I am planning my next tri bike upgrade… the crankset. My bike has a BB30 bottom bracket and came with a 170mm 50/34T FSA Omega. The Omega is a piece of garbage that weighs a ton and has a lot of lateral flex. I will probably go to 165mm crank with something like 52/36T gearing.
I know I could spend a lot of cash on lightweight, aero cranksets, but the general arguments here seem to be weight and aero on a crankset are a bad ROI. So, I am curious what folks think is a solid, good value crankset for a tri bike. It seems like the Ultegra crank with a BB30 adapter would be tough to beat. It street price looks like it is around $150 USD. Is there anything else to think about that beats an Ultegra crank?
No matter how good the adaptor, it’s still an added part. I upgraded my FSA crappy bb30 crank to a much better FSA carbon fiber bb30 crank. Easy install, solid ride.
No matter how good the adaptor, it’s still an added part. I upgraded my FSA crappy bb30 crank to a much better FSA carbon fiber bb30 crank. Easy install, solid ride.
Yeah, I am not a fan of adapters, especially given the clean BB30 design. The main reason I have the Ultegra in the best value bin is because it is a factory option on the IA2. Given all the choices in the universe, I am a bit surprised that felt OEd that crank when they could have done something like a SRAM Force or just stuck with the Vision Trimax that they use on nearly every other IA.
Did you go with the Vision Trimax Carbon? I love that one, but they start creeping up into the higher cost zone where the ROI swings out of the green zone, compared to an Ultegra (with its sloppy adapter, and all).
If you decide on the Ultegra, I will have a lightly used one for sale in a week or so. It includes the chainrings (50/34) and wheels mfg converter. If you’re interested in that send me a PM.
I was in a similar search last year for a BB30 crank and opted to forgo the adapter route (I had no BB creak problems and still do not) and found a lightly used SRAM Red crank either here or on eBay, I forgot where. It was a quarter pound lighter than the FSA Gossamer it replaced and was (to me) noticeably stiffer in standing efforts up steep hills. I ran the stock 50/34 rings for a while and opted to go to the 52/36 rings with an 11/28 in the back and am quite satisfied. I have read some good and some bad on the carbon FSA force crank, but nobody really had much negative on the SRAM. I wish Shimano would get with the program and start making stuff in BB30…
Honestly the 105 cranks are really really good value for the money IMO. I suggest swapping out the bb entirely. Get a native 24mm BB for a BB30 shell like this one from praxis.
Is there anything else to think about that beats an Ultegra crank?
No. Get the Ultegra
Shimano is the gold standard of shifting. I have ultegra 6800 and dura ace 9000 cranks and I don’t notice a single functional compromise. I think the difference in weight is pretty irrelevant too.
Honestly the 105 cranks are really really good value for the money IMO. I suggest swapping out the bb entirely. Get a native 24mm BB for a BB30 shell like this one from praxis.
+1
105 for sure. they are about $98 each on sites like bike24. you can get a compact and standard for less than $200 and swap them out when needed
I am planning my next tri bike upgrade… the crankset. My bike has a BB30 bottom bracket and came with a 170mm 50/34T FSA Omega. The Omega is a piece of garbage that weighs a ton and has a lot of lateral flex. I will probably go to 165mm crank with something like 52/36T gearing.
I know I could spend a lot of cash on lightweight, aero cranksets, but the general arguments here seem to be weight and aero on a crankset are a bad ROI. So, I am curious what folks think is a solid, good value crankset for a tri bike. It seems like the Ultegra crank with a BB30 adapter would be tough to beat. It street price looks like it is around $150 USD. Is there anything else to think about that beats an Ultegra crank?
SRAM Force 22? And while you’re in there, another ~$65 gets you SRAM Rival Yaw front derailleur and basic bar end friction shifter, alleviating the need to trim the front derailleur.
In my city, second handed bb30 Sram Red cranksets are traded for aroud 120$~180$ (not 2017 version) I think they are more competitive than ultegras.
If I could find a $120-$180 SRAM Red BB30 11-speed crankset, I would buy it in a second. Unfortunately, I have never seen one below $250. (Actually, I have never seen one on craigslist in my area.)
In my city, second handed bb30 Sram Red cranksets are traded for aroud 120$~180$ (not 2017 version) I think they are more competitive than ultegras.
I couldn’t get $150 for my brand new SRAM Force crank on eBay over a year ago. Was GXP, BB30 may be different
Thanks for all of the feedback. Quick update: I kind of took a curve ball and bought a SRAM Red 22 BB30. I had considered that one out of my target price range, even used. I had mostly decided on an Ultegra crankset, because they are pretty good and used good ones sell in the low $100s pretty regularly on eBay and Online Swap Meet. But, a SRAM Red hit on eBay that looked almost new for $200. Not as cheap as others, but cheaper than I had ever seen. I was also thinking about a Vision Trimax Carbon TT crank (those look super cool). But, when I saw the Red, it won the day. And, I do not have to hassle with a BB conversion.
So, when I install the crank with a new bottom bracket, I will have completely replaced every component on my bike except for the frame. And I still consider the bike and my original purchase decision a year ago perfect in every way. I cannot wait to race it this season. It will be more aero and a few lbs. lighter than my first race with it.
In my city, second handed bb30 Sram Red cranksets are traded for aroud 120$~180$ (not 2017 version) I think they are more competitive than ultegras.
If I could find a $120-$180 SRAM Red BB30 11-speed crankset, I would buy it in a second. Unfortunately, I have never seen one below $250. (Actually, I have never seen one on craigslist in my area.)
I’ve got one listed right now, 172.5, on eBay, and looks like it will go less than $200.
It is 130bcd however, so no compact chainring set.
I’ve got one listed right now, 172.5, on eBay, and looks like it will go less than $200.
It is 130bcd however, so no compact chainring set.
Good luck with the sale. I have rarely seen a 11 speed, 110 BCD, 170mm (or shorter) SRAM Red go for under $200. Those that did looked pretty worn. That said, stuff that seems to ding value on a SRAM Red are:
10 Speed - this burns the mostGPX - This is another decent used price hitLength above 170 - the longer, the cheaper; the used market is flooded with 172.5mm cranks130 BCD - this is a small ding compared to the others, but 110 is generally more preferred in the used market
I had an Ultegra 6800 on my Giant TCR Advanced with an adapter. It cam from Giant with an Ultegra 6750. I swapped because I wanted the 52x36 rings and Giant shipped all size larges with 175s.
The Ultegra crank was wonderful until it came unbonded. 3 years old, so no longer warrantied. Grumble. So far, the DA9000 on my Shiv has not had this problem.