Alright. I’m considering carbon cranks for the first time. I’m a long time user of DA aluminim cranks and have been happy with them. Do the carbon cranks really make that much difference? How about the FSA carbon model? Basically, are the carbon cranks worth the extra money as far as performance goes. Is it true the pedals strip out and they scratch very easily? Current 40K time is one hour. Thanks all…
Everything I have read indicates the cranks are essentially the same in terms of stiffness, weight (within about 20 grams, depending on whom you believe), and durability. Carbon cranks cost a little more. They look a lot cooler. I don’t think you can go wrong with either.
Have you noticed any creaking, flexing or anything different (mechanically) from aluminum cranks?
Carbon looks cool, but performance is not significantly different from aluminum and in some cases worse on a deflection/gram basis.
However I do have the FSA superlight cranks (they have supposedly done away with the aluminum skeleton though I haven’t cut them into pieces to verify). They are about 45g lighter than the pro team version and DA, but in actual use the main thing I like with the FSA versus aluminum cranks is there is much more ankle clearance.