Author: Todd

Around here we run FSA Energy hollow forged aluminum cranks on everything.  Stiff and light, they don’t fail.  I have the 130 BCD version on my Soma Smoothie.  This is to accommodate 53/39 rings.

Connor has the 110 BCD version on his Formula BMX bike.   MegaExo bottom bracket takes a beating and keeps going.

 

I run the exact same crank on my cyclocross bike with Race Face Narrow Wide 38 or 40T single chain ring, 1×10.  The cranks are notorious for the graphics rubbing off so once they get too bad I remove the left over paint from the anodized aluminum using fingernail polish remover, leaving them glossy black.

 

Overall I think not much beyond an unlimited budget build would keep me from choosing Energy’s, the Swiss Army knives of the crankarm world.   Let’s face it Gossamers are not bad stock cranks if they were just a bit stiffer and lighter.  The Energys answer these faults and can now be found on a lot of Ultegra level stock builds.  I prefer them for non proprietary chainring choices, standard BCD’s.  Every bit as stiff as Ultegra and many carbon cranks,  the can often be found on eBay for as little as $75.  The BB30s are just a little more.  Installed correctly they provide no excuses.

 

 

Enter the Wahl home cutter. A trimmer with a #1 guard, cutting the hair short enough to be almost invisible but not shaved. No razor burn or ingrown hairs this way. Compared to my Sasquatch legs this is a lot more comfortable and not as hideous in Lycra. I also won’t catch bugs in my leg hair!