Praxis Girder Carbon Crankset

If you are looking for cranks that feel solid under your feet and connect you to the bike and drivetrain seamlessly, the Praxis Girder is an option worth considering. Praxis Cycles, based in Santa Cruz, California, is known for its diverse line-up of carbon and alloy drivetrain components. They keep their products accessible with the Girder carbon mountain bike cranks intended for XC, trail and enduro use.

Praxis Girder Carbon Highlights

• Carbon arm construction
• 170 and 175mm crank lengths
• Three-bolt direct-mount ring interface (compatible with various power meters)
• M30 spindle, requires Praxis M30 BB
• 49mm or Boost 52mm chain line
• Weight: 542g +/-
  
  
• Q-Factor: 172mm
• Includes 10, 11, and 12-speed compatible 1X Wave tooth chainring
• MSRP: $310 USD (BB not included, $45-$75 additional depending on your bike)

Out Of The Box / Installation

The Praxis Girder carbon cranks are clean looking, sturdy and sleek. Their 542g weight is on par with in-class carbon and alloy competitors, but are incredibly stiff compared to any alloy cranks of similar weight. While there are ultra-light carbon trail cranks on the market that may weigh 100g less, the Girders are considerably less expensive at just over $300, not including bottom bracket, and have a high-end look and finish.

The Praxis bottom bracket (BB) is simple and clean. The Evil Following we have these cranks installed on uses a BB92, and installing the Praxis BB was a five-minute process.

The rest of the install was very simple. Attaching the chainring was a familiar process because it shares the interface with SRAM cranks. We checked the instructions to get the correct spacers, slid the crank through the bearings and tightened the bolt. All that remained was to mount up some pedals and hit the trail. With the right tools, total install time in the garage was twenty minutes.

On The Trail

The cranks are stiff and feel solid. There are no complaints on performance at all; the BB bearings smooth and stout. The chainring is another matter. It is very easy to install and looks the part, but after a few rides with multiple chain drops we had to install a top-mount chainguide. The chain was replaced when installing the cranks and ring, so we know the drivetrain components were in good order. We are running an 11-speed Shimano drivetrain with an XT rear derailleur and a fully functioning clutch (we checked, because, you know, you have to). Other than not being the most reliable at holding the chain, the ring ran quietly and pulled the chain forward efficiently.

After a few months of riding, with the top guide still installed, we haven’t had any further issues with chain retention and the ring is still running quietly. The cranks, with the crank condom installed for safety, were unfazed by ground strikes due to the low BB on the Following. There is a little logo wear from foot rub, but this is not a worry. There has been absolutely no issue with any noise from the system. The BB and chainring are quiet, and despite having ridden desert, PNW and Colorado in the dry and wet weather for nearly four months, this BB seems to be at the beginning of its life.

Things That Could Be Improved

While not the lightest carbon MTB cranks on the market, we are okay with the weight because the Girder's overall performance is right for the price. The biggest drawback in our experience is that the chainring needs to be accompanied by a top guide for security, even under trail riding conditions.

What's The Bottom Line?

We were pleased with the performance and price of the Praxis Girder cranks. The feel is solid and we will happily keep them on this bike. When the time comes for a new chainring we'd consider something with more retention reliability, but for now we're more than satisfied with the system.

Visit www.praxiscycles.com for more details.

About The Reviewer

Matt Fisher - Age: 38 // Years Riding 24: // Height: 6’ (1.82m) // Weight: 190lbs (86.12kg)

Matt discovered mountain biking in 8th grade. It was a welcome escape from becoming an overweight, TV-addicted adolescent statistic. After a long, slow climb through the downhill racing ranks as fitness and skills improved, he landed in the Pro class and was able to make a go of it for 8+ years, winning some local and regional races and qualifying to race as pack-fill in the World Cup Series. In addition to a lifetime of riding and racing bikes, he has worked his entire career in the bike industry, starting as a shop rat sweeping floors at age 15. From there he has held jobs as a mechanic, salesperson, sales manager, global warranty manager, tech manual writer, demo team manager and more. Now he is a trail rider who doesn’t turn pedals against the clock very often, instead choosing to spend his time seeking out new trails and adventures wherever he happens to be. He'll never giving up on going fast and playing in the margins.

Photos by Michelle Fisher and Brandon Turman