Boone Technologies, a small manufacturer of unusual machined metal bike parts and chainrings, has released a new crankset dubbed the Cranx!.
CNC-machined out of billet aluminium, the cranks have a cuttlebone-esque shape that is said to offer “excellent aerodynamic drag reduction”, at a claimed weight of 245g per crank arm.
The crankset can be used with Boone Technologies’ own titanium direct-mount chainrings, or with its CNC-machined aluminium spiders.
Available in a polished finish, and a single crank length of 175mm, the Cranx! crankset is designed to work with a BB30 bottom bracket spindle.
The price for the cranks alone is a cool $495, but this obviously reflects their small-scale production and niche design.
In terms of the claimed aerodynamic benefits, the overall shape is clearly promising – fish shapes are good, aerodynamically (or should that be hydrodynamically?) – but Boone Technologies hasn’t put any figures forward. It looks like this claim may simply be the result of the eyeball-test alone.
Likewise, the single length of 175mm is probably too long for many modern aero-aficionados. Given the Cranx! is targeted primarily at a mountain bike audience, however, these things probably won’t be of major concern to many.
Are fish-shaped cranks the thing missing from your cycling life? Let us know in the comments below.
