mustardfj40

Please do not laugh, but I have an 10+ year-old bike with Shimano Ultegra 8spd with the standard double and would like to upgrade to compact double to help climbing steep hills (not to mention I'm 10 years older since I bought the bike). I know the best way is to upgrade the whole drive train, but I see new road bike in my future and would like keep the cost down for now.

Can I just simply swap in a new ultegra compact crank with bottom bracket (the old one is tapper square)? Any other options? What would you do?

Thanks in advance.

/td

Tequila Joe

How about just getting a new cassette? An 11 x 28 would work nice. $15 + shipping.
You should also change the chain while your at it.

https://cgi.ebay.com/SRAM-PG-830-Cass...QQcmdZViewItem

Gee3

If you are looking to keep the budget in check for a new bike in the near future I think TJ's idea is an excellent, cost effective way to go.

But if you do decide to go compact crank you'll probably need to make sure the crank will accept square tapered bottom brackets (BB's). Not sure if any exist though for that BB. Anyone else know for sure?

RC2

+1 on the cassette idea, you should be able to find a 11/ or 12/28, and save $$ for a new bike down the road. A 8- or 9- spd cassette should work.

mustardfj40

Thanks for suggesting the cassette change, that's a great idea!

How's about the crankset? I understand that newer crankset takes a different type of bottom bracket, if I swap in a new compact crankset with a new bottom bracket to go with it. Do my old 8spd Shimano front shifter/derailler, and chain would still work?

/td

Rutnick

shimano has a Tiagra level compact that is 8/9 speed compatible that you can get for about $70. It is the new external bearing type.

ridethecliche

If you don't mind mixing and matching, you can get a campy crankset for 70 bucks from performance for the compact. You might need a new bb, but it'd work methinks.

Also, I think some of the FSA et all compacts are square tapered. Nashbar has some house brand ones if you don't mind using those.

I'm not sure how the chain issue would work out. Though, I've read (on here) that it isn't a sometimes problem. YMMV.

Retro Grouch 

My Klein wasn't that old but that's what I did and for the same reason. I think that it's the best equipment change that I've ever made. I gave up a top end gear that I never used and gained a couple of hill climb gears that I needed. I bought an FSA compact crank that matched my existing octalink bottom bracket retained my front derailleur and cassette. The only thing that I had to buy was the crank.

Little Darwin

If you don't mind used, you can also check Ebay etc for old cranks with 110 BCD. Some old Suginos and others lend themselves well to use as compact doubles.