Picking a crankset: Omnium vs. Miche vs. Andel vs. Others
 

Hi everybody!

I'm doing some shopping for a new crankset to go on my Rush. I'd really appreciate some help deciding between a handful of sets or possibly finding a new one I haven't considered yet. I've done quite a bit of research on how a lot of the available track cranksets stack up on paper but I could really use some input from people with first hand experience.

My criteria is:
144 BCD
Silver preferred
<$200ish with good BB and 48T chainring

This left me with the following top contenders:
Sram Omniums (a little pricey but they've got a good reputation)
Miche Advanced (Needs a BB so it would also be a bit pricey)
Andel Deluxe (Meets all my criteria but I'm wondering how it would feel compared to some of the higher end stuff)
Affinity Track crankset (Their site is down so I couldn't get any info)

It will mainly be used for street riding and exercise. I ride fast and push hard but I don't have immediate plans of taking it to a track.

I would get a slightly higher garage door opening/ lower car

Trying to picture how the cranks would look on a white rush. Not a huge fan of really thick chain rings on all bikes.

I'd take a good hard look at the IRD Defiants. Those would have been nice on the Green one, probably look good for the white too.

i've ridden the miche and andel deluxe (basically the same as all-city's) and liked the andels better. Im riding ird defiant track cranks now, and despite being lower profile, feel the same as the andels.

Too soon.

Dammit fakefuji...
I took the load bars and everything off my car. No more roof racks for me.

Campagnolo Record Pista (tops out your budget w/o bb)
Miche Primato
All City 612
Cinelli Bianca

I would say andels, you answered your own question with the post. There is no downside to the andels, they aren't rediculusly expensive and they are going to do exactly what you need. If it were my rush I would do black components but that's just me.

I completely forgot to put the IRD's in there too. They meet all my requirements and if I remember right they're very close to what the Affinities are. I think they'd look good on a steel frame.

Looked briefly at Miche Primatos and Cinelli Biancas. Neither seem to be as readily available in the united states. I think the All City crankset is a rebranded Andel too.

That's what I was feeling but I really need you guys to validate my opinions before I feel comfortable purchasing :lol: The black vs silver thing is all up to personal taste and I think I'm going to steer towards silver for this one. I'm going to have deep (88mm) carbon rims so that should cover my blackness quota. ib4 affirmative action bike.

Good to know. Now it seems to be a choice between Andels and IRDs...

Andel crankarms came equipped with my Soma Hellyer ring. All is well.

If you're still planning on using those deep-ass carbon rims, I'd go with Andel. IRD would gel better with a more old-school setup.

Also, I'd go with 50's or 60's rather than 88's for everyday use.

just saiyan.

Yeah, that's been eating at me too... It's like $50 more to go from 55 to 80. That makes it really hard to not go for the ****** status 88mm even though it's impractical. They do weigh 330g more so maybe I will go with the 55's

do you have the rush yet?

one thing to keep in mind is that if you use an external bottom bracket based crankset, like the omniums, then it's critical to ensure the bottom bracket shell is faced properly for the cups to sit squarely in the shell. BB shell width also MUST be within the acceptable tolerance for the extermal BB system you choose. square taper, and other cartridge bottom brackets are more forgiving to minor issues in that regard.

that said, out of the choices you mention, i would just get the omniums, i have thousands of foul weather, winter training miles on mine, great crankset.

the winter beater:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i-y93LP_Os...0/IMG_0232.jpg

I was wondering about the compatibility of the BBs as well so I just sent an email to Soma. I ordered the frame a week ago but since I'm living in Costa Rica until mid-december and it's being shipped to my work in the states, I'm using the meantime to plan and buy carefully even though I can't actually wrench on it yet.

As far as omnom vs andel is concerned, I'm just not sure how much of a difference I'd feel other than being $75 poorer. Since lots of others have recommended andels I'd be tempted to put that extra cash toward a nice headset or pedals.

I think this is a good idea.

This is what I heard back from Soma:

I don't know anything about the Andel cranks, but I can tell you that the Rush frame take a 68mm English threaded bb. In general I'm not a fan of outboard bearing bbs for track bikes, because you cannot adjust the chain line and they sometimes have clearance issues. I would recommend the Sugino 75/Messenger, the Soma Hellyer, and the IRD Defiant cranks. All of them use square taper bbs.

go with the IRD Defiant :) seems to be a decent crankset.

I think with the modern, deep, carbon wheels you're putting on, a modern looking crankset makes the most sense. I really love the aesthetics of the Affinity and IRD Defiants, but they are not a modern looking crank. I'd push an extra $100 and go Sugino 75.

Isn't the Soma Hellyer just a rebranded Andel Standard crankset?

I'm confused as to why you needed to contact Soma about BB compatibility. You already know the BB shell is 68mm English-threaded.

You really seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill here. Just buy a crankset.

The older version of Andels, yes.

Yea I would agree with the modern looking components why not keep it along those lines.

Because


Soma doesn't have the shell width posted on their site so I figured I'd check if there were any known issues.

Dude, you owned one. What size BB did you use?

All AngryScientist was saying is that you'll be much better off getting your BB shell faced/chased, as you would with any new frame.

FWIW I use an external bottom bracket on my Leader and never had it faced. Works fine.

I believe leaders are prefaced and ready for HS & BB install out the box.

Well then. FWIW = 0

I've had the Affinity cranks, omnoms, and rebranded andels before.

the clearance was extremely tight with omnoms if I remember, as one time I remember it hitting the chainstays on the way home because I hadn't put them back on exactly even.

I'd probably get some silver used 75s. my omniums have been awesome on my all city, but I feel like the gxps are a real crap shoot that you'll never know if you're going to be driven insane until after it's too late. Unless you're building this thing up similar to the last one, don't get Affinity cranks imo, they're very vintage looking, but they served me fine the time I had them

had old pics of my soma broken down, I'm sure this will tell you nothing. I didn't take it to have it faced but I also never crossthreaded it or messed anything up running an external bb.
http://i50.tinypic.com/1zgr36.jpg

This makes no sense. There's only one very simple way to install a GXP BB - by threading the cups into the frame until they bottom out. How does one install it "unevenly"?

The problems you had with your GXP could have very well been because you didn't face/chase your shell and the external cups weren't aligned properly.