I have decided to purchase a compact crank (50x34) which, when paired with my SRAM 11-26 cassette, should get my old knees up and down these Utah mountains without too much trouble. The challenge, as with all cycling related purchases, is determining what exactly to buy. Right now this is what I have on my list of possibilities (in no particular order):
SRAM Force
SRAM Rival
Shimano R700
Campagnolo Chorus CT ('06 or '07)
Campagnolo Centaur CT ('06 or '07)
Since I currently have an Ultegra 6600 crank I wouldn't need to purchase a BB if I went with the Shimano compact. My drivetrain is SRAM Rival so either of the SRAM cranks make sense with the Rival costing 1/2 of the Force at the expense of an additional 50-60 grams. Aesthetically speaking I love Campy. My wrenching skills are quite limited so ideally I would purchase the crank from a local shop, with Contender being my preference.
What would you do?
9 comments:
What would I do?
54X11
Thanks,
RB
I think the newfangled Shimano cranks are ugly ugly. So my vote is against that.
As for the rest, you've got so much carbon on your bike already, it seems to me there isn't really a choice between c/al. And since you've already got a SRAM drive train...
I'd ask the boys at Contender what will mesh best with your existing SRAM drivetrain. All of that is pretty high quality stuff. You could get the slightly less expensive SRAM cranks and put the money into really nice set of climbing hoops (like the Rolf Elan's) and shave some grams where it counts (rotating weight) . . .
It is all about the Shimano.
I'd go with the SRAM cranks. I got the Force group on my BMC and the Rival on my Scott 'cross bike. Both cranks work great and according to the guys at SRAM, their crank with bb s stiffer than Shimano. The rings are coated with something which helps with shifting.
I decided to go with the SRAM Rival. Thanks for the input.
I'd put as much distance between myself and Contender as possible, since middle-aged white men who roll in with $6,000.00 bespoke (custom tailored) bicycles with full Record aren't worth speaking to ... but hey, that's just me.
Come on man, you can't bag on a shop because they sell some high end gear to the middle-aged! Plus, I happen to ride with some of those white guys on Record equiped bikes and besides being nice dudes they are dang fast! Ryan, Dan, Stu, Jim, Reed, et al are all great guys. Who, last I checked, all ride Shimano!
I have the Rival on the winter ride and its great so far
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