Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
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I'd like to hear from users of the Campy carbon cranks on their performance, likes and dislikes etc.
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Its time to ride.
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waynebiker
new member
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 31
Loc: usa
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absolutly no problems...i am 6'1" and 204(+-). I have no issues with these cranks they are great.
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foothillbiker
friend
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 25
Loc: Los Altos, CA
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Hi,
I have logged about 10K miles on bikes w/ the '04 carbon cranks, and they are great.
That said, I doubt I would be less happy w/ the conventional record cranks.
I do ride a fair bit (14K+ miles / 800+ hours) per year, but I'm not going to say that these cranks have changed my life.
REgards,
Chas.
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Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
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Thanks for the feedback so far, i finally bought a pair of the '04 Record carbon cranks, after waiting so patiently for Campy to make them more aero looking. I definately did not like the chunky look of their previous offerings in carbon cranksets at all.
I'm very pleased to finally get them, and they are really beautiful, and i hope that they have a long and fruitful life.I'm a bit curious as to just whats inside the arms in terms of the shape of the machined aluminum substructure. Has anyone got photos of the arms in their (naked) state, before they get covered with the composite material.
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Its time to ride.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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They are all structural carbon. Ride on! 
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Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
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Actually Lon there is more inside the cranks than the 100%carbon you state, a simple tap on the arms in various areas with a flick of the finger, reveals various metallic sounds, and not the traditional dead 'click' that full carbon makes.I risk to bet theres a matrix of machined aluminum somewhat like a hollowed/webbed arm hidden under all that visual carbon layer, the only bits actually seen are the square taper section and the pedal thread boss. The torsional stresses that a crank arm is subjected while riding cant be handled by a truely 100%carbon layup of fibre, at least not with the present technology to date. I'll try and see if i can get them x-rayed to confirm my theory.
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Its time to ride.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Allan,
Is Campy in a conspiracy also in claiming an all carbon arm when it really isn't one? Did you read this too in some not named European magazine?
First you claim Trek had Postal climbing on disguised aluminum bikes since they are lighter and stronger than carbon and now you claim Campy misrepresents their cranks. By the way what are your theories on Roswell?
For your edification carbon fiber is one of the strongest materials that are used on bikes. Just ask Craig Calfee the next time you are talking with him.
Strength and low weight are two major reasons for the switch to carbon. The switch to carbon started years ago. Did you know Lemond rode a disguised Calfee for part of his career? He too used carbon because it is light and strong.
You do make for lively comments I have to give you that. Once again, have a Happy Thanksgiving.
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Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
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Oh man Lon you are too much, concerning the carbon cranks, Campy cant call it an all carbon crankset as that would be false advertising, since the square taper fittings and pedal thread bosses are surely aluminum.Thereby with these visual aluminum pieces in the construction, this now makes the crankset partially aluminum as well as carbon.
You can use this same line of thinking to almost all carbon framsets as well, most of the lugs or joints in them are using an aluminum alloy in their construction somewhere, so areas like the headtube, BB, dropouts etc are aluminum pieces, yet the manufacturers promote them as carbon frames.
Again opinions are into play here, but i'll stick with my beliefs of the aluminum matrix in the arms until i can check this out further.
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Its time to ride.
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Fairfaxbiker
new member
Reged: 12/23/04
Posts: 2
Loc: TN
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Just got my cranks today after a long decision between Stella Azzura carbon and Campy. Can't wait to build up my new Merckx Flare Scandium Premium tomorrow! I am coming off FSA and D/A 10, so a review will follow. For the "record"; I am selling all remnants of D/A and moving over to the dark side from now on.
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skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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I have been lurking for quite some time...spend most of my time in the Calfee forum...greetings!!
I have been curious about how well the FSA CF cranks compared to the competition. I am most curious to hear of your thoughts and comments. All my friends that have D/A cranks have nothing but good things to say, but I really like the asthetics of Campy CF cranks over the D/A variety, or especially the FSA cranks.
By the way...What are your reasons for making the switch to Campy? I have been tossing the idea around for quite some time and still have not made the switch.
Happy Holidays...Mark
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Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
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Hello Fairfaxbiker,
Im sure you thought out the decision to move over to Campy for quite a long while, and i dont think you will be dissapointed in any way by the performance of the Record crank one bit,i'll also look forward to hearing about your test results as soon as you have taken some rides.
I also have an 04 Record carbon crank but i'm yet to fit to the bike it was bought for,this is mainly because i'm waiting for those FSA people to get their 175mm arm K force mega exo crankset out on the market so i can buy it for a comparision test.
I would like to compare the deflection at the 53 ring by the front derailleur while going up some pretty serious hills using the 53x19 ratio on both the Campy unit and this new style FSA.
From a purely engineering point of view the new outboard bearing design should stiffen the BBs overall percentage of deflection, but what takes place in the lab versus what happens in the real world is always quite different, too many variables are available.
The Stella and the Campy are reasonably close in my opinion when it comes to the looks and quality, and both of them are very well made, but the Record is definately a bit more pricey and so it should be, its Campys flagship model.
The FSA K force megaexo is around 450 in price so thats not too bad considering this includes the BB as well.
Either way ive got two bikes i can upgrade these cranks to, the one that sways the less on the inclines will get the Ti Moots and the other one will get the aluminum Orbea.
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Its time to ride.
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Bruce
contributor
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 133
Loc: North of NYC
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Lon is correct. Campy cranks are all structural carbon. They use AL on interface points. I think you want this.
Branford Bike
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Great to have you back Bruce.
I had forgotten about this thread. (Actually I've forgotten a great deal of the past 9 months or so.) Thanks for the support and for bringing it back up.
The thing I like most about Campy is that they kept the carbon fiber production in Italy. That is cool.
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Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
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I saw the x-ray that was posted and it looks real enough, but imagine the following scenario. The little aluminum boss just sitting in the end of the crank with nothing holding it here but some carbon moulded around it. Two things will happen with this design if it indeed existed this way. One, tightening the pedal would cause the boss to spin and you wouldnt be able get the pedal torqued, and Two, if you did get the pedal tightened, one good crank would rip it out at an angle as the pedal went forward on the down stroke since theres only about an 1/8 inch of carbon between the boss recess and the face of the crank.
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Its time to ride.
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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Wow, an expert structural engineer. Tell us more, please. Think we should switch back to steel?
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Allan...the all carbon Campy crank has been out for long enough and used so much in cycling and racing in probably far too many instances by ham handed mechanics or owners playing mechanics that this probplem you describe would have shown up a LONG time ago. It would have been all over forums. My shop sell a ton of these and I have NEVER heard or known of a problem. The owner and I are friends and I would have heard of it. We talk shop all the time along with marketing and other fun topics.
Just admit you were wrong about the skeleton and let it drop.
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Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
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I'll gladly cut my 05 Record carbon crank londitudially down the RH crankarm as long as both of you put up the money for a new one if im right, i have no problem using a hacksaw to settle this issue.
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Its time to ride.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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We are not the ones who doubt Campy. Plus I was responding to your comment about the pedals etc. I thought you put the skeleton end of it to bed.
Don't forget to post photos when you cut your carbon crank to prove you are right!
P.S. For what you paid they should be all carbon.
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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Allen, a man of integrity puts his money where is mouth is. As you are convinced that the 04 Campy crankarm is not a full carbon arm then you may cut it open and give us the results. I wonder why, though that you do not believe the x-ray picture at Branford Bike: http://www.branfordbike.com/crank/crank1.html
Clearly there is no aluminum spider inside based on the x-ray picture.
Why do you not believe that carbon fiber composite structures can't be stronger than metal ones? There would be absolutely no reason for aviation to use carbon composites in places where metals did the job if they were not superior or equal in all properties required for that particular part? Even wings and body panels, brake pads in fighter jets, torsion arms in sports cars and springs in racing cars. There are so many places where carbon composites have replaced metals because they are better parts.
Edited by Insightdriver (03/17/06 04:15 PM)
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Re: Campy cranks are all CARBON!