Cyclocross Racing - i need a new crankset

I stripped the threads on my current crank when the pedal yanked out racing this weekend so I need to replace it. Its for the best since ive been using a campy UT crank which was a horrible decision since the exposed bearings were trashed immediately.

so now im considering either getting an older campy crank or moving to a non campy option.

The problem with moving to a non campy option is I would have to buy new rings and guards since campy uses there own stupid sizing.

i know very little when it comes to components so bare with me.

anyone have any opinions or advice for me?

i've been using the SRAM GXP 'cross crankset and have been very happy with it.

You could also get a Dura-Ace octalink BB, which is rebuildable... Octalink cranks can be found for pretty cheap nowadays.

^ If it's Octalink 1 you're referring to, the BB is by no means cheap. The cranks are nice and could be had for a steal on fleabay. I think the cranks are cheap because the BBs are harder to come by. I think Shimano only makes the 105 unit, which is a tank.

I run DA 7700 crank and BB on my bike. The seals on the DA BB are total crap; I end up rebuilding the BB after every wet race. I have two BBs and have one ready to swap out. Next season I'm upgrading to Octalink II and be using the King BB.

i'm referring to Octalink v2.

Wasn't aware of the bad seal issue though - that would definitely be a nonstarter for 'cross applications.

My philosophy for racing components is that things be easy to replace (if not easy to fix) and be relatively cheap. This goes double for cross racing stuff. In that regard, I am a huge fan of the current system that FSA/Sram and Shimano are using. Those BB cups can be had for around $40-50 (which is less then the cost of a cassette!), and are super easy to replace when they get mucked up. That system is so brain dead, that I've gotten in habit if removing my cranks and cups and letting the BB shell drain water and crap after riding in the wet (ok, at least sometimes... :innocent:)

I know it's blasphemy in certain circles (*cough* *cough* our Campy-only teammates) to mix Sram or Shimano with Campy, but dude, this is cross racing, and not a road racing fashion show. :D

there are lots of cheap campag cranks on eBay.

I was thinking of selling a very nice 170mm Chorus set.

is there anything bad about the old campy square taper bbs for cross?

is there anything bad about the old campy square taper bbs for cross?

Other than being square taper and campy, no.

Get the SRAM 'cross crank/BB and be done with it.

IMO campy square taper BBs are great. If you can get a good deal on a set, I wouldn't hesitate to get one, especially if you have the chain rings and guards already.

Other than being square taper and campy, no.

Get the SRAM 'cross crank/BB and be done with it.

seriously whats wrong with square taper and campy cranks?

the only problem with buying a non campy crank is having to buy new rings and a chain guard.

i think my ideal find right now would be NOS centaur carbon since i have a 111mm bb available. I keep seeing them on ebay for under $200 but they are all CT.

i use campy square tapered cranks for a lot of stuff. i've never used octalink or outboard bb systems, so i don't have much to compare to, but i've never had a problem with square tapered stuff. simple. there's a reason campy kept making square tapered systems. well, there are a couple of reasons. one is that they were stodgy and resistant to change. the other is that they worked well.

one problem with the campy stuff is it's hard to find a variety of chainrings in 135mm bcd. i don't see a whole lot of 42, 44, 46, and 48t chainrings bumping around. they're much scarcer than 130mm bcd rings.

it makes sense to keep the same type of crank so that you don't have to buy new rings.

Square-taper is great if you put the cranks on and don't remove them very often.

It's not so good if you install/remove your cranks on a regular basis.

i dont see myself installing or removing the crank often if at all.

Get what works. You've got rings so just get that square taper crank.

is there anything bad about the old campy square taper bbs for cross?

I'm using one. There is nothing bad about them. They use tough square taper BBs, are cheap, and use standard rings if you get the Xenon/Mirage/Veloce/Centaur version. I bought a Mirage CT crank for $40 and it's perfect. If you want a 135bcd crank, then those are even cheaper but you'll have to use 135bcd rings. cyclocrossworld has those.

centaur uses 130 bcd? my old veloce uses 135

centaur uses 130 bcd? my old veloce uses 135

Sorry, they use standard 110bcd rings rather than the crazy offset bolt ones the UT compact cranks use. If you want to use the doubles, they have 135bcd. :)

are you sure about that? i was under the impression that campy compact used the proprietary 110 like bcd and everything else used 135. I have both veloce and record square taper and a mirage or veloce UT and they all use 135.

Absolutely. I checked before I bought the Mirage square taper compact, and it's bog standard. No hidden arms. The non-compact version is regular 135bcd. I'll check it again when I get home, but I'm certain that Mirage/Xenon/Veloce/Centaur square taper compact cranks use normal 110bcd chainrings. That's one of the main reasons I chose it.