Originally Posted by zen_

I ran an Alba crank for 7-8K miles last year and honestly didn't mind it at all for an entry level crank. It shifts good, and I think I had a whooping two chain drops even though I don't pay much attention to the front mech adjustment until it's obviously bad, and I shift a ton going up and down gravel rollers. As others have mentioned, there's always going to be a bit of rub cross-chained. Just run the Alba until you are either A) certain you want a crank based power meter or B) are actually spinning it out regularly, and really need bigger rings.