Help me choose a crankset
Moderator: robbosmans
I have new steel frame coming in a few months and I am looking a crankset. Bottom bracket is BSA68 threaded.
I will be using an existing SRAM 22 groupset.
Would like to go with sub-compact (46/30 or 48/32) as I am 65 years old and like to climb steep hills.
Looking to minimize weight with budget of $350.
Currently I have a Shimano GRX-600 46/30 on one bike and it is working well.
But it is heavy (816g) and ugly looking and chain line is not ideal and Q-factor is wider than normal at 151mm.
It only cost me $130 so it was an experiment to try lower gears.
The chain line is +2.5mm outboard but I have not had any problem with that.
So here are options that I came up with:
Praxis Zayante Carbon 48/32
Cost $350 plus $45 for BB.
Weight 600g (crankset) 100g (BB)
Q-factor 147mm
Chainline 44.5mm
I think this is my top choice due to the low weight and cost.
I am not in love with the looks but I think it does not look bad either.
Reviews seem to generally positive. Made in USA.
Campagnolo Chorus 12 speed 48/32
Cost $290 plus $28 for BB.
Weight 686g (crankset) 45g (BB)
Q-factor 145.5mm
Chainline 44.5mm
I think this is another good choice, marginally heavier than Praxis Zayante.
I like the look but it is a bit chucky especially on a steel frame.
Officially Campy says not to use it with an 11 speed chain but I have heard from others that it works ok.
I don't have any experience with UT but it seems to be a good system.
AbsoluteBlack 48/32 Chain rings only
Cost $234 chainrings only.
Weight ~713g with Shimano 105 arms 100g (BB)
Q-Factor 146mm
Chainline 43.5 - 2.5mm = 41mm
I already have a Shimano 105 crankset I can use for this.
A bit heavier than the other options.
It looks a bit wonky and I am not sure I want oval rings.
I was on a ride and somebody had these, could not get over how the rings looked while pedaling.
Not sure if there is a real benefit to the oval rings.
Thanks for any advice / suggestions
I will be using an existing SRAM 22 groupset.
Would like to go with sub-compact (46/30 or 48/32) as I am 65 years old and like to climb steep hills.
Looking to minimize weight with budget of $350.
Currently I have a Shimano GRX-600 46/30 on one bike and it is working well.
But it is heavy (816g) and ugly looking and chain line is not ideal and Q-factor is wider than normal at 151mm.
It only cost me $130 so it was an experiment to try lower gears.
The chain line is +2.5mm outboard but I have not had any problem with that.
So here are options that I came up with:
Praxis Zayante Carbon 48/32
Cost $350 plus $45 for BB.
Weight 600g (crankset) 100g (BB)
Q-factor 147mm
Chainline 44.5mm
I think this is my top choice due to the low weight and cost.
I am not in love with the looks but I think it does not look bad either.
Reviews seem to generally positive. Made in USA.
Campagnolo Chorus 12 speed 48/32
Cost $290 plus $28 for BB.
Weight 686g (crankset) 45g (BB)
Q-factor 145.5mm
Chainline 44.5mm
I think this is another good choice, marginally heavier than Praxis Zayante.
I like the look but it is a bit chucky especially on a steel frame.
Officially Campy says not to use it with an 11 speed chain but I have heard from others that it works ok.
I don't have any experience with UT but it seems to be a good system.
AbsoluteBlack 48/32 Chain rings only
Cost $234 chainrings only.
Weight ~713g with Shimano 105 arms 100g (BB)
Q-Factor 146mm
Chainline 43.5 - 2.5mm = 41mm
I already have a Shimano 105 crankset I can use for this.
A bit heavier than the other options.
It looks a bit wonky and I am not sure I want oval rings.
I was on a ride and somebody had these, could not get over how the rings looked while pedaling.
Not sure if there is a real benefit to the oval rings.
Thanks for any advice / suggestions
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Might be a bit of a stretch, and takes some work to find the best prices, but you could possibly piece together a Rotor Aldhu or Vegast setup for $350-400.
The Rotor system is modular, so you'd need to get the crank arms, axle, and direct mount 48/32 or 46/30 chainrings as separate pieces.
The Rotor system is modular, so you'd need to get the crank arms, axle, and direct mount 48/32 or 46/30 chainrings as separate pieces.
If your Sram 22 is a standard compact (110 mm 5 arm) you can fit 48/33 rings from Stronglight (French brand). A tad bigger but you play with the cassette.
Or else Easton, with a one piece 46/30 or 47/32. For my 68mm shell I had to swap out the spindle for a shorter option (cannondale cinch). The ec90 is lighter but more xpensive, the ea90 is cheap.
If the fd is braze on, check the height to see if the 46 wouldn't be too low.
Or else Easton, with a one piece 46/30 or 47/32. For my 68mm shell I had to swap out the spindle for a shorter option (cannondale cinch). The ec90 is lighter but more xpensive, the ea90 is cheap.
If the fd is braze on, check the height to see if the 46 wouldn't be too low.
I don't have a SRAM22 crankset, currently using Shimano 105 and GRX.basilic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 09, 2022 7:07 amIf your Sram 22 is a standard compact (110 mm 5 arm) you can fit 48/33 rings from Stronglight (French brand). A tad bigger but you play with the cassette.
Or else Easton, with a one piece 46/30 or 47/32. For my 68mm shell I had to swap out the spindle for a shorter option (cannondale cinch). The ec90 is lighter but more xpensive, the ea90 is cheap.
If the fd is braze on, check the height to see if the 46 wouldn't be too low.
That EC90 is light but more than I wanted to spend.
The FD is braze on but I specified 50T. I checked with the builder if a 48T will fit and they said yes.
I won't know for sure until I receive the frame.
Thanks
I have a Fairlight Secan steel frame and run the Praxis Zayante Carbon for exactly the reasons you say. Generally very happy with it with just one niggle that I sometimes (maybe once every 10 rides) drop a chain changing to the small ring. It could be my setup, but that doesn't happen on any of my Shimano cranksets. Overall I recommend.
Thanks for the feedback. I have SRAM FD with the built in chain catcher so dropped chain will never be a problem.rwoofer wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 10:14 pmI have a Fairlight Secan steel frame and run the Praxis Zayante Carbon for exactly the reasons you say. Generally very happy with it with just one niggle that I sometimes (maybe once every 10 rides) drop a chain changing to the small ring. It could be my setup, but that doesn't happen on any of my Shimano cranksets. Overall I recommend.
Never say never...DeLuz wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 11:22 pmThanks for the feedback. I have SRAM FD with the built in chain catcher so dropped chain will never be a problem.rwoofer wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 10:14 pmI have a Fairlight Secan steel frame and run the Praxis Zayante Carbon for exactly the reasons you say. Generally very happy with it with just one niggle that I sometimes (maybe once every 10 rides) drop a chain changing to the small ring. It could be my setup, but that doesn't happen on any of my Shimano cranksets. Overall I recommend.
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Praxis - bear in mind you'll be locked into using Praxis chainrings, as well as Praxis bottom brackets as they have an axle which steps down in diameter at the NDS side, f*ck knows why. Their spline pattern is also different to everyone else, so you'll need to buy a BB tool if you've got a threaded BB. I wasn't hugely impressed with the shifting on mine when I had one, but that could've just been me (chainset was paired with Campag). I'm not a fan of any crankset which uses a wave washer as a preload system...it can work if your bottom bracket shell is the right width...or it can over- or under-compress your bearings.
Chorus - again, just bear in mind you'll be locked into using Campag chainrings as they have a unique BCD, which I'm not a fan of (I say this as a Campag user). I can't remember for certain, but I seem to recall their bearings are a slightly weird size, like 1mm thicker or something, which are less widely stocked / manufactured. Again, not a fan of stuff that's overly propietary.
Absolute Black - shifting was meh for me (on Shimano as well as Campag). Had 48/32 oval rings on an Ultegra 6800 crankset until the crankset did what Ultegra cranksets do (i.e. fall apart). I still have the chainrings on my bodge about bike, but I don't exactly climb much on that so don't notice the shifting.
Someone above mentioned Rotor, which I use...the cranks / axle / chainrings are separate elements and are propietary, which I know I said I don't like, but the system works well. Besides, you can use different chainrings should you so wish with the aid of a spider mount (if you want to stick to 48/32 you'll have to go with their direct mount rings, but I'm fairly sure they do a 48/32 round option). The axles are also standard sizes so will work with any bottom bracket. If you get the 24mm axle you can continue to use the same BB you currently have with GRX. If it were my choice, that would be the way I went (having used all of the above plus the 105 you mentioned).
Chorus - again, just bear in mind you'll be locked into using Campag chainrings as they have a unique BCD, which I'm not a fan of (I say this as a Campag user). I can't remember for certain, but I seem to recall their bearings are a slightly weird size, like 1mm thicker or something, which are less widely stocked / manufactured. Again, not a fan of stuff that's overly propietary.
Absolute Black - shifting was meh for me (on Shimano as well as Campag). Had 48/32 oval rings on an Ultegra 6800 crankset until the crankset did what Ultegra cranksets do (i.e. fall apart). I still have the chainrings on my bodge about bike, but I don't exactly climb much on that so don't notice the shifting.
Someone above mentioned Rotor, which I use...the cranks / axle / chainrings are separate elements and are propietary, which I know I said I don't like, but the system works well. Besides, you can use different chainrings should you so wish with the aid of a spider mount (if you want to stick to 48/32 you'll have to go with their direct mount rings, but I'm fairly sure they do a 48/32 round option). The axles are also standard sizes so will work with any bottom bracket. If you get the 24mm axle you can continue to use the same BB you currently have with GRX. If it were my choice, that would be the way I went (having used all of the above plus the 105 you mentioned).
Thanks for the in depth feedback. I looked into Rotor and their least expensive option is $500 which is $200 more than Chorus. I think I am leaning towards Chorus I think I like the look better and the cost is less. I have some reservations about using a 12 speed crankset with 11 speed chain but have heard enough to convince me it works. Also I am not a fan of 30mm spindle in a BSA68 BB it just seems huge. Here are some photoshopped pictures I made of Chrous and Praxis in a frame similar to mine.mathemagician wrote: ↑Tue Jul 12, 2022 4:39 pmPraxis - bear in mind you'll be locked into using Praxis chainrings, as well as Praxis bottom brackets as they have an axle which steps down in diameter at the NDS side, f*ck knows why. Their spline pattern is also different to everyone else, so you'll need to buy a BB tool if you've got a threaded BB. I wasn't hugely impressed with the shifting on mine when I had one, but that could've just been me (chainset was paired with Campag). I'm not a fan of any crankset which uses a wave washer as a preload system...it can work if your bottom bracket shell is the right width...or it can over- or under-compress your bearings.
Chorus - again, just bear in mind you'll be locked into using Campag chainrings as they have a unique BCD, which I'm not a fan of (I say this as a Campag user). I can't remember for certain, but I seem to recall their bearings are a slightly weird size, like 1mm thicker or something, which are less widely stocked / manufactured. Again, not a fan of stuff that's overly propietary.
Absolute Black - shifting was meh for me (on Shimano as well as Campag). Had 48/32 oval rings on an Ultegra 6800 crankset until the crankset did what Ultegra cranksets do (i.e. fall apart). I still have the chainrings on my bodge about bike, but I don't exactly climb much on that so don't notice the shifting.
Someone above mentioned Rotor, which I use...the cranks / axle / chainrings are separate elements and are propietary, which I know I said I don't like, but the system works well. Besides, you can use different chainrings should you so wish with the aid of a spider mount (if you want to stick to 48/32 you'll have to go with their direct mount rings, but I'm fairly sure they do a 48/32 round option). The axles are also standard sizes so will work with any bottom bracket. If you get the 24mm axle you can continue to use the same BB you currently have with GRX. If it were my choice, that would be the way I went (having used all of the above plus the 105 you mentioned).
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Clearing up some misinformation:
Zayante Carbon cranks are made in Taiwan, not USA.
Not locked into Praxis rings; these cranks have the standard SRAM 3-bolt DM interface...any rings that fit direct or with a 3-bolt spider will work. Nothing wrong with the Praxis rings I had, but moved on because I preferred other options.
You are locked into their BB as mentioned above, and their BBs are not very good. Durability is an issue, so until another company comes out with an option, I will pass on all Praxis cranks.
I have run a 30mm spindle in BSA 68/73 for several years, road/gravel/MTB, no issues. But if you do not like it, my suggestion of Easton is out.
Zayante Carbon cranks are made in Taiwan, not USA.
Not locked into Praxis rings; these cranks have the standard SRAM 3-bolt DM interface...any rings that fit direct or with a 3-bolt spider will work. Nothing wrong with the Praxis rings I had, but moved on because I preferred other options.
You are locked into their BB as mentioned above, and their BBs are not very good. Durability is an issue, so until another company comes out with an option, I will pass on all Praxis cranks.
I have run a 30mm spindle in BSA 68/73 for several years, road/gravel/MTB, no issues. But if you do not like it, my suggestion of Easton is out.
I did look into Easton. The EC90 SL is attractive weight but cost is out of my budget. EA90 is on the heavy side I don't see this being better than the other options.thewoodsman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 12, 2022 7:54 pmClearing up some misinformation:
Zayante Carbon cranks are made in Taiwan, not USA.
Not locked into Praxis rings; these cranks have the standard SRAM 3-bolt DM interface...any rings that fit direct or with a 3-bolt spider will work. Nothing wrong with the Praxis rings I had, but moved on because I preferred other options.
You are locked into their BB as mentioned above, and their BBs are not very good. Durability is an issue, so until another company comes out with an option, I will pass on all Praxis cranks.
I have run a 30mm spindle in BSA 68/73 for several years, road/gravel/MTB, no issues. But if you do not like it, my suggestion of Easton is out.
Thanks
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