Compact Front Derailleur

The design difference is that it's designed to lighten your wallet while
offering no advantage over what you already have...

"JS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm seeing Campy and FSA now selling compact front derailleurs in addition
to the conventional ones. Is there really much of a difference between
the
compact front derailleur and a conventional one? Does it have something
to
do with the way the cage is designed? I've got friends who use
conventional
front derailleurs with compact cranks without any problems.

JS said:

I'm seeing Campy and FSA now selling compact front derailleurs in addition
to the conventional ones. Is there really much of a difference between the
compact front derailleur and a conventional one? Does it have something to
do with the way the cage is designed? I've got friends who use conventional
front derailleurs with compact cranks without any problems.

The theory is that the 16 tooth jump from 34 to 50 is too big for some
derailleurs made for a 14 tooth jump to handle, and the circumference
of the 50 tooth big ring is smaller so the shape of the compact
derailleur is modified accordingly.

Personally, I HAVE had problems with conventional derailleurs,
specifically Ultegra shifter/der. combo. I'm now running a Dura Ace 9
speed shifter with a Dura Ace 8 speed derailleur cobbed off an old
bike in my quiver, and that works fine.

The new bike I'm building will have an IRD compact derailleur with a
Dura Ace 10 speed shifter.
--dt

I'm not necessarily your friend, but I have 4 bikes with compacts from
Stronglight, Yellow Jersey, and Ritchey. They are run fine with el
cheapo 105 clamp on double fronts.

JS said:

I'm seeing Campy and FSA now selling compact front derailleurs in addition
to the conventional ones. Is there really much of a difference between the
compact front derailleur and a conventional one? Does it have something to
do with the way the cage is designed? I've got friends who use conventional
front derailleurs with compact cranks without any problems.

TIA,
John

Yes, the FDs are a longer cage, ala a triple FD. BUT as, yer buddies
have seen, a normal FD works fine. We do not swap them, and add a
chainwatcher...cheaper/better solution all around.