Brand - how much of a difference?

[upandover]

Hi,

Perhaps a silly question this. I want to put a new crank or new cassette on my new (rather old) cross bike, to make the gearing more appropriate.

I'm tempted to by a much cheaper crank (c.£20) on, on the basis that in the way I will be using it, it won't make a great deal of a difference?

How wrong am I?

Cheers
Steve

 

[02GF74]

you are very wrong. quality varies. without knowing the cranks you have in mind, and even if I did, I probalby won't be familiar with them to offer advice.

but my example. I had decent not bottom of the range raliegh bike with a pressed on crank - many years I was going up a steep ill - I was very strong then with thighs the size of albania - and next thing I know is that I am on the tarmac going ARGH. Basically the chainwheel parted from the crank - poxy design. This would not have happend on say a shimano crank.

 

[roadiewill]

You also want to get a sealed crank - i.e one that you cant see a gap between the bottom bracket and crank with. The ones that arent sealed can easily loosen up and break, even my shimano sora ones did this!

 

[Dave5N]

You also want to get a sealed crank - i.e one that you cant see a gap between the bottom bracket and crank with. The ones that arent sealed can easily loosen up and break, even my shimano sora ones did this!

 

[palinurus]

What way are you going to be using it?

 

[upandover]

Thanks. Sorry for delay replying busy day with work and kids.

Yes - that wasn't a helpful way to put it. Using mainly for messing around, some commuting, some with the kids, perhaps some off-road muddy stuff as well.

I take the advice - it's better to get a reasonable one. I may go for replacing the cassette to get a better ratio. Whilst I know I'll get fitter and be able to better manage the gears, I have a knee problem (which I hope is temporary), and the grinding really makes it play up. I went over the Lickeys on it on my first ride (it's a cross bike), and whilst I'm still been cycling, I've been limping (a very little bit) for three days!

Thanks
Steve

 

[palinurus]

Changing the cassette will be one way of course, depending on what you have on there at the moment and what the rear mech will take. I initially thought why change the crank?, you could just stick some smaller chainrings on, i'm just not sure that it'll work out any cheaper that way.

 

[upandover]

actually, I didn't know you could do that! A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

My current set-up is 39/53 (A Capagnolo Mirage). Can I fit any twin ringset to it? Like this one for example? http://tr.im/ddae

I'm guessing not, unless all bike have the rings in the same place. Assuming that the granny ring is smaller than mine, the holes look like they would be in a different places.

Apols for the silly questions. I will go look it up!

Steve

EDIT

Got it. I would need the same number of arms, with the same width between bolt holes.

 

[palinurus]

You got the idea. See what you can find, you may find a compact chainset isn't much more expensive than a couple of rings.

 

[roadiewill]

you know its true... I just dont know the technical words...

 

[Dave5N]

you know its true... I just dont know the technical words...

No, really, I don't have a Danny what you're on about. Sorry.

 

[roadiewill]

ah well, you'll get over it

 

[Dave5N]

i'm not bothered. Just didn't understand you.

 

[xpc316e]

If your current cassette, chain, and crankset are fairly worn then you need to be careful. If you change just one part of the drivetrain, it will quickly become worn.