In a message dated 1/2/2005 5:08:44 PM Mountain Standard Time, kohl57@starpower.net writes:
Did real racing men use crank dustcaps? Or is it uncool and just sissy? I ask because after perusing "The TI Raleigh Story" not one of the team bikes had them. Maybe they were already stripping them to sell on eBay if they were clarvoyant. But if they didn't use them, any practical reason?
<$00.02 worth of side comment: In my racing days in the 70's and 80's, we never had them on the bike. Tossed them away. Felt they were superfluous. Of course, we maintained our race bikes pretty religiously, meaning that cranks were pulled and BB's maintained, at the very least once a month, usually more often, so the crank threads were kept clean simply from regular tool use.
In my later years of riding, lower miles, and longer periods between BB maintenance, I have discovered that crank dustcaps are very valuable. In fact, I now actually grease them before installing them. The result is that a crank puller screws into the fine crank threads effortlessly and accurately, instead of binding in oxides and dirt, or even crossthreading. Well worth the effort.
Peter Bridge
DenCO