Topic starter
Hi. In need of some help! Almost finished building up a Santiago framset, with a Sram Rival 1x11 groupset. Gear shifts all good in the workstand, go out up the road to test and the crank is too close to driveside chainstay: [url= https://i.postimg.cc/qRFxBtQp/PXL-20250413-165807408-2.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/qRFxBtQp/PXL-20250413-165807408-2.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
I have an Arkose X gravel bike with same Rival 1x groupset. No issues, same rear wheel spacing and same BB width (68mm). No spacers needed...
Have taken Rival cranks & gxp bb out of the Santiago frame, put 2.5mm spacers in either side, and cinched back up..now cranks bind when tightened, and drive side cranks still too close. Any suggestions?
L2R
Posted : 13/04/2025 8:37 pm
It should have no spacers on the BB as you originally fitted. How long are the crank arms? Sonder seem to fit them with up to 172.5mm long ones, if yours are 175mm they may be too long for the frame.
Posted : 13/04/2025 8:52 pm
Topic starter
Cranks only 172.5mm. Frustrating bit is that Bikeradar reviewed a Rival 1x version with the same components, so thought it was a safe option for a self-build allroad frame...
Posted : 13/04/2025 9:02 pm
I can’t see what you’ve done wrong there then. It might be that very tight clearance is normal, which isn’t that surprising given it’s a narrow MTB spacing bottom bracket shell with a 700c wheel and intentionally wide tyre clearance. They have had to put quite an angle on the chainstay to achieve that.
It would only take a slight tolerance issue on assembling the steel frame to get even closer to the end of the crank than they intended.
You might find it works fine but I guess any flex in the frame might result in contact with the crank. I think it’s unlikely though. I’d be more concerned that the heel of my shoe would hit the chainstay every rotation which looks like it might happen even if the cranks had a little more clearance.
Posted : 13/04/2025 9:10 pm
Topic starter
Cranks turned fine in the workstand so didn't notice how close it was. Rode up street and it contacted the chainstay taking off a little paint. That was before I added a 2.5mm spacers (picture taken with spacer fitted, but now can't tighten cranks up without them binding). Will be miffed if frame needs to go back due to this being a manufacturing defect...have emailed Sonder so will see what they say. Was hoping there was a simpler solution whereby I could still use my cranks 😏
Posted : 14/04/2025 7:31 am
Manual does say that on some installations that you might need to remove the preload adjuster
not sure why this is posted in the news section
Posted : 14/04/2025 9:03 am
I'm afraid I know nothing about SRAM cranks or bottom brackets, but a quick look at their Rival cranks webpage shows that a road DUB bb is needed; would that make a difference?
What's the non-driveside clearance like?
-- Edit --
Ignore me, I was looking at a double, the single ring version is indeed GXP!
-- Edit again! --
I found this on R2Bike:-
The wide version of the Rival crank has been specially developed for gravel bikes. Its widened DUB crankshaft and a chain line that has grown by 2.5 millimeters offer enough tire clearance even for 2.1 inch wide tires. The wide crank with the corresponding DUB bottom bracket is even suitable for use on MTBs.
https://r2-bike.com/SRAM-Rival-1-DUB-Wide-Crank-Road-1-speed
The Apex builds on the Sonder website all list the Wide version of the Apex cranks.
Posted : 14/04/2025 10:01 am
Topic starter
@Pjay - good shout on non-drive clearance, just looked and good 4mm (with no spacers if that makes any odds)
@StuE - thanks for the link and suggestion re:remove pre-load adjuster. Will take a closer look at that
MODS - not sure if this thread can be moved to the Bike section? Not sure how I managed to post this in "news" section, sorry...
Posted : 14/04/2025 10:17 am
Topic starter
Think it must be a requirement for wide axle crank. No preloaded adjuster on my gxp cranks to remove. Found this on the installation guide: [url= https://i.postimg.cc/vB6sFCXq/Screenshot-20250414-102537-Chrome.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/vB6sFCXq/Screenshot-20250414-102537-Chrome.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
"Use provided spacers with wide axle cranks with 135mm OLD frames"
@ Pjay - appreciate the link to the "road Dub" crankset. Given i was trying to build up a cheap 1x11 build, anyone know if Sram 12sp cranks play nicely with 11sp chains, cassettes and rear mechs?! Thankfully the wide (12t) cranks are available for similar money that I'd spent on the 1x11 Rival set, but sure if "real world compatible" with the rest of the groupset as a bodge...
Posted : 14/04/2025 10:32 am
