Compact crankset

mikael17128 said:

*** Your results may vary ***

Mine sure did. I have professional mechanics from 2 separate shops try multiple times to work it. Both finally told me there was, quite literally, nothing more they could do. I then bought an FSA front derailer which helped for awhile. FSA are slick marketers: Their derailers are very lightweight which make them quite susceptible to wear. The magic front derailer fix stopped working after about 500 miles or so. I brought it to the shop again and the master mechanic took a look at it, tightened all the screws on it and told me that it was a lightweight P.O.S. and that I should return to a Dura Ace derailer. Soon thereafter I returned to a Dura Ace Fc-7800 53/39 crank and 7800 model front derailer and all my troubles melted away --- Well until the summer, when, to avoid the oppressive heat I have to return to the mountains. My solution: The new and glorious perfect shifting Shimano FC-R700.

I did 112 miles on Sunday with 10,000 feet of climbing. No derailing, no shifting problems of any kind! I just cannot get enough of the Shimano FC-R700!!! I cannot say the same for my FSA (the two cranks don't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence).

*** ALL HAIL SHIMANO ***

😄 sounds like you're a happy man now.

I read a review of the Shimano FC-R700 which said it is a cut above any other compact crank out there. I take it it works with a regular Shimano FD, rather than requiring a special compact one?
Anyone used the Campy CT stuff? I'm plannnig on building up a new bike in the autumn and seeing as I prefer Campy to Shimano and the ratios I have with my compact suit me perfectly, I was thinking of getting the Centaur CT (alloy not carbon).

Hi,

Yep, I'm happy as a lark with the FC-R700 (as if you couldn't tell). That happiness is accompanied by rage directed against FSA. I had assumed that derailing was the price I'd have to pay for the compact design and when I found that a compact could be designed so as not to derail 2 or 3 times every ride I lost it!!! FSA management must be a bunch of misers who don't devote the kind of $$$ to R&D that they ought. I suffered through a year with the derailing over and over and over!

Hope your Campy works for you as well as my FC-R700

Regards,

MRW

Tonto said:

😄 sounds like you're a happy man now.

I read a review of the Shimano FC-R700 which said it is a cut above any other compact crank out there. I take it it works with a regular Shimano FD, rather than requiring a special compact one?
Anyone used the Campy CT stuff? I'm plannnig on building up a new bike in the autumn and seeing as I prefer Campy to Shimano and the ratios I have with my compact suit me perfectly, I was thinking of getting the Centaur CT (alloy not carbon).

mikael17128 said:

Hi,

Yep, I'm happy as a lark with the FC-R700 (as if you couldn't tell). That happiness is accompanied by rage directed against FSA. I had assumed that derailing was the price I'd have to pay for the compact design and when I found that a compact could be designed so as not to derail 2 or 3 times every ride I lost it!!! FSA management must be a bunch of misers who don't devote the kind of $$$ to R&D that they ought. I suffered through a year with the derailing over and over and over!

Hope your Campy works for you as well as my FC-R700

Regards,

MRW

I am waiting for my new Litespeed Sienna and spec'd the FSA Compact crank. I have been told that the problem was originally related to FSA chainrings that were slightly wider than the shimano Ultegra/Dura Ace. Therefore additional pressure was required to move the shimano chain off the rings and it would jump if you shifted under pressure. Apparently, they now come with thinner chain rings. I am also concerned with the bottom bracket clicking I have read about on the forum.

My bike shop owner (who I have known for 15 years) really swears by the product and assures me he will replace them with Ultegra if I am not completely satisfied. So, I am acting a bit as a guinea pig.

As an aside, I am replacing my old bike because, after 15 years, my ultegra shifters finally failed and it had a 7 speed freehub so the new shifters are not really compatible. I found the Ultegra stuff to be fantastic and had virtually no problems over the 15 year life so this is a big leap of faith to go with the FSA stuff. I do hope that I don't have these problems.

After much research, when purchasing my new Colnago, I went with the Shimano R-700 crack. Now I am very happy with these cracksets vs. the FSA. The shifting is smooth and precise. Compared to the FSA these cracks are less expensive, provide greater stiffness and the weigh differential is nominal. Go with the Shimano.

pparker said:

After much research, when purchasing my new Colnago, I went with the Shimano R-700 crack. Now I am very happy with these cracksets vs. the FSA. The shifting is smooth and precise. Compared to the FSA these cracks are less expensive, provide greater stiffness and the weigh differential is nominal. Go with the Shimano.

It's killing me, I am torn. My LBS owner, who is someone I have known for years, is telling the problem is solved, and I will love the FSA. He claims that he knows how to put it on right and it will shift flawlessly. Shimano, in some ways, is the Microsoft of bike components, an all evil monopoly, and I like to see these smaller companies pick up some leftovers. I don't want to do it at the expense of dropping my chain every ride. (Nor am I ready to spring for Campy). If this guy is willing to stand behind the FSA, I am inclined to give it a crack, but I will post my impression on Monday. I am supposed to pick up my Litespeed Sienna today and plan to hit the rolling hills of SE PA very hard this weekend so it will get a real test. If I drop my chain repeatedly, you guys can be the first to tell me I told you so.

kopride, hope you have a great ride and that this will not be your worry.
Just look forward to getting the new bike. 🙂

kopride: I say go for it. If your LBS is behind the product then to me its a no lose situation. I did like the FSA for both the weight and the look but was reluctant to pull the trigger due to the all of the shifting issues.

Have a great ride over the weekend and NO ONE will ever tell you I told you so. 😄

pparker said:

kopride: I say go for it. If your LBS is behind the product then to me its a no lose situation. I did like the FSA for both the weight and the look but was reluctant to pull the trigger due to the all of the shifting issues.

Have a great ride over the weekend and NO ONE will ever tell you I told you so. 😄

It is strange. Is there any feeling in the whole world like waiting for your new bike? I am literally sitting here like a five year old with my bike gear ready to go waiting for a call from the bike shop saying that my bike is ready. 🙂 I have bought houses and some pretty nice cars over the years, and there is a kick from those types of purchases, but there is just something about a bike that is just different.

I mean, I am literally fantasizing about all the regular hills on my Fri ride and how it will feel to climb them with different gears. I hit at least three covered bridges on my ride and there is something about bombing through a 100 year old wood planked bridge that is just unparalled.

And yes, I have had more anxiety worrying about potential shifting problems than I have on much more major life issues. Do you think some Somalian is sitting on the other end of the world thinking about whether he will drop a chain on his new titanium bike? Of course not. The fact that I have the luxury of worrying about what the best crankset to put on a new bike is either incredibly pathetic, or incredibly reassuring, depending upon your perspective. I mean, my profession is not brain surgery, but can you imagine some brain surgeon saying, "I am sorry I screwed up your surgery, but I just couldn't concentrate because my bike is being delivered today, and I have some concerns about the shifting on my compact crankset."

pparker said:

kopride: I say go for it. If your LBS is behind the product then to me its a no lose situation. I did like the FSA for both the weight and the look but was reluctant to pull the trigger due to the all of the shifting issues.

Have a great ride over the weekend and NO ONE will ever tell you I told you so. 😄

Two epic rides this weekend with the new Litespeed and FSA cranks. I did not miss a shift and had no problem with the front derailler. 🙂 I literally tried toward the end of Sunday's ride to throw my chain, but could not do it. My area (Chester County) is very hilly, and the compact crankset was great. I was always in the right gear, and the 34/23, my lowest, was great on even the steepest hills. I didn't feel I lost anything on the descents. Because there are so many rolling hills, I also tend to ride crossover gears at times (50/23 up a short steep rise) (or 34/12 during a short descent into a climb) and still had no problem.

I think that this is a LBS issue. Thanks to Lee at Bicycle Therapy in Philly who did a great job setting the bike up. A good LBS will stand behind a product they recommend and know how to set it up. I am sure that the shimano compact is a great product, but the FSA does look a little better and works great. 😄