The order is in for my Pre Cursa frame set. I want to reuse some parts I have for now but I want to buy I want to buy a new crankset, bb and chain.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a good "budget" crankset for the build? I would like to stay under $150 for the crankset and bb. I was thinking about the Sugino RD2 but I'm open to suggestions.

I have never installed a bb or headset and I'm not sure if I will attempt it or take it to the LBS. If I go the LBS route would it make more sense to buy the parts from them? I figure they are going to charge more for the parts then ebay but they would probably charge more for labor if I show up with all my own parts?

Do you have the tools to install a headset and BB?

A labor rate is a labor rate, regardless of where you buy the parts.

If you've never done it, take it to your LBS. it's a pre cursa, not a Craigslist conversion, and it'd sucked to have a stripped BB shell. SRAM S300's are in your price range regarding cranks, and I prefer them to RD2's. they come with a bottom bracket.

Thanks guys.

I have plenty of tools but no bike specific tools. The frame has a intergrated headset which I understand you don't need a press to install. But , I'm guessing installing those parts won't cost too much ...just need to find someone with a car to give me a ride so I can bring it all to the shop since I'm living car free these days.

Scrod, as a shop owner would I look like a dick walking in with a bunch of parts I bought elsewhere and having them install them? I like the guys at my LBS and they have a good mechanic but I also know they charge msrp for everything

I can't speak for all shops but personally, I wouldn't care.

I'm on the other side of the fence. S300s are good cranks but I prefer square-taper and would choose Sugino Messengers or Andels.

I'm not Scrod, nor am I a shop owner, but none of the shops around here have given me static about showing up with doofy gold-anodized parts (it's kind of my "theme" lately) I found online and asking for labor. More likely, I get "I didn't know this was even available in gold-anodized" [me:that's because everyone else has enough good taste not to want it... them: probably.]

I hear you. But I would probably be showing up with parts that they sell in their shop for more money minus the frameset which they don't sell. But as long as I'm paying for their time I guess they won't care too much. I'm sure they make the bulk of their money off the people that walk in off the street and buy a $500 hybrid bike and leave with helmet, pump, lights, mirrors, bottle cages etc and I see those people every time I'm at the shop

bringing the mechanic beer Never hurts. or anyone else at the shop, unless they're teetotaling vegans or whatever, find out what they like, slip them something they enjoy. build up a relationship. they're probably way happier to work on your bike than another hybrid that's got cable stretch or banged a curb and needs wheels trued as part of the post-purchase complementary inspection...

Vegan beers, wines, liquors, etc.

But if I were to make a guess at the info you really need: Vegan and straight edge are different things.

I know these guys are not straight edge so they'd probably welcome some beer. It is LA so high probability that they are vegans

Ben's Cycle has the Andel crankset and BB for $124.99 with a 15% off coupon and free shipping. That's what I went with.

ETA: It appears they actually have a 20% sale for the 4th.

Retrogression has the Andel crankset for $95 and the BB for $18, which is $113 total. Shipping isn't free, but probably not more than $12, so in the end it's about the same. This is their regular price and excludes any discounts that may be in effect.