What is the best Crank Set available today?

[Shai]

Hi All. I'm just about to finish assembling my triathlon bikes (and it's going to look :p :D :) ).
The only thing left to decide is which Crank Set I'll install.

I'm Interested to know what is the best Crank Set available for triathlon racing (Carbon or Aluminum I don’t care) and I'll be very happy to here your opinion.
So again, thanks a lot in advanced.
Shai

[merlinextraligh]

You'll get lots of different answers to this. Is your drivetrain campy or shimano, and how deep are your pockets. If it's campy, you might very well want Campy record carbon.
Shimano, a case can be made that D/A is the best all around crankset. Other options FSA Kforce Mega Exo. Stronglight propulsion (now with the new external bearing bottom bracket) Zero Gravity also is making a very high bling high dollar crankset now.
Finally if you ride a Cannodale, their proprietary crankset is pretty cool.

[Shai]

You'll get lots of different answers to this. Is your drivetrain campy or shimano, and how deep are your pockets. If it's campy, you might very well want Campy record carbon.
Shimano, a case can be made that D/A is the best all around crankset. Other options FSA Kforce Mega Exo. Stronglight propulsion (now with the new external bearing bottom bracket) Zero Gravity also is making a very high bling high dollar crankset now.
Finally if you ride a Cannodale, their proprietary crankset is pretty cool.


Ho you right. I didn't said I ride with Shimano, So… K Force is the best?

[merlinextraligh]

The FSA K Force, and the Shimano D/A are pretty comparable in weight, shifting, stiffness, and price. One is carbon and the other aluminum. To me it came down to aesthetics. I just didn't like the look of the D/A crank, and the CF crank had a little more bling. Others may think the D/A looks really good. Realize whichever crank you pick, it's not going to make a second's difference in your bike split time.

[Sprocket Man]

I like these Zipp cranks:
http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=Crankset+with+ISIS+BB&vendorCode=ZIPP&major=1&minor=13

But $900 is definitely much more than I'd ever pay for any crank.

Are they the "best"? I don't know. Without an agreed upon list of objective criteria, it's impossible to judge which crank is "best".

[Triguy]

Personally if I had the money I'd go Dura Ace, if your pockets are that deep. If you want something cheaper I'd suggest Truvativ Rouleur with an Isis BB, its about half the price and about the same weight if you get a good 160 gram BB.

Supposedly the new External BB are stiffer, but I truly doubt the significance in stiffness of cranks. At the same time, carbon cranks test typically worse than aluminum cranks in stiffness.

So I guess thats why I'd go Dura Ace no cost limits and it looks great and is light.

[Triguy]

Oh and the best?? I love the Stronglight Pulsions based on looks or the Cannondale Aluminums that only come on CDale bikes.

[audiojan]

For what it's worth... I really like my FSA SLK MegaExo cranks. K-Force is nicer, but I don't know if it's worth the extra money... Personal opinion of course....

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

Supposedly the new External BB are stiffer, but I truly doubt the significance in stiffness of cranks. At the same time, carbon cranks test typically worse than aluminum cranks in stiffness.


I have no scientific data to back me up, but I went from a DA 9(internal BB) to a DA10(internal BB), and I did notice a difference. My old one use to move slightly when I was TT'ing hard. The new one doesnt. It is hard to gauge a speed difference because I was in the middle of a hard training section of the year, so I was making gains all the time.

I would definatly vote for the DA 10, though thats just me, and I love the look of them.

[Triguy]

Your not the first I've heard say it Batman. I wouldn't be surprised if you could feel it, but I wonder how much "lost power" is really there. All in all crank for crank I agree with you that DA 10 seems to be one of the best options for a stiff, light crank.

Shai what wheels did you end up getting??? I remember you talking about it a while back.

[Shai]

Your not the first I've heard say it Batman. I wouldn't be surprised if you could feel it, but I wonder how much "lost power" is really there. All in all crank for crank I agree with you that DA 10 seems to be one of the best options for a stiff, light crank.

Shai what wheels did you end up getting??? I remember you talking about it a while back.


Hi Triguy.
I’ll go for the ZIPP 606 Tubular wheelsets.
It's look like the best option for training and racing. Myabe in the future I'll buy a rear disc wheel (If ill feel I need one).

The biggest problem is that I didn't get the frame yet (Orbea Ordu).
Its look like Orbea has a horrible time delivery schedule.

I'm waiting !!!

[MHR]

Aluminum will be stiffer - I use Dura Ace 10-speed cranks on 2 of my bikes and Cannondale SI cranks on my IM 5000. The Cannondale cranks are stiffer than the Dura Ace but can only be used on a bike frame that is Cannondale and made to work with the size of the BB. The rub with the Cannondale SI cranks is also cost which increases the cost of your bike by $1,000 over the non SI cranks. Most people will spend their money in wheels before they spend it on cranks.

[jennings780]

The new Zero Gravity Cranks.
And they look bad *****.
Click on the link and then the picture from the article:
http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/9098.0.html