Does anyone know if it's possible to order a triple bike with a compact crank when all the compacts are sold out?

What triple compact?

You could probably ask the dealer about switching the parts for you, but it will probably cost you more than if you just wait.

More information needed.

the new madone 4.5 triples are in stock but the compacts won't be available for over a month.

Ok. Likely you would have to fork over extra cash to purchase a compact crankset to be swapped with the triple currently available, although if you have a good relationship with your LBS you might get them to swap it for the cost of labor if they think they can sell the triple to a customer separately. If you don't want to spend the extra money, then you will have to wait.

Most bike shops should do that routinely. If you're buying the bike from them, they'd probably change the crank at no charge for labor, and give you a credit of whatever price they think they can sell the stock crank for toward the crank that you do want. It'll still cost you a little bit, but not as much as buying the new crank and being stuck with the stock one to sell on your own.

Get a double. Real men use doubles, even singles sometimez.

Some years back, I bought a triple since it was the last one, and they swapped in a double for me at no charge. Wasn't a problem.

Compact->triple (or the other way) switch requires brifters, front derailleur and perhaps rear derailleur as well changes, and chain change is likely as well. All that on top of the cranks makes it a silly pointless idea.

Get what you need. The LBS isn't going to swap it for you. Not without major $$

I have a triple on my bike and if I were buying a bike today, I would get a compact. Nothing wrong with a triple, but a compact will do the job with less weight, provide close to the same range and in my case is a better option. Unless you live in the rocky mountains, then get a triple. Otherwise, a compact is a better alternative.

So what is stopping you from getting a triple?

That he doesn't want a triple..... maybe......?

They are the same frame if that's what you mean.

Much less weight? It's a chainring, 5 aluminum bolts, and a few links of chain. I have farts that weigh more than that.

I have encountered a few climbs in So Cal which made me wish for that 30t chainring (Ski lifts at Baldy for one), but I admit it's a rarity. The triple does have closer spacing between gears, but I rarely miss that as well.

110/74BCD cranksets. also referred to as touring triples.
Sugino offers them.

It is much less weight now that Campy has come out with an ultra torque crank. The reason that the triple is heavier is not because it has another chain ring but because it has a square bottom bracket. The new Ultra Torques are just lighter.

But weight is not the real appeal to me. I can get a 12-29 cassette with an 11 speed Campy drive train and get about the same range as my 13-26 on my triple. The big advantge for me is that a 26 cog on the 42 chain ring with the triple is about the same as a 29 cog on a 50 chain ring on the compact; then, the 13 cog on the 53 with the triple is about the same as the 12 cog on the 50 chain ring with the compact. So, 98% of the time, I will only need the big chain ring on the compact. I would rarely need to shift the front DR. This is the main appeal to me.

It depends...my bike came with a 105 triple, switching to the compact double just required cranks and FD as the 105 shifter will work with a double or triple.

True. I do enjoy being able to use my 50 for everything except climbing. I don't have to shift the front very often.

I didn't know that about Campy. Other brands aren't that varied, though, afaik.

I had thought the Triple brifters came with a lock-out for the third gear when used on a compact. Shimano's website lists one of the Ultegra brifters as a "Triple/Double" but then the tech papers say "this shifter is for triples only, do not use on a double."

I would but they don't sell the 4.5 with doubles.

I have a triple, and in retrospect I wish I had a compact double. The 52T ring is a tad too big with a 12-25 cassette.

Don't be a sissy. Work them quads!

Most of the time, I am in the middle chain ring on the triple, but if I had a flat stretch of land with no lights I use the big chain ring, get down in the drops and hammer the pedals. A compact would allow me to go from hill climbing to full out sprinting on one chain ring.

I have a triple on my bike but NEVER use the small ring (mainly cause it rarely works), so it's basically a waste of space and weight. Then again, it's a 28... I'm usually on the middle ring, which is a 38. The big ring is a 48. A 34 would be great for climbing and a 50 combined with 10 rear gears (instead of 7) would be boss on flats and sprints.

On another note, I actually test road a proper road bike with drop bars today... it'll be a while before I'm sprinting at 30+ on those things. I'm definitely liking how much easier it is to "get aero" with drops.