JoeOxfordCT

I have one ordered.....

I am currently running the new FSA Energy compact w/MegaExo BB.
105 FD & 105 brifters with a Ultegra long cage RD & a IRD 11-32 cassette.
I have also ordered an XT top pull long cage RD to handle the 32t as the Ultegra is only rated for 27t.
Bike originally came with a triple; 50-39-30.

It actually shifts pretty good now but can be a little noisy in some combos.

Will there big a big difference once I get the C-16 installed ???
I hope so......

blandin

I have the same crankset and I got the C-16 out of the gate, so I can't really tell you how one compares to the other, only that the C-16 works as expected. I'm running a 12-27 DA cassette. All in all I am very happy with the cranks and especially the price.

JoeOxfordCT

So how many gears can you run quietly with your setup before shifting to the other chainring ?
I can run about 8 in either chainring right now......
I wasn't sure I'd like the compact but after 2 rides this weekend I love it !
I just have a little noise that hopefully these last 2 components will address and I should be all dialed in...

blandin

8 out of 10 sounds about right, but I've never really counted. I'll have to pay closer attention the next time I ride my SRS-3.

huytheskigod

I really liked the c-16 when i was running it. It's on my girlfriend's bike now. Just be aware, they come a little stiff and the shifting will take a little more effort until the springs break in.

JoeOxfordCT

Why aren't you using it anymore ?

Blandin, was your C-16 stiff when you first were using it ??

Thanks for the feedback.....thought I get more riders using it but....

dtrain

I have a C-16, but haven't used it yet. My compact crankset is still on it's way. So, yeah, I'm a lot of help.

JoeOxfordCT

Well I guess you better subscribe to this thread so when I post some feedback about it you'll be in the loop.....
Mine should be here by Thursday...I should be riding on it by Saturday...I'm doing the Great River Ride in MA on Sunday so I'll probably post some info on Monday....

What crank did you order and from where ?
I just ordered/installed the new FSA Energy w/the MegaExo BB from https://www.repartocorse.com/ for $139. I rode it yesterday and this morning and so far I love it.....should be even better with the C-16...

huytheskigod

My current bike doesn't have a compact crank on it. That's why I'm not using it. It is on my girlfriends bike and she loves it. I'm considering buying another one and putting it on the commuter I'm building.

DrPete 

I have the Gossamer compact with the C-16 and the derailleur has worked perfectly. Haven't dropped the chain once. I'm using it with a 10-speed Ultegra setup with an 11/23 cassette.

I find that if I'm in the 34 I can get 9 of 10. In 34/11 I get slight chain rub on the big chainring. Not a derailleur issue, and FSA warns about it in the crank instructions.

In the big ring, I can hit all 10, but I avoid 50/23 because it'll make noise. Usable, but annoying.

dtrain

Cheap, lightly used set on e-bay: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

With the C-16, it'll replace a triple and 105 FD on my Bianchi. Might go a little higher quality down the road (with the cranks)...but this is just to try it out.

JoeOxfordCT

Yup, my bike also seems to take more gear combos quietly in the 50 than in the 34 and I'm running a way bigger cassette than you.....8 out of 10 right now...hopefully the C-16 will give me a little more...I'm also going to swap the RD to an XT long cage in the back too....so between the two I should have a killer climbing bike....now about the rider......

blandin

JoeOxfordCT, I got two from Reparto Corse at that price, I have one on my Flyte and will be putting the other on my carbon bike.

In answer to the question about the C-16 being stiff, I haven't really noiticed, so I'll have to pay better attention and see if it is.

DrPete 

I don't know what the mountains are like in CT, but a 34/32 will be a pretty ridiculous low gear. You might want to consider SRAM's new 11-26... But whatever works!

JoeOxfordCT

Yeah I know..
Believe me I have the Sheldon Brown gear calculator results in Excel for the 11-32, 11-28, & 11-25.
I think that maybe next spring I could get strong enough to use the 11-28 and it would give me the 12...right now I go 11,13, 15, etc. and the jump from the 11 to the 13 is pretty big but I only notice it when riding fast in groups. The 11-25 would be really nice but I still tow my daugther in her Burley Solo from time to time. In fact yesterday did 30 miles in just under 2 hours with her, this with the last 10 miles being in the rain...thank god for the rain cover !!

If all I rode were the types of terrain that I've encountered so far in organized centuries I would definitely go to the 11-28 right now but I tend to ride pretty hilly terrain (by design) when riding on my own so I get a good workout in the limited time that I have.

Here's some of my weekday morning routes:
https://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=9326
https://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=7667

I have longer routes too but I like to climb and for right now I still want the 28 inch gear that the 34/32 gives me. When I go to the 11-28 my low will be 32"...the 11-25 around 36".

dtrain

Almost sounds like you want the same gearing a triple crankset and more typical road cassette (like 12-25) would offer. Why the initial switch from the triple?

DrPete 

+1 there... Also, perhaps some good interval training in the fall/winter months would be more economical than switching out all those cassettes...

JoeOxfordCT

...because with the 50-39-30 I was almost never in the 30. I am rarely in the 32 with the compact now......like I said I'm pretty close to going with an 11-28 now. I think I just like the mental crutch of having the 32 there now as a bailout. I mean I don't know about you but if you get to a big steep and and you're standing & climbing in your lowest or next to lowest gear in a 11-23 or 25....and you have to sit before you get to the top don't you want at least one or two lower gears to shift to when you sit back down ?
Don't get me wrong....I'm still fairly new with climbing on a road bike and next spring I may just chuck the 11-32 for a 11-25,.. SRAM makes an 11-26 you say ? However, it's one thing to say I will just ride myself to being a stronger rider and another when you're half way up a hill whose grade is about to steepen and you're already in your lowest gear and running out of steam...

dtrain

What cassette were you running with the triple? How much low-end gearing did you 'lose' going from the 30 to the 34 if you installed an 11-32 in the rear...and at want cost/performance loss? Those are some big gaps in the rear. You might have been better off getting something like a 12-25 or 11-23 and actually used the granny some. I'm not trying to be critical, just seems like an interesting choice to go with a compact yet install a huge cassette and mountain RD.

I'm still on triples for now (30-42-52). I use the granny some...more than I would if the middle ring were a 39 anyway. Old bike came with an 11-28. I've been riding 12-25 on it recently and the gaps are much nicer to work with. New bike came with a triple and a similar cassette, but I'll probably want an 11 and a 26 to pair with the compact I'm installing. SRAM makes one in 9 and 10 speed.

I understand what you are saying about the security of a bail out option...I'm a big guy (over 230#) without the best knees. But I guess the key is training so that you don't 'run out of steam'. I went from the 11-28 to the 12-25 just before a somewhat hilly century. Was somewhat nervous about it, but everything was fine. The new bike and wheelset are much lighter, so I'm thinking the 34 paired with a 26 will be plenty.

JoeOxfordCT

I ran the same cassette with the triple too.

I use more low gears on my own training/solo rides than when I'm riding organized centuries and the like. Didn't miss the 12t either until I got into a group of fast riders on the last century. I could probably make do without the 32t right now....but I think I'd have to drop some weight before I'd consider losing the 28t. I'm no Lance but I'm no slug either. I am currently 5'10" & 180lbs.....170 would be ideal.....below that would take too much dieting & more riding time than I can muster....

How hard is it to swap cassettes yourself ?
Do you have to adjust your rear derailleur afterwards ?
I suppose it wouldn't hurt to snag an 11-25/26 and try it on some rides just to see how much I miss the lower gears I'm currently running....