carbon crank arms
1127
Member
986 days
UFTriGator posted 50 weeks ago.
Carbon crank arms aren't going to make a difference unless your current ones are SUPER noodly. You're probably better off putting your money someplace else to get some speed.
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-Matt
Not fast enough.
187
Member
351 days
GGehrke posted 50 weeks ago.
I was recently considering a set of carbon cranks and came across this gem in a test article:
"The FSA Carbon Crank is the lightest in the test at 252 grams, 9% lighter than the heaviest crank in the test (Shimano Ultegra). The spread from heaviest to lightest was 22 grams, less than 1 ounce. To put that in perspective a pair of Oakley Twenty sunglasses weighs 24 grams. So, switching from an Ultegra crank to an FSA Carbon Pro Team crank is about the same as taking off your sunglasses."
Source: http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/crank.shtml
Also worth noting is that the weight of crank arms IS rotational weight, but virtually insignificantly so. Further, it's so low in the bike that it's a better place to allow extra weight (handling-wise) than higher up.
I'm actually still thinking of getting carbon cranks (FSA?) if I splurge for a Quarq powermeter when they're available, but I'll second Matt above and say that your money is better spent elsewhere.
-Grant-
427
Member
440 days
Sully800 posted 50 weeks ago.
Does the stiffness of carbon cranks also contribute to the benefit (instead of just the lower weight)?
It seems like carbon cranks would indeed by stiffer, but then again I can't imagine any cranks flexing much. A gear expert could clarify that though I'm sure.
25
Member
482 days
wllmsylv posted 49 weeks ago.
In my opinion thereare 3 parts to a bike that are upgradeable. You have the frame and fork, the wheels and everything else. None of which are any cheaper to uprgrade than the other. I wouldn't waist my time upgrading my cranks unless I was going to do the entire component group. Even after doing that the component group is really just the icing on the cake for making a really nice bike and will have minimal impact on performance. I think the 2 biggest factors in a bikes performance is the frame and wheels.... So I just took a second to put it into perspective. I just spec'd out 2 bikes @ www.orbea.com. I put all the lightest compenents on an Ordu, full sram red component group, sellie italia seat, zipp vulca bars. Estimated weight was 15.4lbs and cost $8500. The other was with full ultegra, profile bars and some other "heavy items" and its estimated weight was 16.43lbs and cost $5700. So there you have it, 1lb cost $2800. Worth it.. I don't think so. I would start looking at wheels or even maybe trying to pick up a used frame somewhere.
149
Member
1425 days
Airborne posted 49 weeks ago.
wllmsylv wrote:
In my opinion thereare 3 parts to a bike that are upgradeable. You have the frame and fork, the wheels and everything else.
I mostly agree with this, but have to take at least one exception. Your aerobars belong in their own category. Each set of bars has a slightly different feel, setup, etc. In addition, the wide range of weights in aerobars *can* affect the way your bike handles. A heavy bar will feel much different than a light bar. And it's highly unlikely that two bars offer the *exact* same position, so each new bar will present unique possibilities for your fit.
At the beginning of last season, I upgraded from Vision Tech base + HED extensions to the full integrated HED bar. It was money well spent. My new bar is light, spry, and gets me in the position I want. Plus it's slick as all get out.
Something else that hasn't been mentioned yet is perhaps the easiest upgrade of all. But you can very cheaply add speed with an aero helmet! It might be the most cost-effective upgrade of them all, though it isn't as sexy as say, getting yourself a new Zipp 606 set.
6
Member
357 days
tantric.triathlete posted 49 weeks ago.
I say go with either Ultegra or the new Ultegra SL. You get 90% of the stiffness and weght savings of some of the highest priced cranks on the market at a fraction of the price. I have been racing on Ultegra for 3 years and love it. I would only upgrade if I were buying a new bike or had some money just burning in my pocket.
6
Member
357 days
tantric.triathlete posted 49 weeks ago.
...one more thing, I have a friend with the crank in that study and he has not been very happy but I heard the new version of it (the nero) is pretty cool.
I'm trying to update my 1989 triathlon bike (Centurion Carbon) and thought carbon crank arms might be an inexpensive way to add a little speed.
Are there any carbon crank arms that are compatible with Shimano 600 circa 1989??