https://sites.google.com/site/njbbicycling/shopping/components/cranks
Ritchey bottom bracket (68mm - English threaded)
https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/cranksets/
The BCD of any given crankset also sets the lower teeth limit for chainring compatibility.
If you have a 130mm BCD crankset, for example, the smallest compatible chainring is a 38t. On a 110mm BCD crankset, the lower limit drops to 33t, and so on.
newer Shimano road cranksets, which have settled on 110mm BCD for all chainring sizes, giving you the option to increase or decrease your chainring sizes without having to change the cranks as well.
SRAM’s crankset BCDs vary between setups, though. A 12-speed SRAM Force eTap AXS or SRAM Rival eTap AXS two-ring crankset and single-ring crankset both have a 107mm BCD, but a SRAM Force Wide double has a 94mm BCD.
Drop to 11-speed and the BCD for a Force crankset goes out to 110mm or 130mm, dependent on chainring compatibility. There’s a different BCD again for SRAM’s non-direct mount S-650 Eagle MTB crankset – 104mm. That means there’s limited interchangeability between SRAM chainrings.
This setup uses a second BCD for the inner ring that’s different from the outer ring’s BCD. An example is the Shimano GRX gravel groupset, where the outer ring’s BCD is 110mm and the inner ring’s 80mm.
Some SRAM cranksets, such as Force AXS and Red eTap AXS have direct-mount systems with the two chainrings CNC machined from a single piece of aluminium.
SRAM says this improves shifting and chain management because the chainring is stiffer, though it does mean you need to change the entire set should one chainring wear out.
The next complication is the huge number of bottom bracket standards.
The width of your bottom bracket shell is the major determinant of stance width or ‘Q-factor’. That’s the distance between your pedals and is a factor in pedalling efficiency.
Shimano offers four levels of 1×12 drivetrain, from Deore through SLX, XT and up to the top-of-the-range XTR groupset, though this is expected to change with the introduction of Shimano Cues.
Path Less Pedaled
My Favorite Crankset That No One Knows About:
Rivendell Wide/Low (42/26) (plus an 11-42 cassette: 14 to 102 gear inches): https://www.rivbike.com/products/crank-kahlfn5454jg; (or 40/26 = 14 to 98 gear inches). Chainrings 104/64 BCD; kind of like a mountain double (hard to find a 42T on mountain double); perfect for touring
IXF Crankset: https://amzn.to/39G6v8M mtb q factor
These Cranks Are BETTER Than Shimano and SRAM (Best alternative cranksets)
VO Gran Cru (46/30): Square taper;
IRD Defiant (46/30): Square taper;
IRD Vortex: 94 BCD; (46/30)
Rivendell Silver square taper: 38/24 (awesome all-rounder; a 1x with a bailout); 34/24 (loaded touring; spinny on top end)
Soma Clipper New Albion (42/26)
Sun XCD (42/28)
Rene Herse doubles (44, 42, 28, 26, 24)
White Industries (variable bold circle)
Spa Cycles
Mountain double: SRAM 42/28; Shimano Deore
Best Modern Alternative Cranks!
Mountain Double Crankset for Bicycle Touring?
TOO SLOW AND WIMPY FOR GRAVEL BIKES? (sub-compact)
Best Gearing for Gravel? 1x? 2x? Sub-Compact?
INSANE 2x Gear Range! #DoubleMullet
GRAVEL BIKE RANT - WHY DO BIKE COMPANIES DO THIS?!
Mega Range "BUDGET MULLET" Drivetrain. WILL IT WORK?
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https://www.cyclingabout.com/low-climbing-gears-road-bike-crankset/
https://www.cyclingabout.com/low-gear-ratios-from-modern-2x-drivetrains/
Q factor
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/what-is-q-factor-and-does-it-matter-to-you/
https://www.renehersecycles.com/cranks-have-landed/
Due to bottom bracket size, minimum chainline guidelines and chainstay length, there is an acceptable range for Q-factor, which is typically between 150mm and 170mm. Road bikes tend to have a narrower Q-factor (150mm), while mountain bikes tend to have a greater Q-factor (170mm). This is due to increased tyre width, which forces the cranks out further from the midline of the bike to maintain clearance.
CRANK LENGTH
See: http://www.mountain-bike-world.com/mountain-bike-sizing
Your crank length should be 18.5% times the distance from the top of your femur to the floor (in bare feet). The top of your femur is 5 – 6” (12 – 15cm) below your hip bone and it moves rearwards when you lift your knee. A quick way to work this out is to measure from your hip to the floor (in bare feet). Take this length and subtract 5 – 6″ (5″ if you are shorter, 6″ if you are taller). Then multiply this distance by 0.185 (18.5%). The resulting value should be your crank length.
https://www.applemanbicycles.com/
Use ROAD SPINDLE + 110×5 or 110x4 SPIDER for road, gravel, CX type bikes or bikes with road drivetrains.
For GRX users use Shimano Road (Dura-Ace, Ultegra, 105 etc…) chainrings with 110×4 spider —OR— Praxis sub-compact chainrings with the 110×5 spider. GRX Chainrings will not fit any Appleman spiders.