Bb30

you don't say what cassette it has, or why you want to change things

might help with advice on other options - maybe there are better alternatives

rudivoller22 wrote:

Sorry- cassette is 12-27. I use it mainly for triathlon and my last bike was 53-39 - just feel like I sometimes need a bigger gear when flat out. Is it as simple as just switching the rings over then? And readjusting gears?

Yes. Just get rings the size you want with a 110mm BCD. Stronglight do a good range as do TA. Both available here.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s149p0
Avoid the 'Dural' rings. They do not last long. 'Zicral' or better are fine.
I use both 50/34 and 52/38 on my best bike with the same cranks.

What is all this cr*p about smaller steps.
12/27 is 12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,24,27.
11/23 is 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,23.
Both are as close as you can get up to the 17 but if you look at the percentage differences on Sheldon you will see that they are actually bigger for the same gear ratios. Smaller sprockets are also less efficient.
It is pretty well a non issue unless you are splitting hairs. The way you present it is like the triple fans who try to say you can spin up a hill on your 30/27 (or even 25) that you would struggle up on 34/27 which is also cr*p.

sungod wrote:

They're smaller at the low end, fact.
Get over youself.

Yes. Just where you need them bigger. You would only use the 2 biggest on the small ring and by the time you get down there you want as low a gear as you can find. You are in bale-out territory.
The OP asked about alternative rings for compact cranks which I answered. He did not ask about alternative cassettes. I am sure he could already work that one out. There are too many on here pushing their own particular hobby horse, be it compacts, standard or triple. Non are perfect and you will have to make compromises with all of them. Why can people not just answer the question asked.
As for getting over myself. I have no problem doing that. And for your information I have compact cranks on all my bikes. 50/34 with 12/27 on the winter one, 50/34 or 52/38 with 12/27 on the summer one and 53/38 with 12/23 or 11/21 on the TT one. These have got me round several Etape du Tours and Raid Pyreneen and are based on over 50 years cycling experience.