The SRAM Courier is, or was, the first external bearing bottom bracket system released for single speeds, or so I’ve read. It’s really what we’re already familiar with from road bike external bearing systems, and unlike the lighter and somewhat more coveted Omniums it comes in black. When I had my latest and final loose crank on Crook, I decided to play it conservative and switch drivetrains: I just can’t afford to have wonky crank issues on the road to LA.The Courier was the crank set I originally looked at for this project, but didn’t use since I decided to decommission the Villain and steal the Miche Advanced crank set from that bike. Anyway, here we are.

Of course, my last and final attempt to keep the Miche cranks together MAY have actually worked. I did what you have to do when you get deformed cranks/spindles: hammer the effing thing on there before tightening the crank bolt. I got 4 days out of that with nary a wiggle. However, I committed to the new crank set, and who knows if the old would hold. I’ll risk that for a local loop, but not lifecycle.

The Courier comes as a two-piece crankset, with the spindle attached to the drive side crank, the non-drive side crank arm screwing to that, and the spindle seated within a shell that joins the two external cups.

The cups use the bottom bracket tool I already carry for the Sugino cog system (this is actually the wrench’s intended use, in fact) and they go on very easily, when one wisely lubes ones threaded parts properly (and cleans the disturbing aluminum shavings out of the greasy shell from the last bb’s overtorquage).

The spindle is splined, which is a big improvement over classic, deforming square taper systems…

The opposing crank arm uses an integrated crank bolt to screw directly into the spindle. You can see the teeth here of the receiving end of the crank arm. That’s sorta what she said.

SRAM recommends the use of washers between pedal and crank arm, largely to reduce issues of stress from irregular contact surfaces. Wherever, I follow instructions!

And we’re done. Nice thing about modern components… You can swap out systems on a laundry break and not get in trouble with the wifebot. Next up, a chain swap, and I’ll be good to go for tomorrows break in ride! Not as pretty as the pitch black Miche cranks, but what can you do. I need this to work, and these should be golden.

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