Cranksets and the like
 

I have a 2005 Giant TCR Comp 3 with new Mavic Ksyrium SLs. THe current Crankset is the TruVative Elita GXPCompact 36/50 with the TruVativ Giga X Drive BB. I've notice a dit of a wobble in the BB. I took it to the two bike shops I frequent and they bth gave me the sam bad news. It's common and there isn't realy anything that can be done. They both pulled it appart regreased it and retorqued it with minor improvement. I've been looking for a decent replacement but all new Shimano 105 components are for a 10 speed cassette, I have a 9.

1st question Will the Crankset for the 10 work?
2nd question If I get the crankset for the 10 speed, and a new 10 speed rear cassette do I also have to replace everything for that group, i.e. front/rear derailer, shifters?

And now for another question: I've been riding on the 36/50 for the past two years, most of what I am finding is a 39/53 crankset. Why would one be better/worse than the other?

Thanks in advance.
Rob

I don't know anything about your current crankset, so no idea if there's a way to fix it...

Cranksets don't, for the most part, care what else is in your drivetrain. A crankset sold as part of a 10-speed group will work fine with your 9-speed stuff.

Your shifters determine how many cogs you can have on the cassette. If you have 9-speed shifters, you need a 9-speed cassette; you can't just put a 10-speed cassette on. The spacings are different, and the 9-speed shifters won't shift a 10-speed cassette. That being said, you can still easily buy 9-speed cassettes and chains. Your local shops should be able to order them in, or you can get them at many online stores (e.g. performance, nashbar). In any case, it doesn't sound like you actually need a new cassette.

A 50/36 crankset will be a compact crankset - the diameter of the bolts that attach the chainrings is smaller, hence you can put smaller chainrings on. A compact crankset gives slightly lower overall gearing, which is great for climbs and arguably more practical gearing for a recreational rider no matter what the terrain. Not many of us have the power to use the tallest gear on a standard double drivetrain on anything but fast downhills.

Do a search of the forum for "compact crankset", and you'll find a heckuva lot of threads debating the pro/cons.

1) ebay

2) try it and see

robbie--I've had some major issues with my giga-x pipe BB as well. Seems like people should really steer clear of this system until they have ironed out the kinks.

If it's a wobble due to the non-drive side crank bolt loosening up, a whole lot of loctite and some *serious* reefing on the crank bolt seems to have solved the problem for me (for now).