Lugs to Lightweights – Episode 18: Crank Choice Woes (help!)

I’ve run into chainset issues folks – it’s time to stop being so secretive about the components I’m using because I want to know what you lot think.  So the detail is below, what would you do?

My first choice SRM is a Tune SmartFoot.  The cranks aren’t yet on the market and the availability date has been slipping back – last advice from SRM yesterday said “no date”.  My second choice SRM (Rotor 3D+) is not available in compact for the foreseeable future as SRM are yet to develop the 130/110 bcd fitting (I plan to run 52/36 chainrings, hence the need for compact).  The only other SRMs or power meters available that’ll work with PressFit-30 bottom brackets are SRAM and Cannondale.  I’m not using either of those on my Baum regardless of how good they are.  Firstly, I don’t mix groupsets, and secondly Cannondale cranks belong on a Cannondale and nowhere else.

So what next?

Is the Tune SmartFoot chainset available without SRM quicker?  Possibly.  I’m waiting to see but it’s not looking promising.  The Rotor 3D+ is readily available without SRM in compact, but despite knowing I like them and liking the look of them (and they will suit the build) I’m not sure if they’re special enough for my dream bike.  That elevates my next choice, the AX-lIghtness Morpheus, up the ranks – except that’s not available for a good 6 months or more.  I categorically am not waiting that long.

Worn out already?  I’m not done yet…

Next up is a new design which I’m told will have availability within the next couple of weeks.  It works with BB30 but it does so in a slightly quirky manner, which means it’s not yet clear how that will work with PressFit-30.  If it does work I might have my answer – I’m pretty sure it will fit with the build, be special enough and suit it in terms of matching current components (it’s made by EE Cycleworks who’s brakes I’m also using).  Result.  But it might not work. (UPDATE:  It won’t, yet)

That leaves two possibilities, one being the Zipp Vuma Quad.  It’s a very nice looking crank that’s stiff, light, suits the build and matches the Zipp bars I’m using.  But it isn’t particularly individual.  It’s also not available with 52/36 rings, although I could order some to fit (and possibly in carbon, which would be quite trick).  The other is the Extralite QRC2 which will work with PressFit and is nice looking, but is possibly a bit skinny and has a really ugly non-driveside bearing adjustment feature which I just cannot ignore.

Having gone through the decision process to determine whether I wanted PressFit-30 I’m now not prepared to run adaptors to make a chainset work.  That rules out the 7900 SRM and the standard 7900 Dura-Ace chainset (and I can’t run 52/36 on either of those anyway).  The Shimano carbon Dura-Ace chainset is also an unfortunate wayside faller on account of the fact that it’d need adaptors and isn’t available in 110bcd to put 52/36 chainrings on.  If it were available in 110bcd I might have made an exception on the adaptors.  Maybe.

I’m losing the plot on this one and am really not sure which way to turn…

Help!