Bontrager Race Lite GXP

Price Paid:  $0.00 at lbs

Favorite Ride:
Carlsbad

Bike Setup:
06 lemond sarthe

Summary:
My Lemond Sarthe came with the Bontrager race lite triple that didnt last very long. The left crank arm would not stay tight at all. LBS tried everything, but they finnaly gave up and tried to order a new one. The triple was on back order so a got the race lite compact double instead. but I had to switch out my shifter and they "adjusted" my der. to work with the double. It didn't work out too well. Get a double der. if you switch for triple to double. I like the compact double a lot better though.

Strengths:
Better gears with compact double, less shifting.

Weaknesses:
triple cranks would come loose every 5 miles. Double crank set doesnt work with triple der.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Revolution Cycles

Favorite Ride:
On the road

Bike Setup:
Trek 2100ZR frame, mostly stock.

Summary:
Overall this is a decent crankset. It came with my Trek 2100, and is a standard geared double. It's definitely on the heavy side, but it's built solid. Very stiff when everything is tightened up. I didn't notice any flexing while out of the saddle. Shifts are good when you have the front derailer set-up correctly. Use the adjustment pins to dial in, otherwise you'll drop your chain off either ring. Also, you'll need to tighten up the crank bolt a couple of times as it comes loose after a while (Basic bike up-keep). It doesn't look flashy like a carbon crank. Just your typical gloss silver (who cares anyway).

Strengths:
Solid, stiff, cheap (came with bike)

Weaknesses:
Heavy, can be fickle, requires tightening over time(not really a weakness since most cranks require this)

Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX, Raceface Evolve (Mt. cranks)

Price Paid:  $1.00 at Scheels Sports

Bike Setup:
2006 Lemond Buenos Aires

Summary:
This is a rebadged Truvativ GXP. Please stay away from this product.

Strengths:
Came stock on my 2006 Lemond.

Weaknesses:
The ramps on the large chain ring are terrible leading to poor shifting. Thankfully, the GXP bottom bracket couldn't be tightened leading to a warranty of the entire assembly. This crank and bottom bracket lasted me less than a year. Did I mention how ugly it was?

Similar Products Used:
Prior to this I had been riding an ultegra 6500 double with an octalink bottom bracket. The ultegra bottom bracket lasted 10 times longer than the Bontrager and the crankset is still working as well as ever on my commuter.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Lakewood Trek Store

Favorite Ride:
Circle around Fayetteville, AR

Summary:
Crankset was included with my new LeMond Versailles. While functionally fine w/ crisp shifting, the finish is pathetic. Within 3 months, the cheap "clearcoat" (read: metallic paint) covering the crankarm was peeling off. Granted, I live in FL, with salt and other factors, but I'm almost anal with bike care, and no Campy or Shimano 'arms I've had on other bikes have EVER had this problem. A cheaply made crankarm, that has slightly tarnished my view of what has been a very enjoyable bike, the LeMond Versailles.

Strengths:
Crisp shifing. Good looking until decay sets in.

Weaknesses:
Cheap.

Similar Products Used:
Campy Veloce & Chorus gruppos. Shimano Ultegra gruppo.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bike Line

Favorite Ride:
60-80 miles uphill!

Bike Setup:
Trek 5000. TCT Carbon Frame. X Lite Wheels.

Summary:
I've had this on my Trek 5000 TCT Carbon Bike. I've had no problems. I have little to compare it to, but I can say that I have ridden it extremely hard (about 200 miles a week) and have had zero problems.

Strengths:
NO problems.