Truvativ Stylo Team Crankset and GigaPipe Team SL Bottom Bracket
By Jon Sharp

The drivetrain is the link between you, the engine, and your bike, the machine. The drivetrain translates your power into forward motion (or, at least into a spinning wheel). The drivetrain isn't as sexy as a suspension fork or that new wheelset of yours, but in the end, the two of you need to get along. At the heart of the drivetrain, lies the crank and bottom bracket--the driving force for the rest of the drivetrain. Although the derailleurs do all the shifting, they rely on movement to complete their job. In essence, they need the crank and bottom bracket just like you do. If one considers this, it's no surprise that there is so much technology going into building better cranks and bottom brackets. The better a crank is at translating your power to the rest of the drivetrain, without wasting too much, the further and faster you'll be able to ride. Truvativ produces cranks and bottom brackets. They take their job very seriously.

The Truvativ Stylo Team cranks are marketed as the "ultimate high-performance crosscountry crank." The Stylo is forged from 7000 series aluminum for higher strength and longer fatigue life. The chainrings are nickel plated for extra durability, and ramps and pins for smooth shifting. They also claim to have built some anti-chainsuck features into the rings. The Stylo Team is ISIS-drive compatible.

Paired with the Stylo Team cranks we tested was a Truvativ GigaPipe Team SL bottom bracket. This bottom bracket uses full-complement sealed cartridge bearings. Each bearing actually has more ball bearings for longer life and smooth operation. The Team SL has a third bearing on the drive side for even greater strength and durability. The spindle is cromoly, but they do also offer a titanium bottom bracket (the Team Ti). The Team SL bottom bracket weighs in at 243g.

Whether you subscribe to all their claims about alloy types, and shifting ability, a few rides will tell you all you need to know. These cranks are stiff and light. They weigh only 612g (with chainrings). When mated with the GigaPipe Team SL bottom bracket, the combination results in an impressive ride; shifting is smooth and effortless. And, although I don't know what Truvativ did to prevent chainsuck, even in extremely muddy conditions, I never had to worry about it. It's amazing what a difference a stiff crankset can make on a ride. These cranks and this bottom bracket were a pleasure to ride.

Summary: MSRP for the Stylo Team crankset and the GigaPipe Team SL bottom bracket is $190 and $50, respectively. For that hard-earned cash, you get a beautiful crankset that is very stiff and light, and a bottom bracket to match. If you're interested in making sure every bit of energy you exert towards the bike makes it to the rear wheel, then you'll want to check these out. If these are out of your price range, Truvativ makes other cranks that are also manufactured with the same exceptional quality for fewer bones. Any way you look at it, Truvativ should be at the top of your list when shopping for cranks.

Jon Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com specializing in mountain biking.

For more information, contact:
Truvativ USA
645 Tank Farm Road · Unit G
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 USA
805-787-0917
www.truvativ.com