Tiagra compact crank to replace Ultegra
So, the drivetrain on my Madone is worn out.
Cassette, chain, chainrings: everything must go. It’s a fire sale of worn-out 10-speed gear.
No problem, I thought: just grab a pair of Shimano 110bcd 50/34 chainrings.
Easier said than done. They’re nowhere to be found and I don’t really want to put FSA chainrings on there (although I actually have a pair kicking around in ok condition from a one-by project)
This leaves me with two options I think for the 10-speed drivetrain:
Tiagra, with the funky four-arm crank
Shimano FC-RS400, a more conventional 110 bcd hollowtech crankset, available for €70. It’s in black which doesn’t really fit the rest of the bike aesthetically, but that’s not a massive deal breaker.
Thoughts? Is the Tiagra going to be robust? Is it massively heavy? Will it shift nicely? Would the 10-speed fsa chainrings actually be ok on my Ultegra crank?
Posted Apr 9, 2026, 7:50 PM UTC