rec.sport.unicycling · Public discussion

Longer cotterless cranks

Started by SNES350 · · Last activity · 6 posts · 322 views

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rec.sport.unicycling
Published
6 September 2006
Last activity
13 September 2006
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SNES350
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  1. I'm looking to get longer cranks for my Yuni 29'er, which currently has
    Bicycle Euro 125s. I live on a mountain (not too big, but a mountain
    nonetheless), and I'd like to actually be able to ride up and downhill.
    I can handle small grades fine (can't turn yet though), but 150 feet
    from my house my street becomes steep, and the other direction goes 30
    feet to a street just as steep.

    I'm wondering what cranks to get, and how tedious switching cranks is.
    I've found instructions on switching cranks:
    http://londonunicyclingclub.ca/cranks.htm

    And the CCP2 cotterless crank remover mentioned:
    http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=420

    But looking at the forum post titled "Crank Interfaces" (
    http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38277 ), switching
    cotterless cranks wears down the axle, eventually to the point of being
    useless. So switching back and forth isn't much of an option.

    I don't think I'll ever have the opportunity to go for pure speed, as
    this area is hilly, with very few flat roads. I'm also thinking of
    some XC and light MUni on this (no drops bigger than a curb to the road
    though), which the longer cranks would help with. The cranks I
    currently have look like they won't hold up to much of anything, and
    again are short. I'm wondering what cranks and size you recommend. I
    was thinking 150mm, but after reading about someone's experience
    pumping 150s vs spinning 165s uphill, I'm not sure. Also what pedals;
    the pedals I have now are plastic and aren't grippy. No riding with
    wet shoes.

    Another thing I'm wondering is if most bike shops will change the
    cranks without exorbitant cost, since I need to go to one to get my
    seatpost shortened, and I don't have the tools.

    Going kind of off topic, but my birthday is coming up, and I'm
    wondering what I should point out as the preferred gift. I don't have
    a helmet, and SixSixOne discontinued what I wanted. A helmet would
    have to be <=$60. Any other pieces of equipment recommended? I will
    get the knee/shin guards regardless if I get pinned pedals, and with
    plastic they aren't necessary.

    More unrelated stuff, but I loosened the bolts on the frame around the
    bearings to the tightness they should be, and I appear to be able to
    ride indefinately on flatland, having gone ~150 feet to a bit into the
    steep part of the road more than once, after previously only going 75
    feet at best. If I just learn to turn, I could ride as well on my
    unicycle as I can on my bike. My 29'er is the only unicycle I have,
    having learned some riding and freemounting on the bruiser's 24" DX.

    --
    SNES350
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  2. Once you learn to turn well, you may be able to handle that steep grade
    with 125s. I've been up and down some steep roads on my Yuni 29er.

    Nonetheless, I like the 150s on my KH29 for muni. Some will advocate
    longer, but I think it really depends on your body mechanics.

    As to switching cranks, buy yourself a 'crank puller like this'
    (http://tinyurl.com/g7nkp). It will save you lots of trips to the bike
    shop. I've had shops pull cranks for free for me, but I've had others
    try to charge me more than the price of the crank puller for their
    time.

    I generally don't wear shin guards on my 29er simply because I don't
    hop much, and when I do, it's not very high. I strongly recommend
    wrist guards because you can fall a lot farther and faster from a 29er
    than a smaller uni.

    --
    phlegm
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  3. The roads I am talking about give me trouble with my bike unless I am
    fresh, so up them on a unicycle with 125s doesn't seem plausible.

    I haven't touched my bike since I got my unicycle, though.

    --
    SNES350
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  4. I would agree that 150s are a pretty good length for general riding,
    including some steep hills. On the road I don't reckon anything longer
    would be an advantage, unless your riding is always on steep hills,
    never flat. I ride 150s on my 26x3 (almost the same size as a 29er)
    and I can climb some pretty steep hills and have plenty of torque for
    cross-country muni. If you're only riding on the road but just need a
    little bit more torque for climbing I reckon 150s would be a good
    choice. After you've ridden on 150s for some time and built up some
    strength (and improved technique) you'll probably find you'll be able
    to climb the same hills on the 125s. The difference between 150 and
    165 is very subtle - I've tried both and ended up sticking with the
    150s, but there isn't a lot of difference in feel in my opinion.

    Rob

    --
    rob.northcott

    'Dartmoor Muni Weekend'
    (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46116) - Last
    weekend in May 2006
    Same again next year anyone? It'll be dry, I promise.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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  5. I rode on Saturday, Monday (day before yesterday, and my birthday), and
    yesterday, and was actually able to get up the steep road which
    intersects my street in the front of my house, to the right. I'm
    having more trouble going down these hills than anything else now, so I
    don't think I need those longer cranks unless, when I get around to
    MUni'ing, I can't control it. I rode around 2 miles yesterday mostly
    up or downhill, and most of the roads for the first time.

    --
    SNES350
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  6. i pulled the spider off of some Sugino AL 170mm cranks im not using
    anymore...if you want to experiment at a low cost i could send them to
    you for 10+shipping.

    --
    forget_your_life

    '29er FOR SALE....Click ME!'
    (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52493)
    dream one dream many....
    *'R.I.P' (http://tinyurl.com/vr86)*
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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