Compact question

bikerboy1000

Hi

I'm running a FSA 50/34 v 27/12 with a FSA front derailer and have the problem of the chain keep falling off the chainring either side, also the chain won't change up from the small chain ring to the big most of the time. The bike shop can't adjust it any further and say this is the problem with a FSA set up and a compact which I can't say I don't buy.

If I change the 34 chainring for a 36 which I have, do you think this will make any diffrence?
Also by changing the 34 to a 36 would I notice a change in the gears (what would I be losing?)

Thanks all....

Monowai

Is the front mech compact specific? I know campag do a front mech specifically designed for compact chainsets, which have a big difference between the small and large rings, hence the sometimes "clunky" changes.

Yuor bike shop sounds like it is being lazy - front mechs are relatively easy to adjust with time and patience and some experimentation. Try adjusting the angle of the cage to make sure it is aligned with the rings. Then just fiddle with the screws and barrel adjusters.

Try this:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=frontmech

John C.

My neighbour has a Ultegra spec Focus with a compact 50/34 and he has the problem of the chain coming off the inside if he down shifts the front while in the the lower half of the rear cassette( hope that makes sence). I 've checked the front meck stop and it is within 1 mm of the chain when the bike is in the lowest gear.
Is this a problem with compacts ?

bikerboy1000

Yes the front mech is a fsa which is compact ready.

bikerboy1000

Yes the front mech is a fsa which is compact ready.

maddog 2

have you tried raising the mech a bit?

gkerr4

it should be fine!

I have recently build my own bike with campag compact (carbon centaur) which is my first campag bike and my first compact coming from shimano triples.

the chainrings are 50/34 on mine which is a big jump - but the changing is excellent - click to go down - just click to go back up.

if you ask me - your bike shop is just being lazy - have a go at setting it up yourself - if needs be - remove the mech and start as if you were putting a new one on - don't be put of by this - it'sa fairly simple process and only really requires an allen key and a bit of patience.

There is good advice to be had at the park tool website and also sheldon brown, but one of the best technical guides i used to find where the shimano tech guides.

here is the tecnical docs for the 105 range:
http://techdocs.shimano.com/techdocs/bl ... 9981566634
don't worry that it's not FSA - the process is the same. pick the service instruction for the front mech and have a go!

also - changing from 34 to 36 might improve shifting as you are reducing the jumpe between rings, but you would lose a lot of gearing - your lowest gear would then be much higher.

itisaboutthebike

I use a campag non-specific double front mech mech on my compact set up and its fine - as most doubles should be (shifts are a tad on the slow side tho)

Sounds like it isn't in the correct place.

Does your LBS know what they're doing ?

bikerboy1000

itisaboutthebike wrote:

I use a campag non-specific double front mech mech on my compact set up and its fine - as most doubles should be (shifts are a tad on the slow side tho)

Sounds like it isn't in the correct place.

Does your LBS know what they're doing ?

It's Condor so I would hope so...but they have been very hit and miss for me lately.