New BB & Cranks?

[johnnywb]

For the second time in 6 months, my Truvativ ISIS BB and cranks have given up the ghost and rounded themselves.

I need to replace them with something suitable for the daily commute for 365 days a year!

Anyone got any recommendations? To go on a GT Zaskar frame, with SRAM kit. The more understated the better.

[pdV6]

I run Shimano LX Hollowtech II on the commuter. Tough as old boots and stiff as you like, too.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[WildCards]

pdV6 said:

I run Shimano LX Hollowtech II on the commuter. Tough as old boots and stiff as you like, too.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

I'd recommened the LX Hollowtech II kit aswell, I put it on my Klein earlier in the year and it was very nice stuff, made the difference.

[PomBstard]

Raceface Evolve also good - decals are moulded so don't scuff like the Shimano cranks - and same hollow cranks. Currently using Evolve XC.

[neil_bolton]

WildCards said:

pdV6 said:

I run Shimano LX Hollowtech II on the commuter. Tough as old boots and stiff as you like, too.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

I'd recommened the LX Hollowtech II kit aswell, I put it on my Klein earlier in the year and it was very nice stuff, made the difference.

I'd recommend it too.

However I'd also recommend the XT model too - will likely be slightly longer lasting and also lighter, but for not a lot extra.

Any of the Shimano Hollowtech II range are simply bonkers value.

[gbbird]

neil_bolton said:

WildCards said:

pdV6 said:

I run Shimano LX Hollowtech II on the commuter. Tough as old boots and stiff as you like, too.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

I'd recommened the LX Hollowtech II kit aswell, I put it on my Klein earlier in the year and it was very nice stuff, made the difference.

I'd recommend it too.

However I'd also recommend the XT model too - will likely be slightly longer lasting and also lighter, but for not a lot extra.

Any of the Shimano Hollowtech II range are simply bonkers value.

And i learnt today at my LBS that you can now get Hollowtech 2 Deore crankset, so even better value

[mk1fan]

The HII Deore chainset won best value chainset award for 2007 in the current edition of WMB.

Raceface Evolve can currently be had for £110 on Wiggle and comes with a BB. But they haven't quite got the reliability of Shimano's HII BB just yet.

[Sir Jonny]

chain reaction cycles have an xtr hollowtech 2 setup for 140. Chingy but a bargain.

Also I have XT M761 (rings are 26,36,48 rather than 22,32,44). They are really good and first is still too low despite me running the smallest mtb cassette. Think they are about 80.

Nice frame, I have a 96 ink blue Zaskar as my spare / birds bike. It is awesome. What yeay is your beauty?

[Rico]

Sir Jonny said:

chain reaction cycles have an xtr hollowtech 2 setup for 140. Chingy but a bargain.

Not 100% sure on this (Neil might know?) but that XTR chainset has a very light but quite fragile middle ring which wears quite quickly. So if you're using it all winter, expect to replace the ring a couple of times, which isn't cheap.

I use an 07 XT chainset on my XC bike and can't fault it

[neil_bolton]

Rico said:

Sir Jonny said:

chain reaction cycles have an xtr hollowtech 2 setup for 140. Chingy but a bargain.

Not 100% sure on this (Neil might know?) but that XTR chainset has a very light but quite fragile middle ring which wears quite quickly. So if you're using it all winter, expect to replace the ring a couple of times, which isn't cheap.

I use an 07 XT chainset on my XC bike and can't fault it

I wouldn't necessarily know, I hardly use my middle ring

I've not needed to replace mine yet, however I do accept that lighter chainrings usually mean lesser durability. However the idea that Shimano have gone with for carbon rings (IIRC) seems a cracking idea.

There are better replacement rings out there should you need to replace, however you'll get a season out of it at least.

At £140 its a bloody bargain, however, now two years out of date, and the XTR groupset has moved on again. I'm waiting til next years new XTR groupset, and I'll replace my entire groupset, as I've heard the XTR 2009 range is oing to be amazing.

[Rico]

neil_bolton said:

I wouldn't necessarily know, I hardly use my middle ring

True. Your granny ring is well used tho

neil_bolton said:

I've heard the XTR 2009 range is going to be amazing.

Most probably. 08 is identical to 07 bar Shadow, so the new toys will be out for 09. Carbontastic!

Edited by Rico on Saturday 6th October 17:00

[johnnywb]

Plumped for the XT Hollowtech as Evan's didn't have any LX ones in stock and the XT fits better with the rest of the set up of the bike.

Not sure on the year of the frame, one of the later ones. Thinking about sorting this and then selling it and getting a road bike, but i've always wanted a Zaskar, so don't want to let it go!

[mk1fan]

Then don't and buy a road bike too. You deserve it. What has the baby done to deserve nappies or food?

[Parrot of Doom]

Never understood the need for these new crank designs. The square taper has never, ever let me down.

[johnnywb]

The ISIS cranks on the bike when i bought it have been nothing but trouble, rounding twice. Rubbish.

THink i'll look into getting a second hand road bike for the office hack. No point having anything decent in London, it only gets nicked. They tried to steal the Zaskar but couldn't get throught the locks, so just tried to strip it of parts. Bastards.