The "Right" Stuff

[Notso Swift]

The adaptor is the only way to do it so... (Don't Liquigas use Campy on BB30, good enough for them)

I would never suggest buying cranks that are only 2.5 difference, but since you are getting them anyway, go for it. THe 175 will not hurt you, but the only way to know if the 172.5 is better is to try.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Been riding 175mm cranks on the road like forever until last year I got a deal on some cranks for my CX bike that were only available in 172.5 at the special price, can't believe I made a stink about 2.5mm. Can't tell at all.

 

[Boeing]

I am 6'4" and ride a 177.5

but on a mountain bike I stick with the 175


Campy has lived on its lore far too long and it shows in their lack of innovation. but that is no reason not to use it

 

[Parera]

Been riding 175mm cranks on the road like forever until last year I got a deal on some cranks for my CX bike that were only available in 172.5 at the special price, can't believe I made a stink about 2.5mm. Can't tell at all.

Hmm, part of the reason I ask is the whole "deal" thing, can get some 2010 Campy 172.5mm Record Cranks for a lot cheaper than 2011 Chorus...and yes 2.5mm seems like nothing to fuss about. Probably akin to the difference between 42cm and 44cm bars; I tend to stick with 44 cm as that is my shoulder width on the nose but 42cms don't feel significantly narrower/uncomfortable/different to me.

And if we are honest with ourselves, half this technical talk is really just minor nonsense. My gut has always the best way to have fun road cycling is to simply get the critical contact points fairly dialed in, fine tune after you've put some time on the bike and then ride yourself silly. No worrying about a 2.3mm aft adjustment on your right cleat, a -1.5º tilt to your saddle, etc; if it feels good, go for it, right?

And regarding Cannondale's pro team, they've used the Hollowgram cranks as far as I know whether riding Campy or Sram. A short google search, however, revealed to me that BMC ran Campy in 2010 on BB30 frames, so I'm sure it won't be an issue. Just covering my bases before I dip back into the bank account for some more funds.

 

[Parera]

And in case anyone couldn't infer...

I did pull the trigger on a BMC frame. Was in Portland over the weekend (instead of the sticks aka the State of Jefferson) took a ton of bikes for a spin (River City Bikes had a Colnago C50 I drooled over...) and really, nothing beats the BMC Race Machine in terms of overall attributes for my sensibilities. Geometry, stiffness, road feel, everything felt just right; plus it has just enough "sexiness" to temper my youthful foolishness. I could have got a Team Machine (same mold/geometry, I think) and I'm sure maybe even a better ride quality...but two things made me reluctant (well, one, since both are related).

The Team Machine comes with that BMC streampost thing, which is like a quill stem, but in a saddle style saddle. Guess it's a gimmick they came up with to make some that looks as "clean" as an integrated seatpost but more easily adjustable. However, this system is actually heavier than the more traditional setup on the Race Machine (which uses a proprietary seatpost; not ideal but lots of companies do something similar). Given that the two frames are about 100g in weight difference, the Team Machine really must be a delicate frame. Also, I heard some grumblings that streampost setups can get an irritating "squeak" plaguing the seatpost so the decision was rather easy considering the price difference (Campy Record Crank and Shifters) when all is said and done.

The only thing I don't like is the red/black/white (aka Third Reich according to RDV4ROUBAIX) paint scheme, but hell's bells, every company uses it so whatever.

I'm in no real rush to actually build the frame up at this point; I have about one month left of riding before they start graveling the crap out of the roads around Southern Oregon (apparently street sweepers take a 6 month winter vacation...grumble) so I'm not too keen on trashing this thing. This will also give me time to bargain hunt for components, can build something really special in time for next spring.

In the meantime, the Roubaix passed warranty inspection (the damage was cosmetic) so it's getting a little love; I'll post pictures of the Velocity A23 wheels w/105 hubs when they are built. Excited, first set of "real" wheels even though the Mavic Aksium I have been riding for a couple years have served me well. Mavic probably has rightly earned its rep as a company with QA given my observations of some friends Ksyriums being totally worthless but my Aksiums seemed to buck the trend (probably has to do with the steel spokes, brass nipples, decent rim build, herp derp).

I made a decision on a groupset for the Roubaix (as I'm moving my Shimano 5600 to my dad's CAAD9)....and wait for it...voila, 5700! It's really a no brainer, to be perfectly frank; despite my hands finding the SRAM hoods more inviting (albeit substantially behind those buttery campy levers ) the positive aspects of the 105 group override my dislike for those hoods. Cranks, deraileurs, brakes, shifting, totally prefer the Shimano stuff compared to Rival/Apex (double tap is not my thing I guess). Additionally, the fact of it being Shimano makes life a little easier down here when it comes to maintenance. And with some Yokozuna cables + housing, I'll should be able to get top notch shifting performance...

Actually looking forward to winter for once!

 

[Parera]

BB30 cranks...

Been looking, not really many options for campy (the ultra torque cups work ok from what I gather but there can be fit issues apparently). I've been looking for some cannondale hollowgram cranks and possibly using some stronglight vitesse 11/10speed rings on it. Anyone have experience with cannondale cranks? Seem to be q favorite over at Weigt Weenies.

 

[42x16ss]

BB30 cranks...

Been looking, not really many options for campy (the ultra torque cups work ok from what I gather but there can be fit issues apparently). I've been looking for some cannondale hollowgram cranks and possibly using some stronglight vitesse 11/10speed rings on it. Anyone have experience with cannondale cranks? Seem to be q favorite over at Weigt Weenies.

I've had hollowgrams on my last two bikes (Cannondale Super 6 & System 6) and they have been great, no issues at all.

FSA make good BB30 specific cranksets too.

 

[Parera]

I've had hollowgrams on my last two bikes (Cannondale Super 6 & System 6) and they have been great, no issues at all.

FSA make good BB30 specific cranksets too.

I have bad memories of FSA Cranks...

Good to hear; the other thing too about dale cranks is I can eventually get a Quarq spider for it. Yeah, yeah, power meters, total dweeb thing but man I love tech crap.

 

[42x16ss]

Not cool! I did notice that is an external BB in the pic though, not BB30.

Nothing wrong with wanting a PM! They are a very effective training tool, especially combined with a HRM.

 

[Parera]

Not cool! I did notice that is an external BB in the pic though, not BB30.

Nothing wrong with wanting a PM! They are a very effective training tool, especially combined with a HRM.

1990 Acura Integra did that, to be fair.

Amazingly I'm still using those Ultegra Pedals.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I am 6'4" and ride a 177.5

but on a mountain bike I stick with the 175


Campy has lived on its lore far too long and it shows in their lack of innovation. but that is no reason not to use it

First, I think there hasn't been true innovation since the middle 80s with lever mounted shifting and clipless pedals BUT.

First 9s group(1997)
First 10s group(2000)
First 11s group(2009)
First to field a electronic group(2004)
First with high end triples(early 90s)


Probably others but don't confuse 'innovation' with slick marketing(sram).

 

[Parera]

First piece to the group puzzle.

As I mentioned, it's going to be record all the way through with the exception of the cassette, maybe brakes. Is the Super Record rear derailleur worth it? Watched a video of someone spinning the pulleys and I was like gimme!