Gravel / Ultracross / Monster Cross cyclists take note: a better crankset will soon be headed our way. Mark at Bikehugger sums up the issues nicely. We need a crankset that can go low enough to climb steep dirt paths, not unlike a mountain bike. And that's true, even without being loaded: for bikepackers the need is even more extreme. To meet the need myself, I run a 40/28 Shimano SLX crank. I do spin out sometimes going downhill on pavement. It's probably a bit low, but what other options do I have but a mountain bike crank? Coming soon: some 46/30 cranks! Here are three:
* SUGINO OX901D Compact Plus Crankset. At a whopping $455 CAD (including BB), I won't be buying this crank anytime soon.
* the FSA TEMPO looks to be far more affordable. Tempo is a budget line. It's coming out for 9 speed systems, which is a real drawback for a lot of us, and an indication that this is going to be a heavy and cheap crank for use on lower end gravel grinders.
* The IRD DEFIANT. http://store.interlocracing.com/irdderodocr.html Looks like they're asking $217 US for this retro looking 9/10 speed compatible crankset.
I won't buy any of these, b/c of the cost and drivetrain compatibility, but I'm excited to see that the manufacturers are finally catching on!
