50x34 Crankset with Power Meter

I'm building a road bike using a gravel frame, to be able to fit larger tires. I think I would prefer to have a 46/30 crankset, would lose the last gear (that I barely use) and gain one easier one (never hurts). But I gave up the idea, since there aren't any affordable options for dual-leg power meters, I'll need to go for 50/34.

I was about to buy this one:  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001610467036.html

But I'm finding some bad long term reviews about this ZRACE Crankset... The Sigeyi Power Meters seems great.

What are your opinions about that? What other options do I have buying from AliExpress? I would like it to be dual leg.

All the compatibility regarding spider types, spiders that aren't removable, and BCD seems to be really confusing to me 😵

Many thanks.

I believe that Gravel bikes will become the majority, or most Road bikes will be accepting bigger tires... Give it 5 years and see. The 2022 Cannondale Synapse already accepts 35 mm. There's increasingly evidence that wider tires are faster for the situations most of us ride: less than perfect roads and average speeds below 40 km/h (where the aerodynamics of the tires start to matter more). Even if they are slower, my Road bike with 700x25 struggles to ride well in more than 30-40% of the tarmac of my city, first I need a bike that does the job. But that's another discussion...

About the Crankset, I believe I'll buy the ZRACE one, from the link. The problems of the aluminum axle pointed by TraceVelo were about the version with 24mm, this one is 28.99mm. There are some complaints about the chainrings, still... The power meter from Sigeyi seems to be flawless. Other budget options like XCadey and Magene don't have very good reviews, but they are honest brands and are trying to improve.

I'm better analyzing the reviews, there are some bad ones, including with broken chainrings, but the vast majority are positive... This ZRACE Crankset is also at Sigeyi official website, if they thrust it, I may give it try... Worst case scenario I change just the chainrings, not too expensive.

acedeuce802 wrote:I don't have long term experience, but I have about 300 miles on the ZRace DUB crankset with Sigeyi power meter, including a very pot hole filled gravel race, some mild singletrack, and the rest just typical dirt roads.  I swapped an FSA 46t large ring on it.  No issues during installation, I did find it interesting that there is no way to adjust preload, like DUB cranksets.  I just picked the spacers that would make the cranks centered (installed with no spacers, slid the crank in the bearings until cranks were centered relative to the rear wheel, then measured for the required spacers.  I imagine there's slightly more preload than desired, because there's a bit more friction than the SRAM DUB and GXP cranks that I have on other bikes, could also just be the seals they used on the BB.  Other than that, I've been happy so far.  I think the weight is competitive for an aluminum crank.

This spacers thing is giving me some headaches, I'm finding a lot of confusing and conflicting information, even when it's the same frame, BB and crankset.

How do I know how many spacers to use, and where? It's something I have to decide when assembling the bicycle?

If possible, I think I would like to add all the necessary spacers do the left side (non drive), to move the chainrings closer to the frame, to use more the big ring. And then I would add the same amount of spacers to the right pedal, to make the pedals at the same distance from the BB. Is this a thing or I'm being completely crazy?

If it helps, the frame is a FM696, made by ICAN. It's the same as the Carbonda CFR696, largely popular here. It's the first bike I'll build from scratch.

Thanks!

v.gcl wrote:

I'm building a road bike using a gravel frame, to be able to fit larger tires. I think I would prefer to have a 46/30 crankset, would lose the last gear (that I barely use) and gain one easier one (never hurts). But I gave up the idea, since there aren't any affordable options for dual-leg power meters

John wrote:

I have a Stages single arm power meter on my gravel and mountain bikes and don't have a problem.

They don't have any inherent problems, and are great to measure the total effort from a session, but that's just my personal preference. Some people say you tend to use more the left leg when suffering during high intensity efforts, and I think I'll be highly susceptible to that effect, based in all the tricks I used to manipulate my HR to stay in the desired zones... 😬 Maybe it's a myth and/or other people won't have this problem.

v.gcl wrote:

 

 

They don't have any inherent problems, and are great to measure the total effort from a session, but that's just my personal preference. Some people say you tend to use more the left leg when suffering during high intensity efforts, and I think I'll be highly susceptible to that effect, based in all the tricks I used to manipulate my HR to stay in the desired zones...  Maybe it's a myth and/or other people won't have this problem.

John wrote:

Consider this.  Unless you have data from another power meter type that you would like to compare too, any potential single arm inaccuracies are inconsequential.  Even then, given that various different PM sensors are at different points in the system, L-R "imbalance" might be secondary.

Aside from the PM itself. The Stages computer is great.  Better than any of the various Garmins friends have, and less expensive.

It's not about natural imbalances, that Sigeyi don't offer any meaningful data about that neither. It's about the cyclist using more the left leg just to hit a desired power number, especially when suffering during intervals. I believe I would do that a lot... Just my personal preference to chose for a dual leg.

My Garmin Edge 500 died after 9 years, the new Edge is a joke compared to other options, the 130 (without plus) have less functions than the older 500. I already ordered a Bryton 420, but thanks for the recommendation. 

Turbogrover wrote:Assioma power meter pedals. Attach them to any crankset, and any bike you have.

edit: also add Wahoo pedals to that recommendation 

That Assioma pedals could end up costing around 300% to 400% the price of the Sigeyi one for me (and the Sigeyi already comes with the Crankset), due to taxes and shipping, something I can greatly reduce when buying via AliExpress in my country.

v.gcl wrote:

What other options do I have buying from AliExpress?

v.gcl wrote:

 

 

That Assioma pedals could end up costing around 300% to 400% the price of the Sigeyi one for me (and the Sigeyi already comes with the Crankset), due to taxes and shipping, something I can greatly reduce when buying via AliExpress in my country

Turbogrover wrote:
I'm 
If you don't want legitimate suggestions then don't ask for them, and complain later.

I'm thankful for your suggestion, no doubt the Assioma pedals are a great power meter and would allow me to use the GRX crankset, but unfortunately they are only available in sites that would end up with really high shipping and taxes costs for me. I just explained my AliExpress limitation.

Hope you have a nice day 🙂