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review
Chainsets & chainrings
Miche Race Evo Max cranksetMiche Race chainset

Miche Race Evo Max crankset

8
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Oct 26, 2009

0
£120.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Lovely road crankset ideally suited to race, audax or sportive duties
Weight: 
760g
Contact: 
www.companyz.co.uk
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I'm not a fan of black components but couldn’t fail to be mesmerised by the elegance of the Miche Race Evo Max crankset. Fitting is pretty much identical to other integrated two-piece systems and although when turned by hand, the bottom bracket’s cartridge bearings felt marginally less refined than some aftermarket designs this was soon forgotten once aboard the bike.

At first glance I thought this was a classic 53/39 combination but looking closer I was pleasantly surprised to find a 53/36 which, paired to a nine/ten-speed 12-25 cassette largely eliminates the need for a triple unless you’re living in a mountainous region and the option of 170 or 172.5mm crank lengths is a nice touch.

Ramped teeth provide crisp, precise shifting even under load, but only the outer have a machined surface which should prevent premature aging of that black finish, running the set up with a marginally wider nine-speed chain presented no problems.

Tipping the scales at a respectable 760g (complete with bottom bracket) honking hard on the climbs failed to induce any power sapping flex or tell-tale rubbing at the front mech and a riding companion some fifteen kilos heavier replicating the experiment came to the same conclusion.

I’m starting to believe manufacturers are less prescriptive about component compatibility having run this with both Shimano (9) and Campagnolo (10) speed configurations without discernable dip in performance. Ultimately, the finish will tire quicker than polished and silver but on the strength of the test period, it shouldn’t be for a good while and come the day it does, I’d chemically strip and powder coat it, ready for the winter mount.

Verdict

Lovely road crankset ideally suited to race, audax or sportive duties

road.cc test report

Make and model: Miche Race Evo Max crankset

Size tested: 53/36

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Miche Evo race is a mid range crankset made from CNC machined 7075 aircraft grade aluminium with 53/36 ring combinations ideally suited to both Racing and Audax duties.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Choice between 170 and 172.5 lengths, ramped teeth for slicker shifts, black anodized finish. 760g including bottom bracket.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

760g inc b/b

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The cranks performed admirably on both Shimano and Campagnolo nine and ten speed set-ups with slick shifting under quite extreme provocation. Rigidity too should suit all but the very heaviest riders. Nice to see more imaginative ring combinations, although just a little tall for cross.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Classic italian style, impressive rigidity and attention to detail.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Miche Race Evo Max crankset
Miche 2010
crankset
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Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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