Low Cost Compact Chainset

Gav2000

I have a Dahon Cadenza 26" wheeled folding bike with a 39/52 Sugino chainset that I'd like to swap for a compact. I think it's a standard square taper bottom bracket but I'll check later on and has an 8 speed cassette at the back.

I'd don't want to spend too much on a new chainset so can anyone recommend where I can get a cheap compact chainset from? It doesn't have to be Shimano or Campagnolo, Sugino etc would be fine.

This final bit is a bit fussy but I'd prefer the new chainset to be black to match the almost totally blackness of the rest of the bike.

Regards,

Gavin.

Monty Dog

The Bike Shop in Harrow are selling compact chainsets complete with external BBs for £70 - it has black rings with silver arms. IME black cranks are a bad deal because they scuff up easily. Other alternatives include the Campagnolo Mirage which is also made in black.

amaferanga

I bought one of these recently: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/details.a ... ROCHAR0300

Looks good, light and will fit your current BB. If you go for an external BB type-chainset then as well as adding the cost of a new BB I believe you'll need to get the BB shell faced which will cost an extra few quid.

maddog 2

Tiagra with external BB would come in at around £50 (not black though)

or Campag Xenon with a cheap ST BB?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/details.a ... MPCHAR1560

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/details.a ... MPBTBR0200

Mirage is cheaper still.

Or there's this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=19910

and this http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 20Chainset

Gav2000

It looks like the Xenon is the cheapest black chainset but Veloce/Mirage are available for less in a silver colour. I might have a look on ebay tonight to see if anyone is selling any off for less.

Thanks for the responses.

Gav.

Down the Road

Gav2000 wrote:

It looks like the Xenon is the cheapest black chainset but Veloce/Mirage are available for less in a silver colour. I might have a look on ebay tonight to see if anyone is selling any off for less.

Thanks for the responses.

Gav.

You will need to replace the BB as the Taper is different for Campag Chainsets.

Yes I am right.

Gav2000

Down the Road wrote:

You will need to replace the BB as the Taper is different for Campag Chainsets.

Yes I am right.

:shock: :x :shock: :x :shock: :x Argghhh! Are these manufacturers going out of their way to unstandardise things that were perfectly standard when I was younger?

Obviously they are in the name of technological improvement and higher prices but there gets a point where you consider pushing back and getting something simpler but less advanced. I think that time has approached with my bike, it occured a while ago with my car when I couldn't even get access to change a headlight bulb. :evil: :evil: :evil:

acorn_user

Actually, the bottom bracket tapers have been different for a long time. These days, there are two square taper standards. ISO is the international standard, and is generally what Campagnolo uses. Miche, Ofmega and other european makers use it too. JIS is the Japanese standard, and is used by Shimano and Sugino. Note that the Stronlight Impact uses it too, because it's basically a Sugino XD2 with a French finish and Stronglight rings.

Talking of which, I recommend the Impact touring double. This is a compact, but cheaper than the version labelled as such.

Cheaper but less advanced = square taper. You should see all the standards for external bearing bottom brackets. Shimano makes 2 versions of Octalink. There's ISIS as well. At least Campagnolo bottom brackets only cost 10 pounds eh?

maddog 2

just tell us which chainsets are on the shortlist and we'll tell you which BB to get.

how does that sound?

rustychisel

FSA Gossamer comes with MegaEXO bearings. Cheap, light (ish), compact, and black as buggery.