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Gravel Bike Crankset Summary and How to Choose a Crankset
The lineup of crankset sets for gravel bikes, which fall between road bikes and MTBs, differs from that of road bikes. The following is a summary of the lineup of crankset sets for gravel road bikes and how to select one.
Modified at: 2023.7.4Posted at: 2022.10.24
Table Of Contents
Tips for choosing the right crankset
Find the right crank length for you!
Crank length, as the name implies, is the length of the cranks. Most complete gravel bikes use 170mm cranks, but in fact, it is easier to ride with a crankset that has the optimal crank length for your height.
Generally, it is calculated by “(height / 10) - 2.5mm”, but the actual crank length will depend on your leg length and hip flexibility, so the only way to find out is to try it out.
It is a good idea to go to a sport bike store and try out different crank lengths, or ask a friend or someone who has a different crank length set up than you to ride your bike.
Be aware that the chainring affects the entire gear set up.
Not only on gravel bikes, but on any bike with shifting capability, the front chainring has a large effect on the overall gear ratio. Depending on whether you have a single front or double front, your choice of sprocket will also change.
Gravel cranksets often use a front single chainring, and even when a front double is used, it often has an even smaller tooth count configuration than a normal road compact chainring (50/34T).
Since there are not many chainring options for gravel cranks, the choice is effectively “front single or front double”.
Weight is also important.
Because gravel bikes are generally heavier, the choice of crankset, which is one of the heaviest components, has a greater impact on bike weight than other parts.
For example, a lightweight crankset weighs about 600g, but a heavy crankset weighs nearly 1kg, a difference of 400g.
If you want to reduce the weight by 400g with other parts, you are sure to spend several hundred to one thousand dollars, so it is best to choose a good grade and lightweight crankset.
Cranks of main gravel components from parts manufacturers
| model name | manufacturer | grade | weight | teeth configuration | crank length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC-RX810-2 | Shimano | GRX | 710g | 48/31T | 170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FC-RX810-1 | Shimano | GRX | 644g(40T),656g(42T) | 42T、40T | 170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FC-RX600-11 | Shimano | GRX | 806g | 46/30T | 165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FC-RX600-10 | Shimano | GRX | 810g | 46/30T | 165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FC-RX600-1 | Shimano | GRX | 743g | 40T | 165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| EKAR Crankset | Campagnolo | EKAR | 615g(172.5mm、38T) | 38T、40T、42T、44T | 165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| RED 1 Crankset | SRAM | RED | - | 46T、40T | 165mm、167.5mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FORCE 1 Crankset | SRAM | FORCE | - | 46T、40T | 165mm、167.5mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| RIVAL 1 Crankset | SRAM | RIVAL | - | 46T、40T | 160mm、165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
Shimano
Shimano’s gravel component is the GRX, and the GRX series has a lineup of dedicated cranksets.
The lineup consists mainly of front single and front double cranks, with “-1” at the end of the model number for front single and “-2” for front double.
| model name | manufacturer | grade | weight | teeth configuration | crank length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC-RX810-2 | Shimano | GRX | 710g | 48/31T | 170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FC-RX810-1 | Shimano | GRX | 644g(40T),656g(42T) | 42T、40T | 170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FC-RX600-11 | Shimano | GRX | 806g | 46/30T | 165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FC-RX600-10 | Shimano | GRX | 810g | 46/30T | 165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FC-RX600-1 | Shimano | GRX | 743g | 40T | 165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
The RX810 series, which is the higher grade in GRX, has a larger number of chainring teeth and is not available in the 165mm lineup. Also, the weight would be the fact that the finish is about as light as 105.
The RX600 series, which is also the entry-level model in GRX, has a smaller number of chainring teeth and a 165mm crank length option in the lineup. In terms of weight, a single front crank is heavier than a 105 double crank, making it a relatively heavy crank.
Campagnolo
Campagnolo’s EKAR component for gravel is a single front configuration, so the lineup includes only one type of crankset.
The EKAR cranks are made of carbon and are a luxury item with a list price of nearly $500, but the crank weight is ultra-light at just over 600g.
| model name | manufacturer | grade | weight | teeth configuration | crank length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EKAR Crankset | Campagnolo | EKAR | 615g(172.5mm、38T) | 38T、40T、42T、44T | 165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
SRAM
SRAM’s component for gravel is “XPLR” but XPLR is designed to be used with SRAM’s conventional road-oriented components “RED,” “FORCE,” and “RIVAL”. And the XPLR lineup includes only sprockets and rear derailleur.
The crankset is to be combined with “RED”, “FORCE”, or “RIVAL” crankset, and the front single “1” crankset is lined up as the most suitable crankset for gravel bikes.
However, XPLR (Explore) itself does not require a front single.
| model name | manufacturer | grade | weight | teeth configuration | crank length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RED 1 Crankset | SRAM | RED | - | 46T、40T | 165mm、167.5mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| FORCE 1 Crankset | SRAM | FORCE | - | 46T、40T | 165mm、167.5mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
| RIVAL 1 Crankset | SRAM | RIVAL | - | 46T、40T | 160mm、165mm、170mm、172.5mm、175mm |
The lineup includes a single 46T or 40T front chainring and a wide range of crank lengths from 160mm to 175mm for easy selection.
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