'Compact' road bike?

[DuraAce]

Currently researching a new road bike. I see a lot of models with 'compact' in the name.

What exactly does that mean? As the pictures of them dont look any different to the non-compact models.

Should I be looking for a compact or not? (6ft2" and bike for road/fitness use not racing/TT)

[Jimbo.]

If it's in the name, then more often than not it's referring to the chainset. Compact also refers to particular "style" of geometry, although it' rare to see it mentioned outside the world of bike geekery.

[Engineer1]

It's a gearing term. I'm not 100% sure which way round it is but one has a narrower ratio of gears than the other and is better suited to climbing,this is picked up from sitting in an office with a load of road bike riders who each C2W scheme window price up a new shiny bike in the fantasy bike game.

[Magic919]

It's usually the geometry, rather than the gearing, though both use the term. Look for the sloping top tube. Whether it helps the rider much is debatable.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Compact usually refers to the chainset. It means the front rings are 50/34 rather than the "standard" 53/39. IMHO a compact is better suited to 99% of road riders in the UK as it enables a closer spread of gears.

[DuraAce]

It's very confusing. Looking at Evans website...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ro...

This a 'compact', with 50/34 chainset and sloping top tube etc

Whereas, the one below isnt a compact, but still has 50/34 chainset and sloping TT.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ro...

Although they do have different cassette ratios, I havent a clue what the difference is nor which I should be looking for.

Might it mean the frame geometry/sizing is different, Eg a 58cm example of both bikes would have different top tube/seat stay length?

Or am I am looking for a problem that isn't there?!

[andySC]

It can can be used to describe frame geometry...Giant TCR's & Planet X ProCarbons were said to be "compact" framesets but more often than not it refers to the type (ie chainring) sizes on the chainset.

As stated a compact will give you smaller chainrings & when coupled with a 25t sprocket on the rear will allow you to get up 'n' over most hills. I wouldn't say they're suited to 99% of the cycling public personally but if you are fairly untrained & are starting out they make sense, that said OP might live in Norfolk whereby a standard with a 11-21 would see him right

[Jimbo.]

DuraAce said:

It's very confusing. Looking at Evans website...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ro...

This a 'compact', with 50/34 chainset and sloping top tube etc

Whereas, the one below isnt a compact, but still has 50/34 chainset and sloping TT.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ro...

Although they do have different cassette ratios, I havent a clue what the difference is nor which I should be looking for.

Might it mean the frame geometry/sizing is different, Eg a 58cm example of both bikes would have different top tube/seat stay length?

Or am I am looking for a problem that isn't there?!

For the most part, it's just a name or description, so don't read too much into it.
Compact chainset, compact geometry or not, different bikes will have different TT lengths, geometry etc for the same stated "frame size".

[Magic919]

The Roubaix is compact geometry regardless of what Evans call it on the site.

[DuraAce]

Thanks for the clarification. Nice to know it's not the big issue I thought it could be.

On with the search for the new bike.......

[Rocksteadyeddie]

andySC said:

It can can be used to describe frame geometry...Giant TCR's & Planet X ProCarbons were said to be "compact" framesets but more often than not it refers to the type (ie chainring) sizes on the chainset.

As stated a compact will give you smaller chainrings & when coupled with a 25t sprocket on the rear will allow you to get up 'n' over most hills. I wouldn't say they're suited to 99% of the cycling public personally but if you are fairly untrained & are starting out they make sense, that said OP might live in Norfolk whereby a standard with a 11-21 would see him right

Can you outline a scenario when you might need a 53/11 in the UK? For example; training ride yesterday. Max speed 43.2 mph. Never ran out of gears. Loads of E123 races this year. All on a compact. Never run out of gears. However, there are lots of people for whom a 39 x 25 won't get them up a climb. So you either end up with a 27 or 28 sprocket and/or widely spaced gears. If a 50/11 (or probably 12) is not enough gear for you, then you need to learn how to pedal.

[Rouleur]

Someone recently posted on here that he raced on a 54!

[andySC]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Can you outline a scenario when you might need a 53/11 in the UK? For example; training ride yesterday. Max speed 43.2 mph. Never ran out of gears. Loads of E123 races this year. All on a compact. Never run out of gears. However, there are lots of people for whom a 39 x 25 won't get them up a climb. So you either end up with a 27 or 28 sprocket and/or widely spaced gears. If a 50/11 (or probably 12) is not enough gear for you, then you need to learn how to pedal.

Scenario...erm, never hence the smiley. It was my I'll judged attempt at humour. Granted there are plenty of people who won't get up the local berg on a 39/25...and for those folk a compact is ideal. For the other 1% we'll have to make do with a standard & learn how to pedal.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

andySC said:

Scenario...erm, never hence the smiley. It was my I'll judged attempt at humour. Granted there are plenty of people who won't get up the local berg on a 39/25...and for those folk a compact is ideal. For the other 1% we'll have to make do with a standard & learn how to pedal.

Sorry, personal bugbear of mine. Most people wouldn't know the difference which makes it worse that manufacturers continue to put 53/39 chainsets on the majority of road bikes, when a compact would be a better bet.