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MTB Chainset Choice



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 2nd 03, 08:42 PM
John Appleby
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Default MTB Chainset Choice

Hi,

I need to get rid of my chainset sometime soon (c.f. previous threads, worn
rings, bolts, ruined thread), and I was considering putting the 2003 XTR set
on.

I've been reading nasty things about bearing wear on it, which concerns me,
because I'm a very heavy rider (both in weight and abuse). I quite like the
look of the XTR crankset, both in terms of aesthetics, weight and design,
but I can't be dealing with BB bearings wearing out in a matter of weeks.

Might I be better to go with something like the FSA carbon series? The price
seems relatively high even compared to XTR, by the time you factor in BBs.
Mind you, it might be recouped by the time I come to replace my first set of
chainrings

Any advice or experience much appreciated.

John


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  #2  
Old August 2nd 03, 10:36 PM
Roger
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Default MTB Chainset Choice

Have you considered Middleburn?

Their web site middleburn.co.uk can tell better than me what's available.
From personal experience over several years I no longer consider any other
chainset if I need a one with 110mm BCD or a compact.spider.

I currently have 2 Middleburn chainsets on the go, the wife 1, daughter
number one 1, and daughter number two 2. All RS7's cranks and a combination
of ATB and compact 5 arm spiders. The slick shift chainrings are excellent.
I have never used the hard coated ones so cannot comment.

If you need to swapping spiders is easy and they are available as spares.

I have only ever used square taper cranks. No experience of ISIS which they
now make as well as square taper.

Mainly used Shimano UN72 BB's in the past. Recently bought a Royce. Lovely
piece of kit and far to nice to hide away in a BB shell. Not used it long
enough to comment on whether its worth the cost.

Hope this is of some help.

Roger

"John Appleby" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I need to get rid of my chainset sometime soon (c.f. previous threads,

worn
rings, bolts, ruined thread), and I was considering putting the 2003 XTR

set
on.

I've been reading nasty things about bearing wear on it, which concerns

me,
because I'm a very heavy rider (both in weight and abuse). I quite like

the
look of the XTR crankset, both in terms of aesthetics, weight and design,
but I can't be dealing with BB bearings wearing out in a matter of weeks.

Might I be better to go with something like the FSA carbon series? The

price
seems relatively high even compared to XTR, by the time you factor in BBs.
Mind you, it might be recouped by the time I come to replace my first set

of
chainrings

Any advice or experience much appreciated.

John




  #3  
Old August 3rd 03, 01:30 AM
John Appleby
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default MTB Chainset Choice

Their web site middleburn.co.uk can tell better than me what's available.
From personal experience over several years I no longer consider any other
chainset if I need a one with 110mm BCD or a compact.spider.

I currently have 2 Middleburn chainsets on the go, the wife 1, daughter
number one 1, and daughter number two 2. All RS7's cranks and a

combination
of ATB and compact 5 arm spiders. The slick shift chainrings are

excellent.
I have never used the hard coated ones so cannot comment.


Well I swapped a M950 XTR hub for a Middleburn hub some years back. I can't
say I was even vaguely impressed. I wore the bearings out in a few rides and
when I changed the cassette, it cross-threaded. I had to buy a wheelset in a
hurry, I bought another M950 set and I'm still using those hubs 5 years
later. Without a rebuild.

Maybe I got unlucky, but I've been put off Middleburn for life. To my mind,
and as someone who is a heavy rider, sealed bearings suck. I have a Hope
rear hub somewhere too, what a piece of *%($£%&. I went through several
bearing sets before I gave up on it.

I have only ever used square taper cranks. No experience of ISIS which

they
now make as well as square taper.


Yeah ISIS looks kinda neat, I'm tempted to go with a splined BB, since it
looks like a sensible engineering idea.

Mainly used Shimano UN72 BB's in the past. Recently bought a Royce. Lovely
piece of kit and far to nice to hide away in a BB shell. Not used it long
enough to comment on whether its worth the cost.


Yeah I've got a UN72 on my bike right now which has been on it since I built
it in 1996. From what I understand, installation has much more to do with BB
wear than any other factor. The major benefit of say Royce, as I understand
it, is that you can change bearings without replacing the whole unit, which
might provide a cost saving long term. No doubt you will find that out

Regards,

John


  #4  
Old August 3rd 03, 12:36 PM
David Kunz
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default MTB Chainset Choice

John Appleby wrote:
Their web site middleburn.co.uk can tell better than me what's available.
From personal experience over several years I no longer consider any other
chainset if I need a one with 110mm BCD or a compact.spider.

I currently have 2 Middleburn chainsets on the go, the wife 1, daughter
number one 1, and daughter number two 2. All RS7's cranks and a


combination

of ATB and compact 5 arm spiders. The slick shift chainrings are


excellent.

I have never used the hard coated ones so cannot comment.



Well I swapped a M950 XTR hub for a Middleburn hub some years back. I can't
say I was even vaguely impressed. I wore the bearings out in a few rides and
when I changed the cassette, it cross-threaded. I had to buy a wheelset in a
hurry, I bought another M950 set and I'm still using those hubs 5 years
later. Without a rebuild.

Maybe I got unlucky, but I've been put off Middleburn for life. To my mind,
and as someone who is a heavy rider, sealed bearings suck. I have a Hope
rear hub somewhere too, what a piece of *%($£%&. I went through several
bearing sets before I gave up on it.


I have only ever used square taper cranks. No experience of ISIS which


they

now make as well as square taper.



Yeah ISIS looks kinda neat, I'm tempted to go with a splined BB, since it
looks like a sensible engineering idea.


Mainly used Shimano UN72 BB's in the past. Recently bought a Royce. Lovely
piece of kit and far to nice to hide away in a BB shell. Not used it long
enough to comment on whether its worth the cost.



Yeah I've got a UN72 on my bike right now which has been on it since I built
it in 1996. From what I understand, installation has much more to do with BB
wear than any other factor. The major benefit of say Royce, as I understand
it, is that you can change bearings without replacing the whole unit, which
might provide a cost saving long term. No doubt you will find that out

Regards,

John


I've had good luck with Race Face ISIS. I have the Next LP. They don't
make a BB wide enough for my Jekyll, so I run a Truvative Sealex
(118mm). Over 15k miles on 'em. I replaced the BB once. Only problem
was the initial installation of the cranks took well over the max torque
recommended to get them to seat (60 ft-lbs vs. RF's listed max of 45
ft-lbs). I emailed Race Face and they told me to go as high as 65. I
believe they now recommend a short ride if they don't seat with 45.

I like the ISIS over Shimano's splines because of the taper. I've had
problems with cranks loosening on Shimano splines and not being able to
get them to stay tight any more with their non-tapered spline (my guess
is that the light, soft crank metal deformed over time and my
hammering). No such problem with ISIS.

David

 




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