Centaur carbon cranks

Wappygixer
Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
edited June 2009 in Road buying advice
I'm looking at getting some nice Centaur carbon cranks to replace my alloy Centaur cranks.
I've never had carbon cranks before so I'm just wondering what they are like.
Do they flex, scratch easy etc?
I'm a bit on the heavy side at 88kg's and do a lot of climbing (up hills not rock).
I don't need to upgrade but I do have cash burning a hole in my pocket lol.

Comments

  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    They look nice 8)

    Apart from that I don't think there's any difference (that most riders will notice), so whether it's worth the extra cash only you can decide.

    Having said that I've got Centaur Carbon on two of my road bikes - because they look nice 8) :oops:
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  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    The finish on the Centaur carbon crankets is IMO better than the plain and painted alloy cranks I have (my feet rub on the cranks alot). All the alloy cranks have obvious stratches/rub marks, but the carbon cranks still look new.

    The only problem with the Centaur carbon cranks is that the chainrings are shyte - my 50T flex straight away (my FSA and Shimano chainrings are still perfectly true), and the anodizing flaked off making the rings a right mess after 6months. And to make matters worse, the easy to find replacements (TA Nerius) are nearly as bad - Stronglight CT2 for Campag CT do exist but I've not found a UK supplier yet.
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  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    Red do you have the 08 or 09 ones?
    The 09 ones have black rings.
    I'm just wondering if they may have changed the rings slightly?
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Wappygixer wrote:
    Red do you have the 08 or 09 ones?
    The 09 ones have black rings.
    I'm just wondering if they may have changed the rings slightly?

    08, I think it's just the colour they've changed though, otherwise they look the same. Their dodgy chainring sizes for compacts really put off buying another Campag compact.
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  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    OK its just I cant think why the rings on the carbon cranks would flex when my alloy ones run perfectly true?
    The 09 ones have black rings which from what I've just read was to reduce the flaking from the 08 ones.
  • zedders
    zedders Posts: 509
    I can't answer if there any better than alloy centaur but I have noticed alot of difference against the budget cranks that came with my sora on my first bike! No suprises there.

    However weighing over 90Kgs I can say I haven't had any flexing or movement yet, and they seems to give good drive/acceleration. And as Slow Downcp says they do look the daddy! :wink:

    EDIT: mine are the 09 black rings, (double not compact?) but I'v only had them a few weeks.
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  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Wappygixer wrote:
    OK its just I cant think why the rings on the carbon cranks would flex when my alloy ones run perfectly true?
    The 09 ones have black rings which from what I've just read was to reduce the flaking from the 08 ones.

    Do you have an 08 Alloy chainset? The chainrings on the alloy c/sets were totally different from the carbon c/sets, they were a far better quality.

    TBH I'd think hard about getting a Campag compact - but if you are getting a 135mm c/set, go for it, plenty of good quality replacements around for them :lol:
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  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    I'm going for a compact due to where I ride and due to my legs demanding a compact. :oops:
    The other reason is that CRC are selling compact carbon Centaur for £180 which seems a pretty good price to me.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Planet X still have the FSA SLK MEGXO Compact 50-34 in 170 mm for £135

    http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... RANCE.html

    Unless you reckon you need a longer cranklength I'd probably for that - I'd much prefer the hollowtech/megaexo way of doing the BB TBH, Ultratorque seems like a faff when the bearing start going, and the chainrings are a standard size and I rate the FSA chainrings higher than the cheaper campag ones (no flex and better longeivity).
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  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    According to Chickens the UK inporter, Record,Chorus,Centaur alloy use the same rings while Centaur carbon and Velove etc use another.
    This is what we were told a couple of weeks back when we phoned to place an order.
    I just don't have the legs to power a 39/53 set up anymore and I have far too many 11-23 and 11-25 cassettes laying around to chnage to bigger ratios.
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    I must admit that the ring idea that Campag use is a bit annoying.
    As for bearings I have no issues as I have a bearing puller thats been machined to fit Campag bearings.
    If I went for another brand it would spoil my full Campag groupset :shock:

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