Hi all,

I'm currently starting a new bike build and have acquired a few of the components but I'm slightly stuck on crankset choice.

I've narrowed the list down to a few potential candidates but am looking for some experience/advice. My main concerns are weight (obviously), stiffness, reliability and looks. I've listed them in order of preference.

Zipp Vuma Quad
Pros: Looks, Weight, Compatibility - BB30/Standard
Cons: Proprietary Chainrings

I've read on numerous forums about reliability issues with the Zipps. My main concern is the crank failing and me being stuck with a very lightweight, and ineffective, paperweight. I've heard a few horror stories of crank failure, bearing failure and Zipp's Warranty Replacement being essentially useless.

Storck Powerarms SL
Pros: Looks, Weight, Standard Chainrings
Cons: Expensive
Similar concerns about the Storck Powerarms as with the Zipps. Very expensive so I want to know they'll go the distance.

Dura Ace 7900
Pros: Price, Stiffness
Cons: Weight, NOT CARBON
At the moment, believe it or not, the Dura Ace cranks are the most realistic option, proven design, stiffness by which all other cranks are measured. My real issue with these are weight, being nearly 200g heavier than the Zipps

SRAM Red
Pros: Looks, Price, Compatibility
Cons: Weight
Seems good enough for lot of the pros riding the Tour de France.

FSA SLK:
Pros: Looks, Price, Compatibility - BB30/Standard
Cons: Weight
Price and looks are the only thing these cranks really have going for them, I really want carbon cranks but they're heavy and the last pair of FSA Cranks I owned ended up with the thread for the pedal seperating from the carbon - admittedly, these were one of the first carbon cranks made by FSA, about 2000/2001.

A few issues. I do a lot of miles, most of them in the rain/snow etc. so reliability is key. I'm not too keen on swapping the crankset out just for racing so ideally, whatever I get, has to be bombproof. You'll notice I also mention compatibility, the frame I'm looking to use is a Giant TCR Advanced, either the 2009 or 2010 model. From what I've seen, these frames use press-fit bottom brackets, thus making it essential for whatever crankset I get to be compatible.

Any help/opinions on this would be much appreciated. I'd love to go for the Zipp or the Storcks but I'm wondering if I won't be better off saving the 200 grams elsewhere and going for the Dura Ace cranks.

Could any of you give me your opinions on this. Ideally, if you've got some experience with any of the abovementioned cranksets like horror stories, proof of how amazing they are it would be most helpful to me making my decision.

As a side note, if anybody out there knows any other exotic cranksets I haven't mentioned, please feel free to add your suggestions. As well, before everybody adds the THM Clavicula, I haven't put it on my list because it's ridiculously ugly.

Thanks
Kevin
Preston, United-Kingdom

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K2

Do you suffer more when you train, or cannot train?

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=83160&p=727610#p727610" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Go for the 7900. Stiff, reliable, shifts better than the others, cheaper, stronger...

Been riding my 7900 through the mud and grit of winter and it works as well as the day I unwrapped it. I swapped from an EC90 crankset and would never look back.

clavicula, morpheus, SiSL---I expanded your list

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RUEGAMER 5.21kg, 11.48lbs

CRUMPTON 4.40kg, 9.70lbs

Welcome.

But... ummm... ever use the search function at all? You should.

You'll eventually end up on this and loads of other info on various threads:
http://fairwheelbikes.com/forum/viewtop ... =77&t=5991

Ultimately, the choice will be yours. Good luck.

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Exp001

rotor 3d

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tcr's rule !

stefanpearce@rocketmail.com

Thanks for the advice so far, I've already done some research on this, hence me asking your guys' opinion.

I'm ideally looking for real experiences with these cranksets. Every crankset I research seems to have some kind of flaw, most notably the carbon cranks seem to be most susceptible to design flaws ie. carbon seperating etc. I've seen reports about bad BBs on the FSA cranks. Easton EC90 was an option but, again, some research has ruled them out, mainly due to some bad reviews.

I'm having a bit of trouble sorting through, what could potentially just be down to bad maintenance on the user end and what is down to the manufacturer.

I'm leaning more and more towards aluminium cranks and the Extralite E-Bones are looking a realistic option. Anybody have any experience with them. Pictures would be nice, I'd like to get an idea what they'd look like on my build.

_________________
K2

Do you suffer more when you train, or cannot train?

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=83160&p=727610#p727610" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Agreed, I actually came across that a while back while I was compiling my list. I would've liked to see a more up to date test which includes the DA 7900 as well. Ideally, I would love to go for the Zipp because it ticks all the boxes, lightweight, stiff, carbon, but being the crank I'm most interested in, I've done the most research on it and I still have my doubts. Any Zipp users out there who can convince me otherwise?

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K2

Do you suffer more when you train, or cannot train?

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=83160&p=727610#p727610" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Campy ut is hands down the best combo of lw, looks, reliability, stiffness. It is the lightweight of cranks
I've used all the othet cranks except rotor 3d

If you got BB30: Canondale SISL
othervice I say Campagnolo Super Record 11. The bearings are just... wow... amazing! and the crankset is very light and very stiff.

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.::. Taking the hobbits to Isengard since 2001 .::.
My bikes:
Parlee Z3SL: DI2,THM, EDGE, Gravitas and loads more (5,79kg)
S-Works Transition: Sram Red, Xentis and more
Pinarello F4:13: Campagnolo SR11 and Racing Speeds and more (SOLD)

2.5 years on a set of VumaQuads so that's about 18,000 miles. I've worn out one set of rings. The ceramic bearing bottom bracket is awesomely smooth. Admittingly Campy carbon is extremely good but I did wear out a Ultra bottom bracket bearings in 4,000 miles.

I would use VumaQuads any time! For me the give me the best weight, strength, stiffness, smoothness, durability and look great too!

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-For my next trick I will set myself on fire!
-This board and the world in general would be a much nicer place if everyone could just take themselves a little less seriously.
-Sticky Fingers John Rockefeller
-First one over the cliff wins!

If you've been reading for awhile, you already know what I'm going to say: why not a light SRM? The 'new' Si SL version of the PowerMeter is quite light. You now have the choice of a Compact version, as well.

One of the cons you haven't mentioned with the 7900 is that the chainrings are designed to blend with the crank and although aftermarket chainrings will fit, they'll not look great. In the UK 7900 chainrings are ridiculously expensive so its something to consider if you might wear out the rings quickly.

If you're thinking silly money (Vuma, Storck, THM) then the THM Clavicula cranks for me are a no brainer. Very nice piece of kit. If you want to be more sensible then I'd choose Red, followed by 7800 (yes the older one) then Record, then 7900.

Last thing to consider as you live in the UK is availability of parts. The three pricey cranksets all require patience in sourcing spares where as Sram and Shimano parts are readily available (Campag not so much)

I switched to the Easton EC90 crankset and love it, shifts better than my old DA 7800 crankset and around 100g lighter. And you can pick one up in the $400's.

OP,

Just so you know, the durability of Storck Power Arms Cranks...The crank has been around since 1994.

I saw it at the Interbike Anaheim Trade Show in 1994!!

And I know many people who have had them since the late 90's and they are still going strong.

As for the Zipp Cranks, I can't give a time line on those.

I am not a fan of the RED Cranks due primarily to the ring tabs that have come off and the flexy and bendy rings.

exactly.