Unlike FSA’s top line chainsets, the Team Issue has an alloy skeleton to which the carbon composite arms and spider are bonded. The axle is oversized to 24mm diameter and made of super tough and stiff chromoly. The outer finish is a unidirectional carbon with classy graphics that have proved hardwearing, as they’re applied underneath the final lacquer.
The standard Team Issue weighs in at a reasonable 730g. As FSA’s most modest carbon model we’d expect compromises, but the chainset is as rigid as we’d like, hardwearing and has stayed relatively scuff free. The ring bolts are steel rather than alloy; that adds weight and they don’t resist corrosion and discolouring as well as we’d like.
We tested the FSA with SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo (10-speed), and shift quality was great across the board and particularly slick with SRAM. The chainrings are alloy but stamped, not machined, so a bit chunkier. When shifting under load there was a little flex and the odd sticky change. The main assembly is well made and finished though. The rings aren’t quite as good but would be easy to upgrade.