Spa Cycles: Super Compact Chainset

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burroc
Posts: 73
Joined: 11 Aug 2009, 9:32pm

Spa Cycles: Super Compact Chainset

Post by burroc »

I recently purchased a Spa Cycles Super Compact Chainset to reduce my gearing. I have one real regret: I should have done it years ago! I was slightly apprehensive I might end up with a bit of a bodge job, but not at all. The chainset was much better than the photos on the Spa Cycles website suggest. At only £60 I consider it a bargain. I had to swap my bottom bracket to accommodate it which added 200g to the overall weight in comparison to my original set-up, but as I am a couple of stone underweight I am not at all concerned.
I appreciate it is really a triple with a blank, but I certainly don't mind. It was good to be able to choose any combination of chainrings I wanted.
Spa Cycles certainly get a big vote of thanks from me for providing a product I just could not find elsewhere. Living in a hilly part of the country the new gears are an absolute godsend.
rotavator
Posts: 987
Joined: 6 Jun 2016, 9:50pm
Location: North Wales

Re: Spa Cycles: Super Compact Chainset

Post by rotavator »

I may be ordering one soon could you tell me how many teeth you have on your chainrings, which derailer that you are using and how slick are the shifts please.
burroc
Posts: 73
Joined: 11 Aug 2009, 9:32pm

Re: Spa Cycles: Super Compact Chainset

Post by burroc »

The bike originally came "off the shelf" with 34/50 at the front, and 12-28 at the rear. 34 is normally the lowest chainring size for a compact chainset. The get slightly lower gears I put a mountain bike 11-34 rear cassette on, with a cheap and cheerful long reach Shimano Deore rear derailer. 34 at the front was generally OK but just not low enough. I never bothered using the larger chainring. Hence the reason I recently purchased a 28/36 chainset from Spa Cycles. I spent a long time noting carefully what gear I was in before deciding upon this. Spa recommend 28/40 (ie 12 tooth difference) but I took a chance 3ith 28/36 and it all works OK. Other than occasionally jumping across second gear the gear shift as just as good as before. Note that the Spa chainsets require a square-tapered bottom bracket, hence I had to ditch my Shimano hollowtech. Spa recommended a 115mm bottom bracket and this fitted fine.
JohnW
Posts: 6667
Joined: 6 Jan 2007, 9:12pm
Location: Yorkshire

Re: Spa Cycles: Super Compact Chainset

Post by JohnW »

It's been said before - but - what would we do without Spa?
malvandy
Posts: 71
Joined: 5 Mar 2017, 7:34pm
Location: Central France

Re: Spa Cycles: Super Compact Chainset

Post by malvandy »

Hi burroc, interesting reading /knowledge. I am /have been experimenting with gearing not for the same reason as you but for more load bearing cycling when touring. I don't carry a huge load but every little helps. Interested to know what length crank arms you are running on.
Bowedw
Posts: 359
Joined: 22 Feb 2011, 10:26pm

Re: Spa Cycles: Super Compact Chainset

Post by Bowedw »

Crank length depends on leg length and if using short cranks then you are turning smaller circles and will ride in a lower gear and pedal a bit faster. Not some thing you will notice with a large number of gears. I am a big fan of Spa Cycles chain sets. I have them set up as triples with the large ring mainly for down hill or if a tailwind. I find the chain alignment works a treat on inner and middle rings and with larger outer ring I am usually in the smaller range cogs in the block which is ok chain line as well. I really like the newer set with five exposed chain ring bolts but there again have always been a Stronlight fan. The only mistake I have made is to use stronglight bottom brackets with plastic cups. The plastic is not up to the job and on a fixie is and instant failure.
burroc
Posts: 73
Joined: 11 Aug 2009, 9:32pm

Re: Spa Cycles: Super Compact Chainset

Post by burroc »

Ref Malvandy. 170mm cranks - so nothing out of the ordinary.
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