LEESE LSE-C01

The LEESE LSE-C01 is a cheap carbon crankset from AliExpress (about $118-150), with carbon arms, CNC aluminium parts and a DUB spindle; a 'Max' version has a 24 mm titanium spindle. It comes in many lengths down to 135 mm and with Easton, 3-bolt and direct-mount interfaces; Leese no longer makes the 8-bolt version. Arms plus spider weigh about 330-400 g. Owners who got it set up are happy: one calls it bulletproof after a year, and direct-mount double rings proved 40 g lighter and much stiffer than a Goldix spider setup. Installation is the catch: - getting the chainline right with Shimano 2x and a BSA bottom bracket takes careful spacer work. Some need 1.5-4 mm on the drive side, and too many spacers can bind the bearings. The 24 mm cranks are more sensitive to spacer tolerance than Shimano, so check for micro-play with a feeler gauge; - 24 mm titanium-axle sets have loosened mid-ride; - the plastic preload adjuster can break, though sellers sell spares cheaply; - the measured Q-factor was 154 mm, against a claimed 150 mm. Instructions are poor, chainrings can wobble, and carbon rings shift less crisply than Shimano or SRAM ones.