SRAM - easy to change chainrings from double to compact?

thinbo
thinbo Posts: 93
edited September 2010 in Road beginners
I have the opportunity to buy a 2nd hand bike at a decent price. It seems perfect for my needs although it has a 53x39 SRAM Red chainset. Ideally I'd want to have a compact (50/34). Can I just change the chainrings on the crank for smaller ones, or would I have to change the whole chainset?

The rest of the groupset is SRAM Force. I assume the i'd have to alter the height of the front mech and potentially lose couple of chain links too?

thanks in advance
CUBE Agree GTC Pro '10
Giant Defy 2 '09

Comments

  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    No. Your cranks have a 130mm BCD (bolt circle diameter) while compact ones have a 110mm BCD. You would have to change the chainset. You can fit bigger rings to a compact crank if you need to later. You would have to lower the front mech but may not need to shorten the chain. It depends on how long it is at the moment. The difference is only 1.5 links.
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    1.5 links ?!

    How do you manage that then!
  • Thank you very much, just what I needed!
    CUBE Agree GTC Pro '10
    Giant Defy 2 '09
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    Scrumple wrote:
    1.5 links ?!

    How do you manage that then!
    3 teeth difference. One link is both inner and outer parts, that is 2 teeth.
  • Scrumple wrote:
    1.5 links ?!

    How do you manage that then!

    Junior hacksaw, Superglue and Patience!
    exercise.png
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    Scrumple wrote:
    1.5 links ?!

    How do you manage that then!

    Junior hacksaw, Superglue and Patience!
    :lol: