Cranksets

Buying advice for: Bicycle drive: Cranksets

• Crankset types

  Double cranksets are typically found on road bikes and offer a good balance between speed and climbing ability. Triple cranksets are often found on touring and trekking bikes and offer a wide gear range for different terrains. Single cranksets are mostly used on mountain bikes and single-speed bikes, as they are known for their simplicity and reliability. Compact cranksets offer a smaller chainring and are ideal for hills and mountains as they allow for easier climbing.

• Crankset brands

  Shimano is one of the leading brands and offers a wide range of cranksets that are known for their reliability and precision. SRAM is another major manufacturer that uses innovative designs and durable materials. Campagnolo, known for its high-quality components in the road bike sector, also offers excellent cranksets that are specially adapted to their groupsets. FSA (Full Speed Ahead) and Race Face are also popular brands that are appreciated for their robust and high-performance cranksets.

• Materials and workmanship

  The choice of material influences the durability and performance of a crankset. Aluminium is the most commonly used material as it is light yet robust. High-quality cranksets are often made of forged or CNC-machined aluminium, which ensures high precision and a longer service life. Carbon cranksets offer even less weight and better shock absorption, but are often more expensive. Steel cranks are heavier but offer excellent durability and are often found on more affordable or touring bikes. Titanium cranks are extremely light and corrosion resistant, but more expensive.

• Technical features

  Modern bicycle cranksets have a variety of technical features that improve their performance and ease of maintenance. The length of the crank arms varies and influences power transmission and riding comfort: shorter cranks are better suited to shorter riders, while longer cranks offer more leverage. The number of chainrings and the number of teeth influence the gear ratio and riding behaviour: Double and triple cranksets offer greater gear variety, while single cranksets provide simplicity and lower weight. Hollow crank arms and integrated axles reduce weight and increase rigidity.