Hello all,

I am about to purchase a Giant OCR 2 composite bike and I am interested in converting the TruVativ Fouleur GXP Triple (30-39-52) crank that comes with the bike to a compact.

My questions are:

a) What components would I need to change, so as to have the compact crank function flawlessly with the rest of the original components?

b) How is the Giga X Drive original bottom bracket going to work with the compact?

c) I imagine the Ultegra chain is gonna have to be shortened to accomodate the Compact.


If there is anybody who has done a similar conversion, please let me have the benefit of your experience.

The reason I am interested in the change is that I live in Southern California, and I am almost certain a compact is sufficient for me. Also, I heard that Triples are not as "smooth" in their shifting as compared to Doubles. I want to have flawless, "smooth as butter" shifting.

Finally, would I be making a mistake in buying a bike that has been designed with a Triple, and then converting the crank to a Compact. Penalties, may be?

Regards

Sounds doable. The long cage rear der will work but shifting will be a little slow. The bottom bracket is probable too long. I'm not sure about the front der. It should have enought travel to make the jump but you will have to adjust the limit screw so it doesn't jump off the chainrings. If the bike is Shimano the left shifter is indexed and might not shift well with a double, Campy doesn't have that problem. You are looking at a new crank, BB for sure and maybe new derailluer and left shifter. Try out the old parts first before you buy. Shortening the chain is a snap.


Tim

So why don't you just buy a bike with a compact double? You need crank,BB.A triple shifter will shift a double. The derailers will work,but a double RD and compact FD will work better. Why throw money away?

Well, I am not interested in throwing money away. I really went about my decision making by focusing on the frame, i.e. the carbon frame. The Giant OCR 2 is nicely priced, and more importantly, it comes with a lifetime warranty, which to me, is a sine qua non, when contemplating carbon frames.

Having then narrowed the choice down to the OCR 2, then the fine tuning regarding the drivetrain is then factored in, hence my original post.

Anyway, just maybe I'll stick with the Triple that comes with the bike. I am just a tad concerned re: the "smoothness" of the gear shifts. A Compact with a well-reasoned rear Cog spacing would give me almost all the gears that I consider essential.

Thanks.

Yeah, try a well setup triple rather than listening to a bunch of internet babble and blather.