best bang for the buck (cranks)...?
 

looking for a new crank....preferably under $100. any suggestions?

there's always bulletproof. but i'm not sure how light they are.

I like the looks and strength of the Sugino XD. The bcd is 110 though, if that matters.

Best bang for your buck will be a road double. New square taper Campagnolo cranksets are going on the bay for $50.

I don't have a track specific crank on any of my fixed gear bikes save for one... two have road doubles (Shimano and Stronglight), two have mtb cranks with single chain rings (Shimano and Sugino), and my Lenton has it's stock Raleigh fg / ss crank.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...gnewchain1.jpg

MTB cranks are excellent as if they are anything, they are strong... the (vintage) Sugino VP on my new fixed gear mtb with a 48 tooth chain ring.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/numberfive3.JPG

truvativ omniums

Call John Dace at www.businesscycles.com and ask him when he expects to get another order of Stronglight 130 bcd cranks:

http://www.businesscycles.com/tcr-stronglight.htm

I think I paid less than $150 for mine.

Nothing lighter or stronger, and, a single-ring track crank, they'll take any road bike 130 bcd chainring.

A 39t inner ring from a double looks and acts just like a track ring.
With a 14t cog this will give the rider 73 gear inches (a good all around ratio); and with a 13t cog a very speedy 79 gear inches.

With a 3/32 chain...very, very light.

Myself, I ride with a 39t ring and a 17t cog for 60 gear inches, which means easily riding brakeless without skidding or skipping (saves tires), and accelerating like a whippet (not to mention climbing like a bat).

After a year of this I spin at fantastic rates I never imagined possible, and it gets easier to spin this fast the more I ride at this low a ratio.

I've ridden 54 gear inches to 82 gear inches, and I consider 72 gear inches the best balance for most riders in most localities.

However, now that I've learned to really spin, I think I'll stick with 60 or 63 gear inches forever.

Anyway, give John Dace a call and talk to him about Stronglight cranks for the street.

the cranks that alien bikes offers are the same as the soma cranks and have a 144 bcd come in chrome or black and you can get it for 103 shipped. They are nice looking too. I'm gunna get those instead of the RDs.

^ +1. the alien cranks are a great deal. i have them on my bike and i couldn't be happier. 144bcd, 42mm chainline, light, shiny, stiff. way better than any sugino rds/messengers.

BulletProof cranks. Like $35!

Save the money and get a better wheel set.

Just put Origin8/Sugino68x103 on my bike. I'd say they ride as nice as the Sugino RDs. Chainline works out pretty nice too with Bianchi hubset, I'll see how they work with my Formula wheels when I get them. I also picked up a set of IROs which seem pretty nice as well but haven't tried these. Another option for a cheap crankset is keep your eye on eBay for an old set of square taper Shimano 600/Ultegra/105 crank arms-I read these give a 42mm chainline with a 107 BB.

i have bulletproofs but they are by far the ****tiest part on my bike and want to upgrade them maybe after winter. i think a sugino xd/rd would be an upgrade for sure from them. even origin 8's look way nicer

i was thinking the same thing. you can get brand new 105's for about the same amount.

andels?

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...oducts_id=3209

Never tried them, but I've heard a few good things about them.

thanks for the suggestions guys, right now im mainly looking into the aliens.

i haz those. they arent that heavy. they are beefy though, which is good IMO

i have a set of bulletproofs on my bike. i sold my other bike that had sugino xds. i paid half as much for the bulletproofs ($35)...which makes them best bang for the buck for me.

omniums!!

andels/aliens if you want 144
old square taper shimano 600/dura ace if you want 130

Good luck with the Alien cranks. I hear they are back-ordered.
The Andels from Ben's are flat black as opposed to Alien's, which are shiny. So if you have a pref, go with whatever.

Also, watch your chain line.

word. i got some old campy cranks the other week for 25 bucks.