Shimano CX70 / CX50 components

[Spoonito]

As I build up my first CX bike, I'm currently doing some research. Anyone have experience with the FD and cranksets in particular? I believe the FD is CX70 only and the crankset is CX70 or CX50. In the limited research I did only difference I saw between the 2 cranksets is weight. I ended up picking up Ultegra shifters and F/R derailleurs and a FSA crankset with CX gearing, but was looking to try out the CX50/CX70 components. If its not worth it or there is better at a similar price point I'm all ears.

[vav]

top pull CX70 FD, R600 crankset with CX50 46t outer ring. Works crispier than crisp. I doubt that I could feel the difference in performance between CX50 and CX70. Half the price on CX50 crankset I can feel though :)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/9673557015_077d67582b_h.jpg

[ColonelJLloyd]

The CX-50 crankset is a solid deal at $95.

[Spoonito]

Do you mind sharing where you saw the CX50 crankset for $95? Best I saw for it was I think $115ish. I did see the CX70 crankset for anywhere between $150-200.

[ColonelJLloyd]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-FC-CX50-Cyclocross-Bicycle-Bike-Crankset-36-46t-170mm-No-BB-NEW-in-Box-/190897837682?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c7265d672

[bigman]

Have the CX-50 it's like all Shimano cranks - works well, pay more works nearly identical and ways a bit less.

[bigman]

Weighs - oops - need coffee!

[KF9YR]

I have the CX70 cranks with the CX70 front derailleur, Ultegra 6700 shifters and 6700 rear derailleur on my Ritchey Breakaway Cross bike.

It shifts great front and rear.

I also have the CX70 brakes. I didn't look up the weight differences but was putting the group on a Ti frame and the price difference was small so I picked the "better" group. No problems with any of the components.

[vav]

$ 80 bucks at Jenson. Don't think you can do much better.

http://www.jensonusa.com/!YBqTGocKw3Bvwd59EBP9nQ!/Shimano-CX50-Cyclocross-Crankset?utm_source=FRGL&utm_medium=organic&gclid=CJX6r9DzwbkCFaNxOgodkyUAgw


Do you mind sharing where you saw the CX50 crankset for $95? Best I saw for it was I think $115ish. I did see the CX70 crankset for anywhere between $150-200.

[Spoonito]

Dang they only have the crank arms in 175. Would be awesome if it was 172.5 more searching also found a SRAM Apex for $99 w/ bottom bracket. Could be another possibility. Decisions, decisions...

[Gummee]

My new Altamira CX is a top pull bike. ...with a braze on front derailleur. Yes, I could use the pulley, but why?

So I bought an Umlenker on the 'bay. Sweet! 'Only' $13.

Then I remembered the Shimano CX series. Sure nuff! They have a top pull braze on derailleur, so I ordered one of them too! Woot!

Tomorrow I'm going to pull the shifters off the Full Tilt Boogie and put em on the Altamira in preparation for the new shifters that'll be paid for on Fri to be installed on the Full Tilt Boogie.

M

[ColonelJLloyd]

Dang they only have the crank arms in 175. Would be awesome if it was 172.5 more searching also found a SRAM Apex for $99 w/ bottom bracket. Could be another possibility. Decisions, decisions...

Do all of the SRAM CX cranksets have a 130 BCD spider (38t minimum)?

[Spoonito]

I've seen Apex with 110, and some Force with 110 as well. Saw an Apex (48/36) for $150 shipped including BB and an Apex with BB for $100 (50/34) so I may go that route instead of the CX50.


Anyone have comparisons between Apex / Force and CX50? According to the Consensus in this thread, no major difference between CX70 and CX50 besides a slight weight penalty.


Only experience I have is on road bikes, current bike has SRAM red crank & shifters. love the crankset hate the Front shifting but that could just be the SRAM derailluer that has dropped the chain more than once. Past bikes had FSA cranks or older lower end Shimano cranks so I don't have any experience on more recent mid/high level Shimano stuff.

[Gummee]

Do all of the SRAM CX cranksets have a 130 BCD spider (38t minimum)?

The Red CX crank I just bought is 36-46

M

[Spoonito]

Ok. So after a long debate and weighing pros and cons of all the parts I needed to still get to complete the build, I opted to spend the budget elsewhere and for now I'm going to stick with the FSA energy cranks with cross gearing. I'll try that out first. It'll be used in conjunction with ultegra 6700 brifters, and 6700 F/R derailleurs. If this doesn't work well then I'll upgrade the crankset and get the CX70 front derailleur.

[Gummee]

Finished the Altamira build (sans bar tape) and tossed it in the back of the car to go do the Wed CX practice.

Since I didn't notice the front derailleur doing anything funky, I'll have to pronounce it 'good for cx.'

If you don't want a braze-on top pull and have a pulley on your bike, there's umlenkers on the 'bay for $13 to convert the bottom pull to top pull.

M

[echelon_john]

CX70 FD is the bee's knees. Shifts like Dura Ace--no kidding.

[SpeedyChix]

CX70 FD is the bee's knees. Shifts like Dura Ace--no kidding.

This is THE front der to use right now. Pair it with your SRAM or Shimano shifters. Works great.