The Full Speed Ahead Team Issue ATB crankset is manufactured masterfully. Where so many other manufacturers are fearful or hesitant to put any amount of carbon on a crank, FSA dared to design cranks with a significant amount of it early on. With an internal, thick-walled alloy spine at the center, carbon is then wrapped around the exterior for added strength and stiffness support. Carbon’s physical properties offer FSA two options: 1.) a much lighter crank, or 2.) a much stiffer crank for the same weight. FSA decided on neither, so that while the Team Issue is not significantly lighter than it’s high end competition, it is stiffer. It is a little bit lighter and a little bit stiffer at the same time.

The Team Issue is also a beautiful masterpiece just from an aesthetic view point as well, but only as a byproduct. FSA did not sit down at the drawing table to design the most attractive crankset on the market, but they incidentally came pretty darn close.

Another advantage that the FSA Team Issue draws from its carbon wrapping plays an intricate role in the overall performance enhancement. Standard cranks consist of essentially three main but separate pieces of construction: 1.) the crank arm 2.) the spider, and 3.) chainrings. The spider unites the dtriveside crank arm to the chainrings. With the carbon construction of the Team Issue, the spider is integrated into the crank arm, leaving one less place for flex or minor play to develop and therefore it simplifies things.

Yet another masterful work of art, worthy of an honorable display at the Louvre. This is an example of where Full Speed Ahead has the exceptional expertise and extensive experience in carbon construction to quietly set a higher standard. Deviating entirely from anything close to what could be considered a “traditional carbon design,” because there is no internal alloy spine or anything like unto it, this crank places the K-Force standard above all others.

FSA starts out with a slightly molded carbon shell, and then impregnates it with a NASA-grade super high density aerospace foam. The process, as you can imagine, is extremely complex and delicate. FSA implements controlled doses of high temperature and pressurization in order to manipulate the arm shape and to artificially increase the density of the aerospace grade foam to match exactly what this crank needs to perform at a level that is worthy of being called K-Force. They also realize that the consumer needs a persuasive argument for spending more money on a top-of-the-line crank, when a rider can get a pretty sweet set up for less money.

As you know with FSA though, there’s no carnival of hype that announces with trumpeting magazine ads the new gimmick for this year’s newest break through in design. FSA goes about their artwork quietly, almost too quietly, so that with all of the marketing hype and sub-performers receiving all the buzz, only FSA owners know what everyone else is missing. So perhaps we should leave this all as just “our little secret.”

*I did my best to represent the descriptions as I know them, though it is difficult to confirm the specifics. As you can see, this stuff would be nearly impossible to make up, but I do apologize if there are any misrepresentations contained within.