Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Crankset / Bottom Bracket Selection Questions

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Crankset / Bottom Bracket Selection Questions

Old 12-02-05, 01:59 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Crankset / Bottom Bracket Selection Questions

I'm building up a bike and am buried in information about cranks and compatible bottom brackets. The frame I'm building up is an Airborne Manhattan Project Ti frame. I've purchased some of the components already including Campy Record f&r derailleur and ergopower brake handles. I would like to get a carbon crankset, but rather than dish out the bucks for Record Carbon, I've been looking at FSA Carbon.

I can get the FSA Pro Elite Compact Carbon Crankset w/ Octalink spline. But, does the Duraace 7700 or 7800 BB have the outboard bearings (I believe what I've read that the outboard bearings help a lot with crank stifness).

Alternatively is the FSA K-Force Mega EXO integrated crank/bb does have the outboard bearings. With that, I'm not sure if the integrated crankset technology is really taking hold and if I should go that route. Plus, the chainrings are fairly clunky looking - especially alonside Campy / Italian design drive train components.

Then there are the ISIS splines for which I've read a lot of good and bad about.

Am I heading down a slippery slope combining a Compact Octalink or ISIS BB based crankset w/ Campy derailleurs / cassette?

Dazed, confused and heady with anticipation in Connecticut.
pickle57 is offline  
Old 12-02-05, 02:24 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
TallRider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 4,454
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 128 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
You shouldn't have any problem using Campy front derailler and chain with other cranks. So, no slippery slope. That said, the Campy aluminum cranks are the most beautiful out there, IMO. Along with pre-hollowtech Dura-Ace.
You should be able to go with whatever. Though the Campy FD is designed for 53/39 chainrings, it should shift fine on a 50/34 compact double, too.

The Shimano outboard-bearing cranks are very good things; I can't comment on FSA and Truvativ's outboard-bearing cranks. You could just go with Ultegra, which isn't meaningfully different from Dura-Ace, if you don't mind mixing Shimano into your campy drivetrain. I don't think there's very much reason to go carbon on the crank. Most pros still ride aluminum cranks, and the technical issues of crank/bb interface is easier when you have all metal.
__________________
"c" is not a unit that measures tire width
TallRider is offline  
Old 12-02-05, 02:35 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Excellent advice. My head is already clearing up. Especially for steering me away from the carbon cranks. That simplifies everything and frankly allows me to concentrate on the most important part which is the visual appearance of the cranks.
pickle57 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.