Cyclocross - Crank Options?

I'm looking to upgrade some things on my commuter and I want to go with a cross crank. I've been shopping on the usual sites and there isn't too much out there, at least not compared to standard road cranks. Do most of you buy a normal crank and switch the rings out?

I'm thinking that I would like to go with a 110bcd crank, any thoughts on that, pro or con?

I've found a few for sale here and there, but I'm trying to keep this on the cheap side, maybe $150 at most, any suggestions? I found the SRAM S300 at cyclocrossworld for $120, but that has a 130bcd (at least I think it does). Any others out there for a good price?

Thanks for the help.

No recommendations?

$150 is a tight budget for upgrading a crankset. If you could stretch a little, Universal Cycles has an FSA Energy crankset for $206:

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=22433&category=522

What are you trying to accomplish with the upgrade?

rankin116,

I've still got the 48/38 crankset from my 2003 Fuji Cross. I changed it in 2007 to a Shimano compact (50/34) for the gearing in both the top and bottom end. But I had no issues with the original cranks.

Ritchey Pro Cross, 6061 forged alloy with 5180 alloy CNC 38/48 chainrings
FSA Ultimax ISIS sealed cartridge, 109.5mm

PM me if you want to make a deal. I've just been to lazy to list it in the BF For Sale/Craigslist/Ebay.

Cheers.


PS: I hope it's OK by forum rules to make this kind of offer.

I run 46/36 compact. 46 seems to be the gear to get. Even top pros are running 46 instead of 48.

You can run 46 on a 130 but the small ring will be limited to a 38.

rankin116,

I've still got the 48/38 crankset from my 2003 Fuji Cross. I changed it in 2007 to a Shimano compact (50/34) for the gearing in both the top and bottom end. But I had no issues with the original cranks.

Ritchey Pro Cross, 6061 forged alloy with 5180 alloy CNC 38/48 chainrings
FSA Ultimax ISIS sealed cartridge, 109.5mm

PM me if you want to make a deal. I've just been to lazy to list it in the BF For Sale/Craigslist/Ebay.

Cheers.


PS: I hope it's OK by forum rules to make this kind of offer.

Thanks for the offer, but I assume that is a 130bcd? I'm thinking to stick with a 110.


I run 46/36 compact. 46 seems to be the gear to get. Even top pros are running 46 instead of 48.

You can run 46 on a 130 but the small ring will be limited to a 38.

I'm looking at some compact cranks on Ebay, and I think that is the way I will go, thanks for the info.


$150 is a tight budget for upgrading a crankset. If you could stretch a little, Universal Cycles has an FSA Energy crankset for $206:

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=22433&category=522

What are you trying to accomplish with the upgrade?

Accomplish? Mainly just the upgrade from 9speed Tiagra triple to some 10 speed double. My other bike is 10, and I would them to pair up in case anything breaks down and I don't have time/funds to make a fix. I think I am going to go with a compact and find rings that will work for it. This bike will mainly be used to commute, and hopefully race at some point, so when that comes around I can just swap chain rings.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

Thanks for the offer, but I assume that is a 130bcd? I'm thinking to stick with a 110.
Nope. I'm pretty certain it's a 110bcd. I can check tonight after work. I'll post a couple pics, also. No pressure....but if you're already looking at eBay.......

Nope. I'm pretty certain it's a 110bcd. I can check tonight after work. I'll post a couple pics, also. No pressure....but if you're already looking at eBay.......

If it's 110, I am interested. Let me know.

9 speed cranks are also 10 speed compatible. I would recommend either a Shimano compact or a Sugino XD/Stronglight Impact. Then buy the rings you want from Vuelta USA or Rocket Rings or whoever. Don't spend huge money on it. Btw, square taper bottom brackets tend to be most reliable. This would favour the Sugino for commuting.

Maybe I'm jaundiced, but I would never spend good money on an FSA or Sram/Truvativ chainset when I could get a Shimano one for similar money. And that's spoken as a Campagnolo user.

Maybe I'm jaundiced, but I would never spend good money on an FSA or Sram/Truvativ chainset when I could get a Shimano one for similar money. And that's spoken as a Campagnolo user.

Why? I've never had anything other than Shimano, are FSA and SRAM/Truvativ really that bad?

If it's 110, I am interested. Let me know.

I stand humbly in the wrong. My cx crank is a 130 bcd. I think that's why I ended up with a whole new crank instead of just new rings.

Sorry.

No worries, thanks for the offer anyway.

Maybe I'm jaundiced, but I would never spend good money on an FSA or Sram/Truvativ chainset when I could get a Shimano one for similar money. And that's spoken as a Campagnolo user.


Agreed. I own a Truvativ crank set and I certainly have more shifting issues over my other bikes with Shimano cranks. Perhaps the big difference is the ramped chainrings on the Shimano, whereas my Truvativ does not have them. I wouldn't say the shifting is bad, it just is not as crisp as on the Shimano cranks.

Agreed. I own a Truvativ crank set and I certainly have more shifting issues over my other bikes with Shimano cranks. Perhaps the big difference is the ramped chainrings on the Shimano, whereas my Truvativ does not have them. I wouldn't say the shifting is bad, it just is not as crisp as on the Shimano cranks.

Agreed +1.

I've owned and own Truvativ, SRAM, FSA and Shimano. Shifting is just crisper and cleaner with the Shimano cranksets.

I run 38/48 on 130 bcd Dura Ace 7700 road cranks with absolutely no problems.

Why? I've never had anything other than Shimano, are FSA and SRAM/Truvativ really that bad?

Some of them come with gnasty rings and the bottom brackets tend to be a lot less reliable than Shimano ones, at least for outboard bearing cranksets. The reason they are fitted to so many new bikes is that OEM builders get them really cheap. They are expensive at retail. Shimano cranks are very good, and their chain rings give excellent shifting. I've been using Sora cranks for a while, and they are excellent.

http://www.velo-orange.com/suxddocr.html
https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item/41270

Just bought a Campy Centaur CT crank from Nashbar. They were closing them out for $99.00 plus the 10% off. Nice thing is they were carbon for $89.00 How could I say no even though I didn't need it.

Thanks for all the info.

I ended up getting a Shimano FC-R600 on Amazon for $116. Well, I bought it anyway, I haven't received it yet. I have a FC-R700 on a different bike, and from what I have read they are essentially the same, only the R600 comes with heavier rings. We'll see though.