What are the advantages and disadvantages of a carbon crank over an aluminum one? Is it stiffer etc...? This is for road cycling by the way. Carbon arms that is.
Dura Ace crank-sets are as light as the carbon cranks. The carbon crank-set will transfer less road vibration to your feet, thus less fatigue.
There are some very good carbon cranks out there, and there is also a lot of junk. If you have Shimano components on your road bike, their aluminum cranksets are hard to beat, light and stiff and reliable. Carbon cranks will be more expensive, and perhaps a bit lighter, but may not work as well with your components. I recently upgraded my bike with Campagnolo ultra torque carbon cranks. They are lighter and stiffer than my old square taper aluminum cranks because they are a completely different design, not because they are carbon
