Could a road chainset be used on a MTB??

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=41400

never thought about it before!!

Voulloize (spelt?) used them at the Mega, BMX racers use them.

They are very flexy though in comparison to MTB cranks, over rough ground, fast corners and any sort of drop it gets very disconcerting! And you'd need a tripple to get a usable ratio, im quite tempted by 30-38 on a tripple.

Well I was looking at the FSA as they are on a very good sale and pretty light.. just not sure if they could handle a MTB

Yup they will take it no problem, do you really need a 50t big ring though? or will you miss the smaller granny?

My Campag ones were lovely, and took 10 mins to strip out and grease the bearings.

I'd say fine for XC race/bimbling, just wouldn't take them anywhere near a drop, although saying that I've ridden road bikes down the Beast and Hagg Farm which although rocky dont put nay major demands on components, yet still mamanged to snap the steerer tube.

with the FSA cranks could I replace the rings to roughly 22/32/42? I like them mainly for the crank arms!! also I would be sheding 1/2 kg in weight from my firex cranks.

i wouldn't have thought you'd get rings that small on there…

that price is a steal though

Ah was just hoping with the crc sale I would have got a bargain …………

if you do get them i might be interested in buying the rings you take off!

it's cheaper to buy the one of those than replace the bb and middle plus granny on the triple i have in the spares box

No, you can't get rings anywhere near that.

If you use a triple the standard inner will most likely be 30t, you can possibly go slightly smaller, I'm not too sure to be honest, someone like TA will do rings if anyone.

It'll also only work if you have a 68mm b/b shell.

Just not worth it IMO.

Its your money, I cant see it being a problem as thisisnotaspoon says, for XC and the rough and tumble that comes with it…

I actually hadnt read the advert and hadnt realized they were carbon ones, but they should still work out ok, but if your buying rings then they are not cheap at all, I would be tempted to try them as a dual ring setup with the rings that come with em and an 11-34 on the back. Might even get a few quid back for the big ring in the classifieds.

edit I might have to ammend my opinion as njee20 seems to have tried lots of stuff out..

A road chainset is usually a 130mm BCD so you will struggle to find rings that will fit it. You may also have issues with the inner ring clearing the chainstay.

depends on the bolt pattern.

for shimano (and nearly everyone else)
130mm (normal roadie cranks) won't go with a middle lower than 38t

110mm (compact roadie) will go down to 34t, and take any old 5-arm MTB rings (may require some fileing to get the lugs to fit, but the BCD is the same).

For campy, i've no idea

I think there's some touring and CX chainrings (and chainsets if you look) that come with senisble off road gears, well if you considder 48t sensible. I'm running a 48t on my main road bike ATM, because unless you'r pro 52t is pointless, I just cant spin it fast enough to get any real use from it!