Please allow me to point out a couple of reasons why I am less enamored of the TA Cranks than the esteemed Mr. Brown, whose web site I so frequently use for reference:
1) If you don't get the heavier durty (tandem?) chainrings, and if the chainrings are anchored only at the smallest bolt circle, they can "warp" backwards under stress. Happened with one of mine, and ever after I went to the pain of drilling and tapping to tie the two outer chainrings together where a TA bolt circle should have been.
2) Are they still using the old TA non-standard crank puller?
3) Do you really enjoy marking the inside of the crank with the front derailleur, or listening to the chain rub it? There is about 5.5 mm or less between the inside of the crank arm and the outside of the outer chainring, and setting up a front shifter is too often a stupidly maddening exercise, particularly for people who ride vigorously and get things moving down there. I'm keeping my TA cranks around for the next time I have a single chainwheel application.
harvey sachs mcLean va
PS: WTT: lovely TA triple set, recently polished, 28 - 46 - 51, 170 mm arms, English thread. or same chainwheels with nice Stronglight 49d cranks. Will trade for Stronglight 99 triplet, which has a couple of silly mm more clearance -- and to my mind a much sounder design. But i don't feel strongly about this. :-) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Quoth Donald Gillies:
>>Let's say you are partting up a bike that has been made the same way
>>for the past 30 years, e.g. maybe a richard sachs, or an ALAN, or
>>maybe a colnago or cinelli in the proper "classic" model.
>>
>>What crankset would you choose off the peg (new) in 2004 or 2005 that
>>people would be pining for in 2035 ?? Anything contemporary is
>>possible, e.g. Middleburn, Campy, Miche SuperType, FSA, etc. Please
>>respond via email and I'll tally the answers and summarize in a week.
>
>
Gotta be TA Cyclotouriste, a living fossil and still one of the lightest cranks going, as well as the narrowest tread ("Q factor.")
http://sheldonbrown.com/
Sheldon "50/28" Brown
Newtonville, Massachsuetts