Crankset / Bottom Bracket Selection Questions
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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"c" is not a unit that measures tire width
"c" is not a unit that measures tire width
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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.