Shimano 105 Triple FC-5603

Price Paid:  $175.00 at Nashbar

Favorite Ride:
Outside and warm

Bike Setup:
Felt F90 setup for triathlon use.

Summary:
Seems to do it's job well. I never hear any creaks and the construction is solid. It easily goes together, but does require special tools to properly install them. Sealed bearings are easy to deal with, but occasionally I like to get dirty with my bike and clean up every moving part. I can't do this with this or any modern BB cartridge, though. Be aware that the aluminum chainrings really wear out quickly compared to steel ones. My steel chainringed bikes would never stretch chains (then again, I was weaker then and my commuter bike doesn't get the pounding that this bike takes), but it seems that I'm getting about .25% or so of stretch every 500 miles. I constantly swap through 3 chains at a time to get more milage out of my sprockets and chainrings, then replace them all at once, but I've yet to do this on any of my other equipment. I'll probably be replacing the outer and middle chain rings, new chains and new cassette once spring comes around. That will be right around 6,000 miles on the crankset.

Strengths:
Affordable for a 2 peice crankset

Weaknesses:
Finish scratches easily, chainrings appear to wear out quickly due to the aluminum construction. Bearings are not servicable.

Similar Products Used:
Lots of 3 peice cranks off older bikes and the stock FSA cheapie on this bike.

Price Paid:  $123.00 at LBS in Japan

Favorite Ride:
Downhill with a tail wind.

Bike Setup:
Trek 7.3 FX w/ Shimano 105 Series crankset and BB. Shimano pd-M540 pedals.

Summary:
I bought this with the fc5600 (Shimano 105 Series) bottom bracket. This crankset is extremely firm and doesn't creak or bend under heavy pressure. I'm 275# and am therefore very hard on drivetrain parts.

Strengths:
Excelent durability without any noticible flex even under a heavyweight rider. Great value for the money.

Weaknesses:
I agree with the previous review that the finish scratches somewhat easily.

Similar Products Used:
Various square taper BB's and cranksets.

Price Paid:  $250.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Crescent City Century

Bike Setup:
2000 Schwinn Super Sport GL, Velomax Circuit wheels, Kinesis Carbon 3 fork, etc.

Summary:
Purchased through and installed by LBS. Using with 10spd chain and 9spd cassette. HollowTech crank arms, pipe spindle and exterior bearing cups great improvement over tapered spindle BB and Tiagra cranks that came with the bike.

Strengths:
Really smoothed out my pedal stroke and improved out-of-saddle efforts.

Weaknesses:
Finish scuffs easily

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Tiagra triple