Compact crank- front derailleur?

[crust & crumb]

I purchased a TA Zephyr Light compact crank. I'll be using a 50-36 configuration. I'm wondering what the best option is for a front derailleur.

Cheers,

Jesse

[justinf]

Any compact front derailleur designed for the curve of your 50t ring will be fine. Get the one that goes with your kit. Or, not.

Really, I've used ordinary FDs (designed for 52 or 53 large ring) with compact cranksets with fine results too.

[dauwhe]

I've had good luck with the IRD compact with much more drastic compacts, like 46/33 and now 44/30 (my favorite!)...

Dave

[Elefantino]

Any compact front derailleur designed for the curve of your 50t ring will be fine. Get the one that goes with your kit. Or, not.

Really, I've used ordinary FDs (designed for 52 or 53 large ring) with compact cranksets with fine results too.

Ditto. Record front with FSA 50. No problems.

[wasfast]

I have a 2004 Record with a FSA 34-50 and it works fine. I built up a new bike this spring and thought I'd try using the Record Compact derailleur this time with 34-50. The width between the plates is much narrower than the standard FD. I spent all my time trimming. Finally sold it and bought the standard Record FD. All is well now.

[wooly]

I use a standard campy front derailleur with my campy compact crankset.

[Ken Robb]

my DA 10spd double frt. derailer shifts my FSA 50-34 rings fine.

[hypnos]

My standard Campy FD works perfectly with a 50/36. The Ultegra FD works great with the 48/34 on my Bleriot. Seems like the difficulty with standard FD's and compact cranks occurs when attempting to make >14 tooth jumps between chainrings - like a 50/34. Standard FD's work inconsistantly for that application.

I have an new, unused IRD compact FD in the parts box, if your interested.

Jeff

[93LegendTG]

I use a standard Campy Record carbon FD with a TA Zepher Light with excellent results. I'm running 9s and never have to trim. I also run a Deda dog fang.

[sam.g]

Been running a standard DA 9 speed front der with TA 50/36 rings, shifts just fine.

Sam in Cincy

[thwart]

I've had good luck using a "leftover" triple FD as well as regular FD's with compact cranks. The triple may work a touch better actually... haven't done a real back to back test, though... :D

[rpm]

I've had good luck with the IRD compact with much more drastic compacts, like 46/33 and now 44/30 (my favorite!)...

Dave

Dave, tell us more about these setups--what cranks and derailleurs you use and how they're working. Looking at the gear charts and reading Jan Heine's suggestion of a 46-30, I've wondered about them because I ride a 52-42-30 triple, and spend most of the time in the 42, avoiding all but the extremes. Maybe a double like yours could simplify things.

Ron