Road Crankset Advice

milwaukeehaze said:

I have a 2007 Giant TCR Advanced 1 with an Ultegra 53/39 crankset and 12/25 cassette. I am thinking about replacing my crankset with an FSA K-force Light compact crankset, but the only options are the 50/34 or 52/38 crankset. Can I use either of those on my current setup or will I need to change the cassette or chain length? Thanks!

The cassette is fine but you'd have to shorten the chain if you went with a 50/34. Also with a 50/34 you may want to look at a compact front derailleur. I'm pretty sure you can get a standard one to shift, but the big jump would be handled better with the deeper cage of the compact.

Do you need a compact?

milwaukeehaze said:

I have a 2007 Giant TCR Advanced 1 with an Ultegra 53/39 crankset and 12/25 cassette. I am thinking about replacing my crankset with an FSA K-force Light compact crankset, but the only options are the 50/34 or 52/38 crankset. Can I use either of those on my current setup or will I need to change the cassette or chain length? Thanks!

Exactly WHY are you planning to change cranksets -- to pimp-your-ride? OR, is there another reason?

If you want to pimp-your-ride, then you should probably consider something more exotic like a Campagnolo UT Record crankset or the new ZIPP 'Vuma Quad' crankset or the new DA 7900 crankset.

If you are changing the crank because you think you want slightly lower gearing (while a 52/38 chainring combination is lower, it probably will not be a meaningful benefit -- change the inner on the "compact" crank to a 36 for a "classic" 52/36 "ALPINE" combination), then try a 12-27 or 12-28 cassette, first.

If you think you want a mechanically BETTER crank than the Ultegra crank, then you may as well save your money because the cost of a different crankset will greatly out weigh the benefit.

BTW. You may-or-may-not need to change the chain length ... but, you can certainly remove two links if you opt for a compact crank with 50/34 chainrings -- whether or not you will have too-much-chain if you change cranks depends on how the bike is currently set up (optimally, or already with extra links) ... you'll know AFTER you put the new crank on if you have too much chain when you shift to a small-small combination. Asking THE question further suggests that you probably shouldn't waste your money on a new crankset, yet ... but, maybe, NEXT season!

BTW2. If you are actually in Milwaukee-and-environs, then you probably don't need a compact crankset ... heck, you could probably match a 12-23 cassette with a 53/39 crankset AFTER you wear out your current cassette ... and, that's presuming the 23t would be your bail-out cog with the 21t the largest cog you would normally need.