would guess that the Campagnolo crank you're describing is a Euclid:
VeloBase.com - Component: Campagnolo M040, Euclid

I like this one.

Same with your Velo Routier.

Like others have said Campy and Sugino have both made compact doubles in very degrees of quality in square taper. Most nicer Sugino 110 cranksets will take a set 110 of compact rings. I have an ancient set of Sugino's with a fixed outer modified 52/36 to basically compact on one of my bikes.

I've got a Sugino on my Trek 500 and just ordered a Velo Orange 110 fluted set for my '83 road Trek 970. Will be using 46 - 36 rings on both. Sugino MTB rings on the Sugino and some rare Campy rings on the VO (Note: must have 110 BC all around Campy rings and not the ones with one arm offset).

Good point Campy did run some supper tight BB's 102mm-105mm and Offsets on theere cranks and rings.

Yeah these are some kind of earlier MTB rings I found on Ebay that are uniform 110 around. Don't know how many of those are around out there.

I've got the VO Fluted cranks on my Torpado. Very nice...