Compact compatability

cocokeelers
cocokeelers Posts: 3
edited March 2012 in Road buying advice
Hello

I currently have a full ultegra set on my bike. I'm going to buy a new cassette, chain and chainset. I want to buy a compact chainring and have some questions:

1. If I get a compact chainring, do I also need a compact cassette?

2. If I buy a 105 chainring (it's a lot cheaper) will it be compatable with my ultegra components - front and rear mechs, etc (I'll also be buying a new ultegra cassette and chain)?

3. Are there any pitfalls to mixing and matching 105 and ultegra components?

4. Is it worth spending an extra £60 for the ultegra chainset (instead of the 105)? I ride about 5,000 miles a year, but don't race so much.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Tim

Comments

  • sub55
    sub55 Posts: 1,025
    no
    yes
    no
    no
    constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly
  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    Compact chainsets have smaller Bolt Circle Diameter - 110BCD rather than 130BCD.

    If you have a standard chainset (53/39) then a 34T inner chainring wont fit. Which chainring are you looking for??
  • tonye_n
    tonye_n Posts: 832
    Wirral_Paul wrote:
    Compact chainsets have smaller Bolt Circle Diameter - 110BCD rather than 130BCD.

    If you have a standard chainset (53/39) then a 34T inner chainring wont fit. Which chainring are you looking for??
    You're confusing matters I think. He is not buying new chain rings, as he's decided to buy new chain set instead.
    What the OP intends to do will work without issues.

    What sub55 said. With that kind of mileage, may as well go for 105 and save spending on ultegra.
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    I personally wouldn't want to "downgrade" my Ultegra crank to 105, particularly I had 6700 Ultegra. Perhaps consider a SRAM crankset (e.g. Rival) for something a bit different that would be totally compatible and on a par with 105 in price. The only advantage of Ultegra cassette and chain over 105 is weight. I would go for a KMC chain myself.
  • ben16v
    ben16v Posts: 296
    is there such a thing as a compact cassette? i thought that your old cassette would work fine as long as you stayed the same amount of sprockets
    i need more bikes
  • cocokeelers
    cocokeelers Posts: 3
    Thanks guys. Perhaps downgrading everything to 105s is the way forward. Weight is always an issue, but at this time of the season, I think I'd be better off working on removing it from my gut and arse rather than the chainset!

    On reflection though, my mileage is more like 10k/year. Would that sway anyone's thinking as to the worth of ultegra components over 105s?

    Cocokeelers xx

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