Etap experts. advice needed

[Kingfisher]

ok, so i'm installing etap on madone 7..all going well, but I cannot get the front der. low enough to line up with the "line" on frt der to the large chainring.
With the carbon braze on mount on madone, it is stopping/inhibiting going that low....etap guys will understand. see pics..thanks for any advice

[R3awak3n]

I had a bike that the braze on tab would not go low enough for compact. It sucks, don't think there is nothing you can do about it. That said it will probably shift ok, you should give it a try. It does look to be a bit too high but I would still try using it that way. I guess this is why people prefer clamp on vs braze ons.

[Bob Ross]

(Note to self: Never buy another frame w/ a braze-on FD mount.)

[glepore]

I know folks live in fear of modifying a carbon bike in any way, but I'd dremel the slot a mm or so larger, will give you enough to split the difference. It looks reasonably meaty in that area. Make sure you use the correct wedge support.

[Mark McM]

SRAM makes an angled shim for braze-on front derailleurs that can help align the derailleur for compact cranks:

https://www.artscyclery.com/SRAM_Braze-On_Front_Derailleur_Shim/descpage-SRFDSH.html

[loxx0050]

Rotor also has a chainring spacer kit too that can shift it out even further (without angling it too):

https://1554652485.rsc.cdn77.org/i/p/6/9/125696_00_c.jpg

Otherwise, I felt that the Rotor large shim was too much when I did use it (came with my QXL chainrings I use) and picked up a 3mm straight shim from a place from China on eBay (took forever to get to me but used my eBay bucks to pay for most of it).

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/uMoAAOSw791Zrong/s-l500.jpg

[R3awak3n]

(Note to self: Never buy another frame w/ a braze-on FD mount.)

its not that bad if they are made properly. I am running etap on my braze on mount without any problem. The tab just has to be placed properly and there should be no problems. But yes, easier to not deal with it.


as far as using the spacer kit, that would put the derailleur even further than it needs to be

[ultraman6970]

Always you can file the tab lower.

[Kingfisher]

Are you guys saying that if I switched over chainrings to 53x39 my problems would be solved?

[glepore]

probably. But at least try an outdoor ride or two with it set up as is. Alignment is as important as height. If it works ok, then no worries. If you get drops or poor upshifts, then you'll need a solution. Its really close.

[vqdriver]

yes, if it's the gap that's an issue, then you can bring the fd lower or the rings higher.
fairly common issue on steel frames with braze ons when compact cranks came about.
i'd just file the opening down by hand, looks like you don't need that much

[R3awak3n]

Are you guys saying that if I switched over chainrings to 53x39 my problems would be solved?

yes but you should just try the shifting like this, its not even that far and it might switch fine... it might also suck but worth the try as is.

[ChristianWong]

Seems like Trek is saying you shouldn't, under any circumstances, put a compact crank on a Madone.

:fight:

[R3awak3n]

Seems like Trek is saying you shouldn't, under any circumstances, put a compact crank on a Madone.

:fight:

you wanna look pro or not? :banana:

[oldpotatoe]

Are you guys saying that if I switched over chainrings to 53x39 my problems would be solved?

Probably..I had the same issue with my EPS and Merckx MXLeader(48t big ring)..little file work on tab and it's close enough

[jemoryl]

you wanna look pro or not? :banana:

I remember an article quoting a team mechanic saying that their top guy (might have been Froome or Yates) had a 34 x 32 available for Zoncolan. So it is pro to ride a compact.

[R3awak3n]

I remember an article quoting a team mechanic saying that their top guy (might have been Froome or Yates) had a 34 x 32 available for Zoncolan. So it is pro to ride a compact.

yeah, now a days it is I guess but as far as looks go, compacts look whimpy, no matter who uses them (this from a guy with only compacts and even a subcompact)

[chiasticon]

Are you guys saying that if I switched over chainrings to 53x39 my problems would be solved?judging from the gap, I think a 52/36 would also work. that's a great ratio anyway. coupled with an 11-28 cassette, you have a ton of range.

I had a Sachs with this problem. couldn't bring myself to file it so I just used 52/36 on it.

[Kingfisher]

Well I’ll know in a few hours
I’m fortunate enough to live 3 miles away from Lancaster pa universal cycles warehouse
Ordered new 9000 53x39 rings....I pickup soon and will install

[ChristianWong]

yeah, now a days it is I guess but as far as looks go, compacts look whimpy, no matter who uses them (this from a guy with only compacts and even a subcompact)

As an exclusively compact (and sub-compact!) guy, this is true. Especially on my 59-60cm frames, 50t and 46t front rings look tiny.

[Bob Ross]

I had a Sachs with this problem. couldn't bring myself to file it so I just used 52/36 on it.

Recent Sachs? With an eTap FD?

fwiw I have 50/34 Campy (mechanical Record 11-sp) on my 2015 Sachs. It works great.

[chiasticon]

Recent Sachs? With an eTap FD?

fwiw I have 50/34 Campy (mechanical Record 11-sp) on my 2015 Sachs. It works great.nope, (somewhat) older Sachs. and not eTap, but Sram FD. same principle issue, really.

it's likely Richard didn't build bikes with a compact in mind back then, or that the person he built it for didn't run one.

[Kingfisher]

Well I’ll know in a few hours
I’m fortunate enough to live 3 miles away from Lancaster pa universal cycles warehouse
Ordered new 9000 53x39 rings....I pickup soon and will install

It worked!
The new 53 ring did the trick.....shifts perfectly now

[glepore]

If you want to go back to compact, wickwerks has a cool adaptor- https://wickwerks.com/products/fit-link-adapter/