I currently ride a FSA SL-K Light 53/39 with 175mm crankset…I am moving to 177.5mm arms and am trying to decide how best to do this. These are the two options:
Replace the FSA crank arms with 177.5 crank arms (where do you get just crank arms?)
Move to SRAM Red Compact Crank 50/36
Which should I do? Is it worth the money to move up to the SRAM or should I just stay with my FSA? I know the compact crankset question has been discussed in several prior threads, but if anyone has a comment on that please feel free to chime in too.
Paying a lot to change your crankarms by 2.5mm is a waste of money. You likely won’t be able to notice the difference and it will make no difference in performance. I’ve ridden 175, 180, 190 and now 170 and none of those made be faster and slower by themselves. Plus, riding the aero position makes longer arms less effective.
I would challenge most folks to be able to notice the difference in performance between a cheap Bike Nashbar crankset and others that cost $750 or more.
As for compact, that is a good idea. Most triathletes are way overgeared. I pass so many folks going up hills at 50-60 rpm I almost want to ride beside them for a moment and ask them why. Some of them are not even in their lowest gear. I really like having a 36x28 low for hilly races. I will spin it at 105-110 rpm going up hills.