Quality double chainset?

crazydingo

Firstly I'd like to point out that I'm not gear-tech savvy so I don't know what the difference between a double and a compact is (if there is any...). Anyone want to enlighten me?

The main thing I want to know though is what quality double/compact chainsets are out there? I know nothing about them so any help is great.
I ride a fixie (as I'm sure some of you already know), and I wanted to buy a fixed-fixed hub for the different ratios I could run for different purposes. But after breaking my elbow with cog issues and having had issues with lockrings and stuff in the past I decided to get a converted front disk brake hub as per VeloSolo's website with two cogs on the same side that are bolted on. With this I could use a double chainset that would, if worked in the right way, negate any chain length issues when the ratio is changed over.

Anyway, any suggestions and/or advice would be great

zzzzzzzz

crazydingo wrote: »

Firstly I'd like to point out that I'm not gear-tech savvy so I don't know what the difference between a double and a compact is (if there is any...). Anyone want to enlighten me?

The main thing I want to know though is what quality double/compact chainsets are out there? I know nothing about them so any help is great.
I ride a fixie (as I'm sure some of you already know), and I wanted to buy a fixed-fixed hub for the different ratios I could run for different purposes. But after breaking my elbow with cog issues and having had issues with lockrings and stuff in the past I decided to get a converted front disk brake hub as per VeloSolo's website with two cogs on the same side that are bolted on. With this I could use a double chainset that would, if worked in the right way, negate any chain length issues when the ratio is changed over.

Anyway, any suggestions and/or advice would be great

A standard double basically has bigger rings than a compact double. 53/39 vs. 50/34 (I think)

DirkVoodoo

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

A standard double basically has bigger rings than a compact double. 53/39 vs. 50/34 (I think)

The BCD is also different, so the rings aren't interchangeable. 110mm for a compact and 130 (I think) for a standard.

I'm confused by the original post, do you want a road chainset for a fixed gear bike?

I have a Shimano R700 compact, it's pretty good but fugly at the same time. Can't fault it's performance. Compacts aren't the smoothest shifting at the front, the drop in rings can switch you from grinding to excessive spinning.

crazydingo

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I'm confused by the original post, do you want a road chainset for a fixed gear bike?

Sorry it is a bit confusing alright, in short, yes I do. I wouldn't have a dérailleur, I'd change the ratios by hand while stationary. It's just the chainset (that's the chainring and cranks yeah?) that I'm looking for so that I could use them with the double bolt on cog arrangement from VeloSolo.

Also, I want something that looks good too so fugly isn't an option

rob1891

What ratios do you want to run at the front, the suggested 42/44 would work on any setup with aftermarket rings, shimano double (min 38t), campag double (min 39t), compact double (min 34t), 4-bolt mtb triple/double (min of middle and outer are 29t)

... basically you can choose what you want. I'd look for a sqare taper, maybe ISIS/octalink style crank as you will have better flexibility with chain line.

You will not find a crankset that comes with the rings you want, so expect to be looking for aftermarket rings in any case. I find Specialites TA do the largest range of tooth counts.

crazydingo

Ok cool so it'll have to be a custom job then?
I'm not sure what ratios I'll be running yet because I have to do some gear inch calculations first. I want one for speed something similar to the 51-17 I'm running at the moment and another for *cough*tricks*cough* (sorry to any purists)

Ant

You should also be aware that chainrings for geared bikes are designed with ramps and pins to assist the movement of the chain from one chainring to the next when using the front derailleur. If you're riding a fixie, you really won't want your chain to be moving off the chainring! :eek:

crazydingo

Ant wrote: »

You should also be aware that chainrings for geared bikes are designed with ramps and pins to assist the movement of the chain from one chainring to the next when using the front derailleur. If you're riding a fixie, you really won't want your chain to be moving off the chainring! :eek:

Yeah the chainring I have at the moment has that and it works grand but thanks for the heads-up