Do I need a dedicated compact front derailleur?

el_presidente
el_presidente Posts: 1,963
edited June 2008 in Workshop
All the front derailleurs I can find just seem to be double & have a max tooth difference fo 15. If I have aa compact chainset do I need a triple front mech or a special front mech, or will a 15 tooth difference be OK for a 50/34 compact?

thanks
<a>road</a>

Comments

  • Gr.uB
    Gr.uB Posts: 145
    No. My front mech is 105. The first click is nothing - it just remains on the inner compact.
    The next click is the proper inner ring.
    The next position is the outer compact but with trim inwards.
    The final click is the outer trim of the outer ring.
    In reality, I only use the 2, 3 and 4 positions.
    TCR
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  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    edited June 2008
    To answer the OP. No, you do not need a compact front mech. Shimano do not even make one and most Campag users have found that the standard front mech works fine.

    Edit. Touch of finger trouble there.
    My Fleet.
  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    Slightly depends what groupset you're using.

    Pre-2008 model year, there are two Campagnolo front mechs - one for compact and one for standard. The 2008 Record front mech (and maybe lower groups) can do either.

    SRAM Red/Force/Rival front mechs are fine with either compact or standard IME.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    edited June 2008
    James_London wrote:
    Pre-2008 model year, there are two Campagnolo front mechs - one for compact and one for standard. The 2008 Record front mech (and maybe lower groups) can do either.

    All the Campag groupsets' Double front mechs are the same from this year, no different mech for standard or compact.
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  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    I changed from a 105 to a Campag combined mech, not a shred of difference.
  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    Hmmm.... That's not what Campag say but quite possible pre-2008 will actually work with either.

    "Now the need to choose the type of front derailleur on the basis of the crankset is a thing of the past. Starting from this season Campagnolo® is introducing the new standardized front derailleur, compatible with both traditional and Compact cranksets"

    http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/groups ... atid_4.jsp

    And this quite clearly states for Compact and has a much deeper inside plate:
    http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/p ... _7_CT.html

    Compact front shifting is cr*p at the best of times (at least 34/50, 36/50 is better) so I'd prefer something optimised for compact.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    James_London wrote:
    Hmmm.... That's not what Campag say but quite possible pre-2008 will actually work with either.

    Huh?
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  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    Campag can claim what they like but I still say it doesn't make a shred of difference, either with the old shifter or with QS.
  • socrates
    socrates Posts: 453
    Marketing hype - I ran a compact chorus chainset 34/50 with an Ultegra standard front mech. No problem whatsoever. Changed later to a dedicated Campag changer and the Ultegra was better.
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    I must disagree with JL on compact shifting. I have 3 bikes using 50/34 and all change fine. I have a 9sp with Stronglight chainset and Sora mech, 10sp with SRAM Rival chainset and Ultegra 9sp mech and a full 10sp Ultegra SL set up. Not much to pick between them.
    My Fleet.
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    John.T wrote:
    To answer the OP. No, you do not need a compact front mech. Shimano do not even make one and most users have found that the standard fron mech works fine.

    This is correct - one size fits all.
  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    edited June 2008
    Double post - ignore!
  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    John.T wrote:
    I must disagree with JL on compact shifting. I have 3 bikes using 50/34 and all change fine. I have a 9sp with Stronglight chainset and Sora mech, 10sp with SRAM Rival chainset and Ultegra 9sp mech and a full 10sp Ultegra SL set up. Not much to pick between them.

    Compacts obviously do change, yes. My point was just that changing with a 16T gap is not as reliable or smooth as 14T or 11T gap if you're riding aggressively. Try it and see!
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    James_London wrote:
    John.T wrote:
    I must disagree with JL on compact shifting. I have 3 bikes using 50/34 and all change fine. I have a 9sp with Stronglight chainset and Sora mech, 10sp with SRAM Rival chainset and Ultegra 9sp mech and a full 10sp Ultegra SL set up. Not much to pick between them.

    Compacts obviously do change, yes. My point was just that changing with a 16T gap is not as reliable or smooth as 14T or 11T gap if you're riding aggressively. Try it and see!

    Yeh, my 50-34 doesn't shift aswell as my 53-39 or 50-36 I have on my other bikes, even though it's suposedly got the best components.

    I'm going to be stick with 53-39s from now on.
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  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    It was the word 'cr*p' that I thought was rather excesive. I agree that the smaller the no of teeth then the better the change but it still changes better than the 49/46 I had in 1960. I would not try to change while out of the saddle but I would not with 53/39 either. Used sensibly 50/34 works well. I race on mine with no trouble but have only used the 34 on the Yorkie Roads Hilly 10 and the Circuit of the Dales and then not much.
    My Fleet.

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