I'm trying to buy a new crankset but having trouble working out which would be the best choice.
I've got about £40 and would mainly use it for cross-country and a bit of singletrack /downhilling. Have had my eye on a new hollowtech BB, but again I'm unsure if this would be the best option.
Anyone got any suggestions of which would be the best choice?
Ta
No "best" per se, stick with a main brand and you'll be fine.
the jury's out for me with cranks. heard some good things about the current shimano hollowtech II offerings. i've looked at middleburn sq. taper as a viable alternative. Good sq. taper BBs are also being harder and more expensive to find.
The Deore Hollowtech II chainsets could be had (before the infamour price rises) for about £40 - not sure how much they are now. They are very tough and stiff for the money though with good quality chainrings - certainly much better than a budget set of FSA/Truvativ etc sq. taper cranks.
Given the price rises you'll be lucky to find a HTII stile crankset for £40. Even before the price rises I never saw one that cheap
However for a few more pounds these should all be good (despite their cut down prices):
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[url= http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=957&categoryId=12 ]Truvativ Firex ( Team) = 940g. 44-32-22T, 170mm or 175mm = £45 posted[/url]
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[url= http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1234&categoryId=12 ]Shimano Deore HTii 44-32-22T, 175mm = £50 posted[/url]
Or with a bash guard:
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[url= http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1190&categoryId=12 ]Truvativ Firex (2.2AM) bash-36-24T = 940g = £48 posted[/url]