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Single speed cranks?

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Australia and New Zealand
Published
29 October 2007
Last activity
9 November 2007
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  1. I'm after a 39T single speed crankset to go with my Nexus Inter8 hub
    the LBS is building up for me. They offered the Shimano recommended
    crankset (@$170) which includes outboard bearings. I'm somewhat of a
    luddite (I've only just installed a cartridge bottom bracket to trial)
    and apart from the excessive cost I just don't like the sound of this
    newfangled outboard bearing nonsense.

    Can anyone advise me of some plain-Jane square taper 170mm single
    speed cranks preferably with a 39T chainring? Doesn't have to be
    online, but online is ok, a brand name that I can give to the LBS
    would do (though they are very much like the Soup Nazi (http://
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soup_Nazi) in there so I'm almost afraid to ask).

  2. Quoted message said:

    I'm after a 39T single speed crankset to go with my Nexus Inter8 hub
    the LBS is building up for me. They offered the Shimano recommended
    crankset (@$170) which includes outboard bearings. I'm somewhat of a
    luddite (I've only just installed a cartridge bottom bracket to trial)
    and apart from the excessive cost I just don't like the sound of this
    newfangled outboard bearing nonsense.

    Can anyone advise me of some plain-Jane square taper 170mm single
    speed cranks preferably with a 39T chainring? Doesn't have to be
    online, but online is ok, a brand name that I can give to the LBS
    would do (though they are very much like the Soup Nazi (http://
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soup_Nazi) in there so I'm almost afraid to ask).

    Any old road cranks with replacable chainrings can be converted to SS
    easily. These are easy to find (your local bicycle recycle place will
    certainly have some). All you'll need then is a set of short chainring
    bolts and an appropriate chain ring.

    Cheers

    Joel

    --
    Human Powered Cycles | High quality servicing and repairs
    [email hidden] | Affordable second hand bikes
    (03) 9029 6504 | Bicycle reuse centre
    www.humanpowered.com.au | Mechanical and on-road training and instruction

  3. lemmiwinks said:

    Can anyone advise me of some plain-Jane square taper 170mm single
    speed cranks preferably with a 39T chainring?

    I'll have a look in my "crank box" on the weekend...

    BTH

  4. BT Humble said:
    lemmiwinks said:

    Can anyone advise me of some plain-Jane square taper 170mm single
    speed cranks preferably with a 39T chainring?

    I'll have a look in my "crank box" on the weekend...

    BTH

    Ta. I just realised I've got some worn out Shimano Biopace cranks
    that could be pressed into service except the biopace rings are
    elliptical (only the middle ring is worn out) so probably not good for
    hub gears. I tried to get a replacement chainring from the LBS when
    it wore out but they baffled me with BCD figures and generally didn't
    want to help (I still consider this preferable to the thinly veiled
    hostility they normally exhibit).

  5. Quoted message said:

    Ta. I just realised I've got some worn out Shimano Biopace
    cranks that could be pressed into service except the biopace
    rings are elliptical (only the middle ring is worn out) so
    probably not good for hub gears. I tried to get a replacement
    chainring from the LBS when it wore out but they baffled me
    with BCD figures and generally didn't want to help (I still
    consider this preferable to the thinly veiled hostility they
    normally exhibit).

    You need to know the BCD figure to be able to buy a chainring
    which will fit. See
    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bcd for info on how
    to measure it.

    Then you should be able to buy a round 39T chainwheel to fit
    your cranks.

    It'll be worth making sure you've got a bottom bracket of the
    right length to get "perfect" chainline (no sideways
    deflection, front to rear). In this respect, you'll be setting
    the chainline up as if it were a single speed. See
    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline.html

    John

  6. On 2007-10-29, [email hidden] (aka Bruce)
    was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

    Quoted message said:
    BT Humble said:
    lemmiwinks said:

    Can anyone advise me of some plain-Jane square taper 170mm single
    speed cranks preferably with a 39T chainring?

    I'll have a look in my "crank box" on the weekend...

    Ta. I just realised I've got some worn out Shimano Biopace cranks
    that could be pressed into service except the biopace rings are
    elliptical (only the middle ring is worn out) so probably not good for
    hub gears.

    Why not? The chainline stays under the same tension.

    --
    TimC
    Can't open /usr/share/games/fortunes/fortunes. Lid stuck on cookie jar.

  7. TimC said:

    Why not? The chainline stays under the same tension.

    From my observation of Biopace chainrings in use, that's what I
    thought too, but wasn't confident enough to say it.

    Sheldon Brown does report using Biopace on a fixed-gear bike:
    http://sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

    John

  8. John Henderson said:
    TimC said:

    Why not? The chainline stays under the same tension.

    From my observation of Biopace chainrings in use, that's what I
    thought too, but wasn't confident enough to say it.

    Sheldon Brown does report using Biopace on a fixed-gear bike:http://sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

    He certainly seems a bit of a "true believer" in Biopace chainrings.
    The phrase "With all the zeal of a convert" springs to mind, for some
    reason. ;-)

    I'm sure they're very nice, mind you. Do you need to use a long-reach
    front derailleur with them, or is varience in radius relatively small?

    BTH

  9. you'll need something at least vaguely built for the job.

    Preferably running a tougher chain. IE track or BMX chain.
    That means perferably a thicker toothed chainring. Anything less will struggle and possibly wear and/or snap

    The Alfine chainset that the LBS is recommending is rather good and a steal at that price IMHO.

  10. John Henderson said:
    Quoted message said:

    Ta. I just realised I've got some worn out Shimano Biopace
    cranks that could be pressed into service except the biopace
    rings are elliptical (only the middle ring is worn out) so
    probably not good for hub gears. I tried to get a replacement
    chainring from the LBS when it wore out but they baffled me
    with BCD figures and generally didn't want to help (I still
    consider this preferable to the thinly veiled hostility they
    normally exhibit).

    You need to know the BCD figure to be able to buy a chainring
    which will fit. Seehttp://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bcdfor info on how
    to measure it.

    Then you should be able to buy a round 39T chainwheel to fit
    your cranks.

    I did some googling and turned up Sheldon's article on measuring BCD
    but I haven't had a chance to check my chainrings as yet.

    Quoted message said:

    It'll be worth making sure you've got a bottom bracket of the
    right length to get "perfect" chainline (no sideways
    deflection, front to rear). In this respect, you'll be setting
    the chainline up as if it were a single speed. Seehttp://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline.html

    John

    I'm slightly concerned about chainline as I just installed a cartridge
    BB to try and it's 122mm. It's a roadbike but I'm currently running a
    MTB triple. I figure if I need a shorter spindle length I'll buy a
    new cartridge BB and put the 122mm in my MTB which is in pretty dire
    need of either a rebuild of the cup and cone BB or a replacement.

  11. On Oct 29, 7:15 pm, TimC <[email hidden]-

    astro.swin.edu.au said:

    On 2007-10-29, [email hidden] (aka Bruce)
    was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

    Quoted message said:
    BT Humble said:

    lemmiwinks wrote:
    > Can anyone advise me of some plain-Jane square taper 170mm single
    > speed cranks preferably with a 39T chainring?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I'll have a look in my "crank box" on the weekend...

    Quoted message said:

    Ta. I just realised I've got some worn out Shimano Biopace cranks
    that could be pressed into service except the biopace rings are
    elliptical (only the middle ring is worn out) so probably not good for
    hub gears.

    Why not? The chainline stays under the same tension.

    Does it? Ok, I'd assumed it wouldn't, but I'd not put much thought or
    examination of the chainrings into that assumption.

  12. John Henderson said:
    TimC said:

    Why not? The chainline stays under the same tension.

    From my observation of Biopace chainrings in use, that's what I
    thought too, but wasn't confident enough to say it.

    Sheldon Brown does report using Biopace on a fixed-gear bike:http://sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

    John

    The LBS told me that Biopace chainrings were no longer available when
    I tried to get a new one about 18 months ago. However I'd just be
    happy with a chainring that fits, biopace or not.

  13. BT Humble said:

    I'm sure they're very nice, mind you. Do you need to use a long-reach
    front derailleur with them, or is varience in radius relatively small?

    BTH

    There was nothing fancy about the derailleur on the bike they came off
    (that I noticed).

  14. Joel Mayes said:

    Any old road cranks with replacable chainrings can be converted to SS
    easily. These are easy to find (your local bicycle recycle place will
    certainly have some). All you'll need then is a set of short chainring
    bolts and an appropriate chain ring.

    The only bicycle recycle place is the shop at the tip (I got a nice
    lugged steel roadie for $15) but it's probably worth checking out.

  15. In aus.bicycle on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:37:42 -0000

    Quoted message said:

    The LBS told me that Biopace chainrings were no longer available when
    I tried to get a new one about 18 months ago. However I'd just be
    happy with a chainring that fits, biopace or not.

    There's a lot of noise about "Q Rings" and "Rotor cranks" in the 'bent
    world, both of which apparently do the same thing as biopace.

    Zebee

  16. Zebee Johnstone said:

    In aus.bicycle on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:37:42 -0000

    Quoted message said:

    The LBS told me that Biopace chainrings were no longer available when
    I tried to get a new one about 18 months ago. However I'd just be
    happy with a chainring that fits, biopace or not.

    There's a lot of noise about "Q Rings" and "Rotor cranks" in the 'bent
    world, both of which apparently do the same thing as biopace.

    Zebee

    I can imagine how well enquiries about anything remotely 'bent related
    would be received at my LBS!

  17. On 2007-10-29, [email hidden] (aka Bruce)
    was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

    Quoted message said:
    Zebee Johnstone said:

    In aus.bicycle on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:37:42 -0000

    Quoted message said:

    The LBS told me that Biopace chainrings were no longer available when
    I tried to get a new one about 18 months ago. However I'd just be
    happy with a chainring that fits, biopace or not.

    There's a lot of noise about "Q Rings" and "Rotor cranks" in the 'bent
    world, both of which apparently do the same thing as biopace.

    I can imagine how well enquiries about anything remotely 'bent related
    would be received at my LBS!

    "And when you're done choosing that, come over to our stand here where
    we have a lovely display of beards"?

    --
    TimC
    I don't want Perl to be beautiful -- I want you to write
    beautiful programs in Perl. --Larry Wall

  18. On Oct 30, 8:57 am, flyingdutch <flyingdutch.2z8...@no-

    mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

    you'll need something at least vaguely built for the job.

    Preferably running a tougher chain. IE track or BMX chain.
    That means perferably a thicker toothed chainring. Anything less will
    struggle and possibly wear and/or snap

    Once I measure my BCD I can see what the LBS has in stock. I'm
    breaking with tradition and not buying a Huffy chain from Kmart, so
    the LBS will provide chain.

    Quoted message said:

    The Alfine chainset that the LBS is recommending is rather good and a
    steal at that price IMHO.

    Now *that* is a surprise! I don't want to change my BB though.

  19. TimC said:

    On 2007-10-29, [email hidden] (aka Bruce)

    Quoted message said:

    I can imagine how well enquiries about anything remotely 'bent related
    would be received at my LBS!

    "And when you're done choosing that, come over to our stand here where
    we have a lovely display of beards"?

    "No, no beards. But I'll have two stones with points, a big flat one,
    and a packet of gravel."

    BTH

  20. On Oct 30, 11:37 am, TimC <[email hidden]-

    astro.swin.edu.au said:

    On 2007-10-29, [email hidden] (aka Bruce)
    was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

    Quoted message said:

    I can imagine how well enquiries about anything remotely 'bent related
    would be received at my LBS!

    "And when you're done choosing that, come over to our stand here where
    we have a lovely display of beards"?

    --
    TimC
    I don't want Perl to be beautiful -- I want you to write
    beautiful programs in Perl. --Larry Wall

    I'd spend more money there if that was their attitude. Fortunately
    there's plenty of online shopping :-)

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