GMass
new member
Reged: 06/22/07
Posts: 7
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I am building up a Calfee Dragonfly and was contemplating going with a compact gear package. I do a lot of climbing. What are your thoughts? Has anyone had a bad experience with compacts?
Gary
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Darby
sage
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 423
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
GMass wrote:
I am building up a Calfee Dragonfly and was contemplating going with a compact gear package. I do a lot of climbing. What are your thoughts? Has anyone had a bad experience with compacts?
Gary
I changed out my 53/39 chain rings about two months ago for a triple mainly because I found a good deal on a slightly used triple. However, if I were building a D'Fly, I would put a compact on it for weight savings. I haven't used a compact, but if you plan on climbing it will come in very handy. You will loose a little top end, but the only place where you will likely notice the loss is going down hills. I don't think you will notice a loss on flat ground. However, if you put a 11-28 cassette on the bike, you will have slightly better top end gearing than a 12-25 cassette with a 53/39 crank.
Bruce
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skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 322
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Quote:
Darby wrote:
Quote:
GMass wrote:
I am building up a Calfee Dragonfly and was contemplating going with a compact gear package. I do a lot of climbing. What are your thoughts? Has anyone had a bad experience with compacts?
Gary
I don't think you will notice a loss on flat ground.
Bruce
I don't ride a compact either, but some riding buds do. Their chief complaint is they need to shift much more frequently between the larger and smaller chainring on the flats to maintain a cadence they prefer as they go slightly up/down a small slope. In essence, for them to stay in the sweet spot of their spin they have to shift the front deraileur in addition to the rear deraileur. PITA.
You can do the math too. Go out on your favorite rides and note which gears you use most in which conditions. Do the calcs and determine if that's near the extremes of the compact crank you're thinking about.
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Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
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cccyclist
journeyman
Reged: 09/27/05
Posts: 80
Loc: Central California
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I have a 50/34 with a 11/23 rear. I love it and will never go back. I am in the process of converting my other bikes to be the same. You almost get the spread of a 12/27, but with the gears more evenly spaced. I also disagree with shifting often in the front. You can actually stay in your big ring longer with this set up.
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RogerJ
new member
Reged: 08/08/07
Posts: 6
Loc: Portland, OR
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My g/f just bought a Luna with SRam compact on it. She is changing out from many years of life on a triple.
After getting used to a change in her shifting style, she's pretty sold on it. We've done some rides wiht sustained climbs of 20 wiht lots of varying grades and I think overall she's happier to have shed weight wiht little gear loss.
-r
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dbarnet1
friend
Reged: 10/09/06
Posts: 34
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After doing a lot of research,and using Sheldon Brown's gear calculator, and info from the net. I just Purchased an FSA K Force Light Compact, the newest one 650gr. I am putting it on my new D-Fly with Campy Record. FYI When using the gear calculator to determine the % difference between gears, you can taylor your cassette to where ever gears you want.
Dave
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davidlemon
friend
Reged: 09/21/06
Posts: 37
Loc: sacramento, ca
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Quote:
dbarnet1 wrote:
After doing a lot of research,and using Sheldon Brown's gear calculator, and info from the net. I just Purchased an FSA K Force Light Compact, the newest one 650gr. I am putting it on my new D-Fly with Campy Record.
interesting, dave. i'm considering doing the same with my d-fly. i'm wondering, though, and perhaps you may know because you're further along than i, what exactly the weight difference will be between the campy crank, and the new fsa? were you riding the 2006 campy crank? or the 2007 ut?
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dbarnet1
friend
Reged: 10/09/06
Posts: 34
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Out of the Box and on to my gram scale, all of the parts were 658gr for the FSA. The Crank Fixing Bolt weighed 23gr.I purchased a set of Extralite OctaRamp RC 50-34 chain rings and the whole assembly weighs 615gr.
I assume that the 2007 Campy crank is a good piece but I saw a cross section and the hollow part of the crank arm and it is a rectangular shape. The FSA has an I beam and is stronger.
As far as the TOTAL weight of the 2007 campy crank. I found an article in bicycling Magazine but just cant remember the exact weight. What I do know is that my FSA is lighter.
BTW; I went with Record because it is easier to fine tall gears. I am planning a trip accross the USA on my bike and the Campy fits my needs better.
If you want real light check out SRAM RED
Dave
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