Race Face Cadence

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
2006 Fuji Team Pro
Ultegra 10
Mavic Helium wheelset

Summary:
I got this crankset because I was interested in trying out a compact crankset. I've had nothing but good things to say about Race Face mountain cranksets in the past, so I figured that their road cranks would be just as good. The crankset came with Race Face's X-Type bottom bracket. I had my local LBS install the crankset for me. They informed me that the install was a breeze.

When I picked up the bike I was eager to go for a test ride. I took the bike out for a short 25 mile ride after work. The chaninrings shifted on par with my previous crankset chainrings (Dura Ace 7700 and FSA Carbon Pro). The outboard bb gives the cranks a stiff feel. The stiffness of the cranks is also on par with the above mentioned cranksets(they were used with an ocatlink bb). About half way into the ride I noticed that the cranks were not spinning as smooth as they should. When I finished the ride I dismounted to inspect the cranks. I gave the cranks a spin and they would only rotate a quarter turn.

The next day I took the bike back to the shop. They removed the cranks and bb to reveal that the bb's bearings on one side were shot. They replaced the bb with a Dura Ace bb. After replacing the bb, the cranks spun smoothly and all is fine. Since replacing the bb I have had no trouble. Thumbs down to Race Face for producing such a crappy bb.

To me the compact gearing just makes sense. If you're not a pro, why push pro gears? The slightly easier gears on the 50/36 crankset allows you to keep a higher cadence in the big chainring without crossing the chain so much.

BOTTOM LINE: This is a worthy set of cranks. I would put these cranks in the same category as Ultegra 6600, FSA Gossamer, and older FSA Carbon Pro's with octalink bb.

Strengths:
Smooth shifting
Stiff
Price
Not everyone has them

Weaknesses:
Crappy BB

Similar Products Used:
Dura Ace 7700 w/ocatlink bb
FSA Carbon Pro w/octalink bb

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Amherst Mass. area

Bike Setup:
1996 LeMond Maillot Jaune Reynolds 853 frame, Tange B9 lugged steel fork, Ritchey WCS quill threaded hs, Raceface Cadence 172mm crankset, Dura Ace 25th Anniversary edition derailleurs, 12-25 cassette, shifters, calipers, seatpost, 1993 1st edition Flite saddle, Cane Creek levers-cables-housing, Ambrosio Laserpro wheelset, Hutchinson USPS + Vittoria Pro, cinelli 2A stem, Modolo flash hbar, bonti tape, skewers, al cage, Wellgo road pedals

Summary:
Cranks installed easily, shift quick with 9spd Dura Ace downtube shifters(as they should), make an 853 frame stiff where it counts, excellent finish quality.

Strengths:
Stiff, shift well, relatively light 860g w/bb, aestetic appearance, reasonable cost, nice way to show some mountain bike love.

Weaknesses:
172mm length- I'm used to 172.5mm length- boy, that .5mm difference...is a wierd idea.

Similar Products Used:
Dura Ace 10spd