I've recently upgrade my road bike cranks to a compact. I'm using all Ultegra parts including the chain. After much head scratching on my part I reallized I now need a long rear derailleur which also turned into a new chain as I didn't have any extra links as the last chain came on the bike.

I installed the new Ultegra chain per the instructions and used the black break-off pin. I'm not impressed to say the least. I'm not a small individual and the fit just doesn't seem tight. It looks like the factory pins are peened once installed to make the link stronger. Once a pin is removed the peen is broken off. I attempted to reuse a pin and noticed the link is very tight and binds at this link.

Whats the deal with road chains? Do they all have peened pins? Is SRAM better than Shimano? Is the black break link safe? Can I run an IZUMI chain?

I'm ridding this weekend and I'm fearing a chain break. The ride is an old abandoned section of the PA turnpike which is in the middle of nowhere. There are 2 tunnels without lights, one is over a mile long. A broken chain means walking back to the car.

installed properly, there is no problem with the Shimano system using the special connector pin. on modern derailleur chains, NEVER re-use a pin...be it an original link pin, or the connector pin.

i'm not a fan of SRAM chains for 9 or 10 speeds (shifting seem sloppy to me). 8spd and less, SRAM chains are fine.

Thanks Mr CB. I stopped at the local TREK dealer today. As usual they had a derailleur in stock for 25% over the typical price. LOL! The guy at the counter told me I don't need a long cage with a 50/34 and a 12/27. Instead he sold me a SRAM split masterlink. I like the masterlink much better than the Shimano pin. Whats you opinion on the cage length?

you don't need a long-cage unless you run a triple. assuming you keep the same casstte out back, you actually could run a slightly shorter chain with a compact (compared to a typical 39/53). i generally use the shortest cage i can, even running a short cage road derailleur on a triple MTB on occasion (this limits your gear combinations, though, so you have to be aware of what gears you cannot shift into).

i use a connex quicklink with my shimano 10spd chains (just so i can remove them for cleaning). never had a problem with the shimano pins when i use them, though.

Ray,

Where is the place you are riding? How do you get there etc. Sounds pretty interesting.

Paul

Hey Paul, long time no talk. The following link is the best link I've found to date. The best bet appears to be starting in Breezewood and then head east. I stumbled across this web site earlier this year while searching for something else non bike related. Not really a great training ride but interesting none the less. I'm going to Pittsburgh for the weekend so were hitting this on the way west, 5 minute detour off the turnpike.

http://www.briantroutman.com/highways/abandonedpaturnpike/

The Shimano Pins do work great if installed correctly and according to directions. I haven't had one fail on me yet. Disadvantage is that cleaning an installed chain doesn't work as well as having it off the bike. When I was running the Shimano 9 spd. chains I used the SRAM quick link. I didn't have one fail but I did replace every 5 times I disassembled it. I also carried an extra in my tool bag. Whipperman also makes a quicklink but do to their shape it can be problematic on some rear derailleurs. SRAM recommends never reusing their 10spd link. One shot deal.
A compact front gearing 50/34 has certain advantages over a standard 52/39 gearing. To get the advantage you need to run an 11t as your small cog. If you live in a relatively flat area a 23 t large will be fine. If you ride a lot of hills an 11/25 shimano or the 11/26 SRAM are great.
You will have more top end with an 11-50 than a 12-52, It will be much easier to climb with a 34/25 than a 39/25.
You are saving weight on the chain and sprockets.
You should be able to use a midcage shimano derailleur on the rear.
Shimano claims that their standard front derailleur will work on a compact.
I live in a very hilly area and I'm very very pleased with my compact. 50/34-11/25 Campy.
I can easily climb anything I did with my triple, except for the very steepest of grades when I still wish for my 30-27. 99% of the time for me the compact is better than a triple.

Ray,

How was the ride this past weekend? Give us an update.

Paul

Link thanks for the info. I ride a cross bike on all terrains. I have 2 sets of wheels one with cross tires and the other with road tires. They are from the same manufacture and are identical except the cross wheels are a lower grade (heavier and less pretty). I can switch wheels without any other changes. I have the canti cables adjusted so that I can remove the wheel by only removing the cable. The original bike came with a 12-27 rear cassette. I bought the same cassette for the road wheels. Originally I had a cross crank set with a 38-48. The 38-27 wasn't the best hill climbing gear as I did a number of hilly rides earlier in the year. Therefore I switched to the compact to get the 34-27, which resulted in an extra climbing gear. In all honesty I would benefit with a triple but I'm way to MANLY to ride a GIRLS crankset. LOL!

Entering Rays Hill tunnel heading east

Entering Sideling Hill tunnel heading east

Hey Paul,

The ride certainly wasn't a good training ride, only 16 miles round trip. It was neat to ride on the abandoned road which is much worse than any rail trail I've ever ridden. The tunnels were interesting. When we arrived a father and son combination were exiting the trail. They attempted to ride through the shorter tunnel without any lights. The father who was about 70 ran into one of the walls so they turned around and aborted the tunnel portion. We attempted the first tunnel without any lights. Its amazing how dark it gets as you head into the tunnel. The tunnels are straight so you can see light at the other end but its very difficult to focus when its completely dark. The tunnels are identical to the other tunnels on the existing turnpike with regards to construction (square with a curb and walkway on the side). I bought the new Niterider USB light for this ride which worked very well to light the way for myself and by buddy.

We were on our way to Pittsburgh for a 40th birthday party. I had a strict party schedule to maintain so we blew in and blew out.