I know that the satndard is 130 bcd and compact is 110, but if the chainrings are the same size is there any other difference between the two. I ride a standard, but have a deal offered to me on a compact 53-39. Any issues or differences?
Theoretically the 130bcd spider shoudl produce stiffer rings. But really a 53/39 is the same if it is on a 110 or 130 bcd
i am not the best guy to reply to this, because i have never performed any actual studies (which would be easy to do, i just haven’t done them), but in general i think a 130mm bolt pattern crank is a better design than a 110mm crank if you’re using 53x39, because the spider arms are longer, allowing (in theory) the crank to be made lighter, stiffer and stronger. but, is this difference in function really evident, does it really matter, and, if so, by how much?
my guess is that you’d be fine with your 110mm crank, and, it gives you the luxury of having a crank onto which you can gear down if you find in the future that you need to.
remember not to be taken in by tests that do not reflect reality. for example, quite a few years ago tour magazine (germany) tested cranks for stiffness, and really decided it seemed to me that stiffness was the holy grail for cranks. but, there’s so much flex in the wheels, the tires, the frame, that cranks are almost never going to be flexed beyond a miniscule amount, so, the test was really a case of majoring in the minors. for this reason, i’d like to see if there is any actual loss in function when putting 53x39 on a 110mm crank. there may be. but, the loss has to be real world to matter.
I know that the satndard is 130 bcd and compact is 110, but if the chainrings are the same size is there any other difference between the two. I ride a standard, but have a deal offered to me on a compact 53-39. Any issues or differences?
The only difference that you’ll notice, or will be appreciable, is that you will then have the opportunity to run compact rings in the future, if you so desire. Really…that’s it… 
i am not the best guy to reply to this, because i have never performed any actual studies (which would be easy to do, i just haven’t done them), but in general i think a 130mm bolt pattern crank is a better design than a 110mm crank if you’re using 53x39, because the spider arms are longer, allowing (in theory) the crank to be made lighter, stiffer and stronger. but, is this difference in function really evident, does it really matter, and, if so, by how much?
Dan-
I’ve been wondering this as well. My thoughts, based on very little actual real evidence, is that a shorter spider arm would be stronger than a larger arm, and the ring itself will likely be made from either a disk shape, or have triangles reinforcing the mounts on the ring, so the 110 or 130 strength would be close enough to not be a worry. I’d love to know either way, it’d make sense to get all bikes at that point with 110 diameter cranks, if there was little difference. The real issue would be in the strength of the rings.