I had my NR cranks drilled for a 74 mm bolt circle, also at Palo Alto Cycles/Wheelsmith back in 1989 at Richard Sach's recommendation when I mentioned that I'd wanted it done. I used the cranks w/ a 28x48x53 setup for years, but recently switched back to TA rings/Stronglight cranks. I think there's a great coolness factor with that combination as well and the NR cranks would randomly trap a chain if you downshifted on a hill without the chain being in the largest cog on the rear (usually in the middle of a multiday ride miles from your tools). If you use at least a 30 tooth cog on the front, it probably wouldn't happen, but the gears just didn't match up as well with a 30 and I like that 28x32 when the going gets STEEP. The TA ring half step and granny setup downshifts well from any area of the rear freewheel.
On another note, can someone recommend a good derailleur [off topic perhaps (off list if so)] that would work on a NR crankset as a 32x42x52-3 chainset. It would have to be a narrow eniough cage, but still have the offset or non-parallel plate front derailleurs, unlike that which we're used to with our on topic bikes. I believe it was Bob Freeman of Elliot Bay Bikes that I got the 32 TA ring, real spidery, and he even drilled out the holes for the Campy triple spacers. It looks great w/ SR chainrings. But I still haven't found a derailleur that shifts the front well with that setup
Regards, and happy trails, the good weather seems to have finally arrived.
Dan Artley in cycling Heaven, Parkton, Maryland
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