Originally Posted by
sonatageek
I already have the Deore XT Shifter/Brake levers so that decision has been made. I am not familiar with Race Face, but my plan is to go with super low gearing up front, so the 44/34/22 is actually what I want. I looked at a few reviews of that Race Face crank set and there were a too many weaknesses for my taste.
Do you think the Cane Creek is a better headset choice than the FSA? The pricing is about the same.
Race Face is a Canadian company that makes lots of mountain bike parts from low to very high end. They are very good parts that a great values. I've installed the crank I mentioned on someone else's bike and it's a good crank for the money. A most excellent value for an external bearing crank, actually. Installation is a little futzier than a Shimano, however most people's problems with the Race Face comes from not following instructions.
A 44/34/22 has a great low end but the high is a bit too low for most road riding. If you use an 11-34 mountain bike cassette, it will give you a 108" high which is kind of low by current standards.
I don't have any experience with the FSA headset. I do have a Cane Creek S-2 which is a good cheap headset. Either would do nicely.