Touring Crank Options
#1
is slower than you
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: WI
Posts: 1,486
Bikes: Gunnar Sport, Marin Pine Mountain, Gunnar Ruffian, Gunnar Roadie, BMC Fourstroke, Salsa Vaya
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Touring Crank Options
Building up a Salsa Vaya and am looking for crankset options with gearing in-between typical road and mountain ranges. Something like 26-36-48. Black in color would be ideal.
Shimano Deore is an option, but I'd like something a little nicer. LBS has no advice outside of the QBP book, which doesn't list much in the touring range.
Any suggestions?
Shimano Deore is an option, but I'd like something a little nicer. LBS has no advice outside of the QBP book, which doesn't list much in the touring range.
Any suggestions?
__________________
Proud supporter of the Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association (CORBA)
www.chippewaoffroad.org
Proud supporter of the Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association (CORBA)
www.chippewaoffroad.org
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Grand Jct. CO.
Posts: 78
Bikes: Kona Sutra , Seven Axiom
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just put Shimano XT on my Kona. Swapped the Mtn. Bike rings out for 48-36-26. You can get the rings in Silver or Black. The upgrade i did was well worth it. Had the stock FSA cranks, they were 50-39-30. This made about a 2 gear difference in my climbing. I was looking to spin more in the hills.
#3
-
Truvativ Firex was available as a 26t-36t-48t Black in 2010. About the same quality as Deore, maybe a little cheaper.
Older (1990-1995?) Shimano mtb cranks were 26//36/48, but always silver finish.
You can do wonders with a can of Rustoleum spray paint, too. Just let it dry for a month before you use it, otherwise rattle can paint jobs are too soft.
I've been thinking of building a Vaya too. Got any hot tips on a cheap frameset? I can't find them for under $599 shipped.
Older (1990-1995?) Shimano mtb cranks were 26//36/48, but always silver finish.
You can do wonders with a can of Rustoleum spray paint, too. Just let it dry for a month before you use it, otherwise rattle can paint jobs are too soft.
I've been thinking of building a Vaya too. Got any hot tips on a cheap frameset? I can't find them for under $599 shipped.
Last edited by seeker333; 07-19-11 at 12:13 PM.
#4
is slower than you
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: WI
Posts: 1,486
Bikes: Gunnar Sport, Marin Pine Mountain, Gunnar Ruffian, Gunnar Roadie, BMC Fourstroke, Salsa Vaya
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just put Shimano XT on my Kona. Swapped the Mtn. Bike rings out for 48-36-26. You can get the rings in Silver or Black. The upgrade i did was well worth it. Had the stock FSA cranks, they were 50-39-30. This made about a 2 gear difference in my climbing. I was looking to spin more in the hills.
__________________
Proud supporter of the Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association (CORBA)
www.chippewaoffroad.org
Proud supporter of the Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association (CORBA)
www.chippewaoffroad.org
#5
is slower than you
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: WI
Posts: 1,486
Bikes: Gunnar Sport, Marin Pine Mountain, Gunnar Ruffian, Gunnar Roadie, BMC Fourstroke, Salsa Vaya
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Truvativ Firex was available as a 26t-36t-48t Black in 2010. About the same quality as Deore, maybe a little cheaper.
Older (1990-1995?) Shimano mtb cranks were 26//36/48, but always silver finish.
You can do wonders with a can of Rustoleum spray paint, too. Just let it dry for a month before you use it, otherwise rattle can paint jobs are too soft.
I've been thinking of building a Vaya too. Got any hot tips on a cheap frameset? I can't find them for under $599 shipped.
Older (1990-1995?) Shimano mtb cranks were 26//36/48, but always silver finish.
You can do wonders with a can of Rustoleum spray paint, too. Just let it dry for a month before you use it, otherwise rattle can paint jobs are too soft.
I've been thinking of building a Vaya too. Got any hot tips on a cheap frameset? I can't find them for under $599 shipped.
Chances of finding a cheap Vaya frameset are slim. If you get lucky you might be able to come across a slightly used one.
__________________
Proud supporter of the Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association (CORBA)
www.chippewaoffroad.org
Proud supporter of the Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association (CORBA)
www.chippewaoffroad.org
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 119
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
xd600 seems to be a great choice for touring.
around $130 before bottom bracket.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=9824
around $130 before bottom bracket.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=9824
#7
More Energy than Sense
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 718
Bikes: Co-Motion Divide
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...+Crankset.aspx
I have this on my Fargo and love it although the gearing might be too low for you if you aren't planning on touring with your Vaya. I appreciate the low gearing for dirt roads, big tires and carrying gear (not to mention I am pushing 50).
I have this on my Fargo and love it although the gearing might be too low for you if you aren't planning on touring with your Vaya. I appreciate the low gearing for dirt roads, big tires and carrying gear (not to mention I am pushing 50).
#8
is slower than you
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: WI
Posts: 1,486
Bikes: Gunnar Sport, Marin Pine Mountain, Gunnar Ruffian, Gunnar Roadie, BMC Fourstroke, Salsa Vaya
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...+Crankset.aspx
I have this on my Fargo and love it although the gearing might be too low for you if you aren't planning on touring with your Vaya. I appreciate the low gearing for dirt roads, big tires and carrying gear (not to mention I am pushing 50).
I have this on my Fargo and love it although the gearing might be too low for you if you aren't planning on touring with your Vaya. I appreciate the low gearing for dirt roads, big tires and carrying gear (not to mention I am pushing 50).
__________________
Proud supporter of the Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association (CORBA)
www.chippewaoffroad.org
Proud supporter of the Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association (CORBA)
www.chippewaoffroad.org
#9
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,368
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6221 Post(s)
Liked 4,221 Times
in
2,367 Posts
Gearing is too low, unfortunately. I've been running cranks with the same gearing from another bike on the Vaya, just to test things out and see what I want to spec it with, and I want a higher range. I may just suck it up and put a Deore on there. The thing's a tank, so the extra weight isn't gonna matter much.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 617
Bikes: soma double cross DC, giant reign
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#11
Banned
Hard to go wrong with a 110/74 crankset. , pick a brand.
I got a Campag race triple , 50,40, 135bcd, came with a 30, 74 bcd,
i swapped it out for a 24.
I got a Campag race triple , 50,40, 135bcd, came with a 30, 74 bcd,
i swapped it out for a 24.
#12
Senior Member
Deore-level comes with a steel middle ring ideal for touring. Anything "better than Deore" with its stiff hollowtech spindle and larger diameter bomb-proof outboard bearings is verging on fantasy. Sure you could pay more but why?
Last edited by Clem von Jones; 07-19-11 at 05:42 PM.
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I run a deore crankset with 26-36-48 rings on my vaya, so far it works great it is paired with a 10spd 12-36 cassette
I also run a deore with normal mountain rings on my fargo works fine there as well
my 29er has a shimano xt crank the only difference that I can tell while riding is that it is 180mm
I also run a deore with normal mountain rings on my fargo works fine there as well
my 29er has a shimano xt crank the only difference that I can tell while riding is that it is 180mm
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada
Posts: 1,541
Bikes: Cannondale t1, Koga-Miyata World Traveller
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
My Cannondale t1 came with a 50/39/30 crank. I swapped it for a Hollowtech II Shimano LX crank with 48/38/28.
The part number is FC-T661. Really like the lower gearing.
The part number is FC-T661. Really like the lower gearing.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,904
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2604 Post(s)
Liked 1,933 Times
in
1,213 Posts
Gearing is too low, unfortunately. I've been running cranks with the same gearing from another bike on the Vaya, just to test things out and see what I want to spec it with, and I want a higher range. I may just suck it up and put a Deore on there. The thing's a tank, so the extra weight isn't gonna matter much.
#16
Banned
gram shaving on the race MTB models makes them less practical for touring..
FWIW, I am still running the same 3 steel chainrings I put on my M730 cranks,
20 years ago. can't perceive wear yet ..
FWIW, I am still running the same 3 steel chainrings I put on my M730 cranks,
20 years ago. can't perceive wear yet ..
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 920
Bikes: 2012 Masi Speciale CX : 2013 Ghost 29er EBS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Pretty much all the serious cycle tourists use the Sugino XD (500 or 600) square taper crankset. They last a long long time plus mated to a good square taper bottom bracket will give great service life. 110/74 BCD is a good setup to get custom chain rings. Mountain cranksets are designed to be stiff for drops and mountain riding and are not meant to be used or expected to be used for long distance touring. Not to say you can not use mountain cranksets, but there are better cranksets for touring but just without the bling bragging rights.