Hi there.
A friend of mine just got a Look 481 SL frame on Ebay that he wants to build up like my Seven Axium...full Dura Ace, but with a FSA SLK Compact crank.
However, my Axium has a clamp on front derailleur, which can be moved down to accomodate the 50-tooth chainring (I understand that the f.d. must be mounted a bit lower to allow for the smaller chainring). His bike, I noticed, has a braze-on derailleur mount.
I'm curious, is there enough flexibility in the mounting height with a braze-on set up to allow for a compact crank?? Thanks.

The LOOK 481 has a longer than normal braze-on mount and a fair amount of material that could be filed out at the bottom, if necessary. An additional 1/4 inch or 6mm of downward travel is needed to use a 50T big ring instead of a 53. If I had a double crank setup I could tell you for sure if it would make it, but mine's a triple FD, that mounts higher than double FD.

Personally, I think compacts are a fad. Many times you can get the same ratios with a change of cassette. Shimano users have the 12-27 available and Campy users have a 13-29. Either gives you pretty low gearing without the extra cog shifting.

The LOOK 481 has a longer than normal braze-on mount and a fair amount of material that could be filed out at the bottom, if necessary. An additional 1/4 inch or 6mm of downward travel is needed to use a 50T big ring instead of a 53. If I had a double crank setup I could tell you for sure if it would make it, but mine's a triple FD, that mounts higher than double FD.

Personally, I think compacts are a fad. Many times you can get the same ratios with a change of cassette. Shimano users have the 12-27 available and Campy users have a 13-29. Either gives you pretty low gearing without the extra cog shifting.

Thanks.
Yeah, I looked at gearing charts long and hard before deciding to go with the compact crank on my re-build. There are trade-offs for all options. I wanted the low gearing I had become used to with my triple, yet was in a weight shaving mode (I cut 2.5 lbs off the bike going from Ultegra triple to Dura-Ace compact). And the thought of pushing a 39-25, or even a 39-27 up some of the hills nearby, trying to keep up with my husband, did not seem too appealing.
I have read - here on RBR - of 481's set up with a compact, so it certainly seems do-able.
Thanks for the input!