Excluding the “coolness” factor as some call it and mountain TTs where lightness is important. Why should I chose a carbon crank over a similar quality Al crank?
Sergio
Why carbon?
Exactly! Nice crankset.
It looks light. How many grams?
Sergio
There is no reason. I much prefer the LOOK of my Polished Al Record cranks, and the awesome old Mavic cranks over my new Record Carbon (carbon for the sake of carbon). Blind folded I promise you that given a Pepsi challenge that you cant tell a Suntour Superbe Pro on a cup and spindle BB from a DurAchee or the new Record. People want them to feel stiffer so they do. (yes, I have done this - 105, then new DA then Record on the P3 - could not feel a change one from the other).
Why carbon cranks??? Um…cause you like the color black?
more importantly, why wouldn’t you choose the most aero crankset you can find?
Good point.
Are carbon cranksets in general terms more aero than Al cranksets?
Sergio
Good point.
Are carbon cranksets in general terms more aero than Al cranksets?
Sergio
No - profile is about the same, if not a bit thicker on the crank arms…I am going to compare Record now…
Can’t generalize really. There are attempts like the Stronglight Pulsion and FSA Krono TT, and some that would appear aero without that as the driving force of the design like the new Campangolo and the older carbon Colnago cranks.
I suspect that the surface of the leading edge of the cranks has as much effect on the aerodynamics of a TT bike/person as shoe covers, perhaps as much as an aero base bar or 100mm deep wheel vs 82mm deep one.
Regards,
SD
more importantly, why wouldn’t you choose the most aero crankset you can find?
Surprisingly, as I have tested in the wind tunnel recently, cycling helmets and components can vary greatly in terms of aerodynamics
Due to my findings in some of the components I tested, I am not certain that differences between aluminum and carbon cranksets (aerodynamics) can be measured
I went from a Dura-Ace crank to a FSA carbon crank on my TT bike and (except for the coolness) did not like the FSA. It had nothing to do with stiffness (no measurable difference as far as I can tell) but when I switched the cranks the Q-factor changed…and not for the better.
I’m with Record10 on this one, I prefer the look of a polished aluminum crank to a carbon crank. Another nice choice and underated in my opinion is the Ritchey WCS compact crank in flat matte black…VERY stealth.
Well, the carbon cranks from Campy have almost the same shape as the Al, but the carbon are a bit more square on the non drive side. Lucky for me the “Q” on Campy is the same Carbon and Al, not true with Shimano - their new system has a wider “Q” (thanks Tom Ritchey for the Q Factor)