Anyone know if they are out yet? Did a road race today (Sunflower Revolution 100K) and saw a guy running them. Well, it turns out this was none other than Wayne Stetina (VP for Shimano North America) and 10 time U.S. National road race champ, U.S. Olympic squad, cycling hall of fame, yadda yadda. He and another US Postal Masters guy led the peloton for most of the way until the hills when everyone cracked except 8. I got to run into the end and nabbed 2nd OA as he outsprint me by a wheel (but I just nipped the other guy).
I didn’t know exactly who he was (other than an older pro), but the cranks were sure nice! Interestingly, he was also running some Q-rings (and so was I). They both had to catch planes quickly back to CA, so I didn’t get to check out his bike (new, decked out Madone).
Anyway, they look REALLY nice! Not sure what took Shimano so long to come out with carbon cranks, but I get the feeling they are doing it “right” and not just releasing them for “carbon” sake.
you are one fast DR
sounds like you had a good time
I have seen the crank only online
yes I thought it looked very nice
but it would look out of place on my 2000 fort road bike ha ha ha
I did replace my FSA crank with a new shimano low end outboard bearing crank (FC-R600)
it is very stiff and is compact and less then $100
shifts great which was always a problem with my FSA
I will never mix drive gear again
my buddy rob cracks lot of them in the hills
is you consider the injurie’s he had whole year ,he does still fantastic performance’s mick sufferring but at least he has the stripes this year
let’s hope he does well in australia this year
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I have no idea - hence the post. I’ll assume they will be in addition to the regular 7800? I’m sure they will be pretty expensive as they will likely parallel Campy Record’s price structure. I did finally find some data: 30g lighter and 10% stiffer than the 7800 DA cranks.
This was in Ohio? If so the other AMD rider was probably Tom Doughty. I’m not sure if Tom was ever an Olympian or not, but he did win the Pan Am Games gold medal in the 100km Team Time Trial. Tom lives in Illinois.
Spoke with Shimano about them the other day and they told me the price would be around $1200. Hopefully they will be available in addition to the current 7800 cranks or the DA groupset will be around the same price as Campy Record. Shimano did say they were much stiffer as well as being lighter than the current DA cranks, so I think Shimano did wait until they were really ready to release an excellent product.
I’m no engineer, but I view this product introduction with a lot of skeptacism. What’s up with not coming out with an all carbon crankset? These look great but are they really that much stiffer than standard DA cranks. And for that price, something just seems odd. Also, they are only slightly lighter than what is already out from Shimano and not even close to some of the FSA stuff. If they are only slightly lighter, supposedly a little stiffer, yet look awesome, what are you paying such a premium for?
Yup - I’m skeptical as well (hence the post). But, I do know that from an engineering perspective, Shimano does things right. They could have come out with carbon cranks years ago if they just wanted to enter the foray and to make more money, but did not. Yes, they only publish/quote 30g light and 10% stiffer. That IS quite small, but that is over their already stiff DA cranks. Can I tell the difference is what I’m curious about - I didn’t think so, but my new SLC did come with some FSA all carbon cranks that I’m not that fond of after about 4K miles.
Not sure what took Shimano so long to come out with carbon cranks, but I get the feeling they are doing it “right” and not just releasing them for “carbon” sake.
Since the upgrade from carbon to aluminum in a crankset has always been for “carbon” sake then Shimano is just following the market. If people want to buy carbon then the smart company offers it, even if said company knows it is not a clearly superior product.
Chad
There have been lots of complaints on this board and others about FSA cranks delaminating as well as the shifting not being quite as smooth as with Shimano cranks and rings.
I’ll put full DA on my R3 that should ship today Size 56 btw, thanks for your help. The 54 was too small and the headtube was too low, 56 fit like a glove.
I’m pretty sure from other sources that these are about as “all carbon” as most cranks. The DA have a bit of AL at the pedal hole and the BB and where the chainrings attach. I think maybe one or two cranks don’t have metal at the chainring holes, but other than that the pedals and bb need some metal.
As to the premium for the cranks i think its rediculous, but thats my budget. The component manufacturers are getting wise to the fact that many people are willing to shell out big bucks to replace bolts, springs, cages, bearings, etc for cermaic, al, ti carbon. They figure they might as well do it upfront and get the $$.
I do swear by them in the hills.
Size 56 btw, thanks for your help. The 54 was too small and the headtube was too low, 56 fit like a glove.