Hello All. Time to step into the crank(s). Take it any way you like. In cycling, timing and thrust is everything.
I've enjoyed the good commentary by all the CR members that took the time to respond.
Like wheel building, I've also been of the opinion that if the material is of good quality, used as intended, and installed properly it would hold up regardless of direction.
That being said I still will put the fat, solid part of the, OK, "cotter" pin to the front when the respective crank is at 12:00 o'clock. Nuts to rear. (Of Bus).
I used to give these points of discussion much thought when I was relaxed. Usually as I was zipping from back to front in a fast moving closely knit field / pack / peloton with limited wheel space. When you are young and immortal, you don't take the time to contemplate what you are doing, or it's certain disaster. Instead you think about more esoteric things like crank pin direction, twist toe straps or not, are his knees bowing out because he's tiring or does he always ride stupid, do I jump now or wait? You know, simple stuff like that.
You can easily re-read your comments, so I won't reprint them.
I think that most people when they start out push quite hard against the crank. I would prefer to have a nice fat piece to distort than a thin one.The taper gets smaller at the top so it's much closer to being a solid piece for shear strength.
All things being equal in a perfect circle implies that mechanically torque / force is equal.
But that's sound engineering principal. However, it's not a perfect world. Engineering caps off, Cycling caps on.
To see how equally you apply force to your cranks, I challenge and dare you to pick a nice reasonably flat stretch and while riding DON'T put any down pressure on your legs. ONLY pull up.
Do it for several blocks and see how your muscles scream and how tired your legs feel. This is the same force that you don't apply on your upstroke.
Probably only for a few seconds of acceleration, when you are riding hard uphill, or jumping do you really feel the upstroke. Our average circle is VERY unequal. Why do you think the trainers call for balance and power equalizing training? Why do you think Lance Armstrong trains so hard on his cadence? This new carbon fiber and aluminum stiff ain't all that bad for today's superbly trained cyclists.
I would much rather put the Cotter pin to my strength, than play to my weakness, in my opinion.
Only the most exceptional like Reg Harris who had special strength hardened parts made for his frame and bottom bracket by Raleigh and a few other riders could lay claim to that kind of powerful jump and snap. He had the pins installed on his bike the same direction as I am recommending. How do I know? Because I looked at his bike at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milano during the world championships in 1951. He was a hero professional, I was a humble amateur competing in the same meet, in our respective divisions. But you were down in the infield close enough to shake anyone's hand, smell the rub, and check out the bikes. Growing up in a bike shop with racing atmosphere, these observations were normal for me.
It takes no longer to do it either way and while I'm doing the job I like to remove as much chance as I can. Why tempt fate? How much is piece of mind worth?
I've been doing the crank pins this way for over 60 years, watched other mechanics on 3 continents always do it the same way.
In all this time, I have never had a crank pin come loose on any quality bike I've worked on. So I'm not going to change now. Stubborn? Perhaps. Sleep easy? Always. Change my mind? Nah.
Prizes for the winners will go out this coming week, thanks again venerable listees.
Respectfully,
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: ternst
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 9:37 PM
> Subject: Crank Pins-- Contest
>
>
> Now that you have gotten your crank pin presses or hammers in position,
> I have a question.
> What is the proper way to install the pins?
> I would like to see how many of you actually know how to.
> Contest rules:
> 1) To protect the identities of the contestants, please submit entries
> off list to me.
> 2) Entries will be kept confidential.
> 3) Objectivity, accuracy and critical logic and thinking will guide my
> decision.
> 4) Three prizes will awarded to the best entries. The prizes are bike
> related, but not a bike part. I think you'll enjoy them.
> 5) If more than three correct answers are submitted, the first three
> will be decided on time of submission to me to be fair.
> 6) I will print the first place entry, and the runners' up only with
> submitee's permission.
> 7) I'll also write my own technique for comparison.
> Let's have a little fun.
> We'll compare what you know vs. what I know, and we'll all learn a lot.
> Entries close one week from today on Friday, November 25, 2005.
> Winners and prizes will be announced on Sunday, November 27, 2005.
> Riders, start your typing.
> Ted Ernst
> Palos Verdes Estates, CA