I recently converted a road bike to a flat bar commuter using Deore LX shifters. I was looking for a triple crank, but am having problems with finding the old 9sp octalink bottom brackets. So - I was going to go with a 10sp crank. Will these work with mtb shifters? Are the 10sp rings the same spacing apart as the 9sp?

MTB shifters and brakes generally have different actuation ratios than road shifters and brakes. 10 speed cogs are not spaced the same as 9 speed. All in all, you're looking at problems trying to mix and match.

I wouldn't recommend an Octalink BB. They weren't the best design, and they're getting harder and harder to find. There are plenty of good square taper BBs out there that match up well with the Sugino XD600 crankset, which is a very nice triple.

I wouldn't recommend an Octalink BB. They weren't the best design, and they're getting harder and harder to find.

This cracks me up! When Octalink came out, "everybody" was slobbering all over it about how square taper was just junk and how much better this "breakthrough" design was. :)

I wouldn't recommend an Octalink BB. They weren't the best design, and they're getting harder and harder to find.

I bought a Dura Ace 7800 package, and when I pulled out the old Octalink I was shocked at the weight.

I bought a Dura Ace 7800 package, and when I pulled out the old Octalink I was shocked at the weight.

Agree, pretty hefty chunk of metal :eek: . But you have to make a fair comparison. The Octalink BB (or square taper BB, for that matter) included the spindle—which became part of the crank on the 7800. Campy even moved the bearings onto the crank with their UT system, so weight comparisons between then and now can get a little tricky.

yea never really realized how hevay octalink was... until i swapped over to outboard bearing cups.. and hollowtech ii systems

yea never really realized how hevay octalink was... until i swapped over to outboard bearing cups.. and hollowtech ii systems

The difference isn't all that much. An Octalink FC-7700 Dura-Ace 172.5 mm, 53/39 crank weighs 613 grams, an Octalink BB-7700 Dura-Ace BB weighs 175 grams. Total: 788 grams. The outboard bearing FC-7800 Dura-Ace crankset with cups weighs 738 grams. The difference is just 50 grams—not really enough to get excited about.