Compact

volvine

when looking at groupsets what does compact mean???

W5454

A Compact chainset has 50 teeth on the big ring and 34 teeth on the small ring.

volvine

is that what the pro's use?

redddraggon

volvine wrote:

is that what the pro's use?

Tyler Hamilton used one once, they provide lower gears than a standard chainset though.

W5454 wrote:

A Compact chainset has 50 teeth on the big ring and 34 teeth on the small ring.

A Compact chainset is one that has smaller chainrings than a standard chainset (e.g. 52/39 or 53/39). The most common compact chainrings are 50/34, but 48/34 and 50/36 are also common.

nick hanson

Compact chainsets have a smaller bcd,that is to say you can have chainrings that go down to 34 teeth.
The bcd (bolt circle diameter) of a compact is 110mm,rather than the 130 or 135mm bcd of the "normal" chainsets,which only allow you to go down to a 38 chainring on Shimano or 39 teeth on Campagnolo

gkerr4

volvine wrote:

is that what the pro's use?

Apparently Alberto Contador used a compact in the Giro on some of the tougher mountain stages - but I would imagine that the pro's usually use the more 'regular' double which is a 52/39

volvine

so can you get a compact tripple or is that completley seperate?
(god i wish i knew more)lol

redddraggon

volvine wrote:

so can you get a compact tripple or is that completley seperate?
(god i wish i knew more)lol

Chainsets are divided into:

Standard double (eg. 53/39)
Compact double (e.g. 50/34)
Road Triple (e.g. 50/40/30)
MTB Triple (e.g. 44/32/22), these are sometimes used on touring bikes


(MTB doubles also exist but I don't know what ratios they'd be, but they are lower than a compact double)