I've been wanting to try a compact crankset, so I just competed some upgrades to my KHS Flite 2000 adding a compact crank and a few other items. I'm going to ride it for the first time tomorrow morning and I'm anxious to see what kind of difference it makes. Details and pictures below.

Parts added as part of upgrade:
- Ritchey WCS 110 V Compact Crankset – 580 gms
- IRD CD front derailleur - 88 grams
- Dura Ace bottom bracket – 173 gms
- Forte Pro Mg Ti Road Pedal – 200 gms/pr
- New total weight with pedals: 17.5 lbs.
Bike now has Ritchey, cranks, seat post, stem and bars, Fizik Arione saddle, Velomax Circuit wheelset, IRD FD, Dura Ace BB, Ultegra 6500 brifters, 12/25 cassette and rear derailleur.

Nice...

I just put the same crankset on my roadie last week. Had a good ride last Saturday (86 miles) including a nice 5 mile climb. The compact crank was great, and I was still easily able to hit almost 50mph down the back side of the climb. I didn't change the FD - just using the stock 105 - and am having no shifting issues (have about 200 miles on it now).

Very tempted to try out an Arione myself...

Blandin or Stubacca,

Is your crankset a little out of true?? I have the same and it has a high spot that makes the chain rub on the front der. I got almost 1000 miles on mine and no other complaints.

are those performance forte carbon bottle cages i see? btw.. you bike looks so nice and clean!!

Hi Gomez, I just got back from my first ride of 27 miles with my compact cranks, and I didn't notice a high spot nor experience chain rub on the front derailleur.

Hi veneer,
1. Yes those are Performance Forte Carbon Cages, 32 gms each.
2. Thanks for the compliment. I never intentionally ride in the rain and I also keep my bikes as clean as possible.

cool.. that makes the two of us. riding in the rain is just not healthy for the tranny...
btw... those forte cages.. are they strong? i'm afraid it might snap or something..

The model I'm running is last year's version and Performance has them on sale for $19.95. As to strength, they are very tough and flexible and having used them without issue for more than a year, it never occurred to me they might break. At the sale price, now's the time to buy!

Weeelllll nowww! Ain't that a purty thing?

So what does it feel like to have the compact crank? Just lowers you're gearing overall?

I road the new crank for the first time today and I'm not sure if I noticed that much difference or if I simply have to get used to them and/or find the right gear and cadence. There's one steep climb on my standard ride and I didn't find it measurably easier that with my standard double and 12-27 cassette combination. I've installed the compact setup on one of my four bikes, so I should be able to tell more as I continue to ride and switch between standard and compact. I got a great deal on the Ritchey crankest and it looks great on my bike together with the other Ritchey components, so even it doesn't provide a big difference in riding, I'm still going to be happy with the move.

thanks blandin.. i'm definitely going to need those on my new ride...

Haven't noticed a problem with mine. It does sit out a tiny bit further than the 105 double did, so I did adjust the limit screws a touch.

It does a bit more than simply lower your gearing overall... it seems to have put me in the tighter part of the cassette for more of my riding.

For example, I used to use 39 with 15-17-19-21 for most small hills, with the 24 and 27 for climbing. Now, the 34 with 13-14-15-17-19 gives me the same ratio spread, so essentially I've picked up an extra gear (thus smaller jumps between gears) for light hills.

Did you lower the FD? I am about to install mine and I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I know you addressed this to stubacca, but I'll chime in nonetheless, my LBS mechanic recommended that I get the IRD CD Derailleur, which I did. It could be because I have a braze on which limits the vertical movement of the FD. In any case, the IRD works fine - I paid $39.95 for it at Excel Sports.

I have a clamp on FD, so lowered it to the correct height for the new crankset, and adjusted the cable.

Blandin - you might be right about the clamp/braze on issue. I noticed they only make that IRD derailleur in braze on...