Doug Fattic wrote, but I <snip> to get to the cranks stuff:
That said, the 1 piece steel Ashtabula crank makes them heavy. They have a kind of solid, steady feel. It is what I would use on a 3 to 5 mile commute where I would go at a slower pace. I remember helping a pastor in the bike boom of 1971 get a Super Sport. He loved it and decided bicycling was worth investing in as a hobby. <snip>
I did my first century ride on my Super Sport in 1966 in Vermont down highway 110 (and other roads). So you can see I like them because they bring back memories from when I was young and because they are nicely made to work on. Take away the emotion and they are kind of heavy clunkers.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Couple of notes about the Ashtabula (one-piece) cranks. 1) I believe that the Super Sport got a better grade of crank than the lowly Continental-Varsity-Suburban-Collegiate models. Looks different. FWIW, I never bent one of the better ones, but didn't ever crash one, either. 2) Ashtabulas are just a dream to work on, once you understand them. Huge bearings, in retainers, set up quickly, etc. 3) the bolt circle, if I recall correctly, was very close to Nervar and perhaps others. It was possible to upgrade the rings with judicious use of a file here or there. Because of the generous clearance to the outside, I once set up a (Twinn tandem) with 4 cogs on an Ashtabula - three to the back and the fourth for same-side transfer. 4) If all else fails, conversion units are available, via BMX sources, to convert Ashtabula BB to tapered cotterless cranks. I've done this once, I think, and have some spare parts around for kicks. 5) The top fillet-brazed Schwinn that I remember, the Sports Tourer (aka Sport Tractor) used a conventional English-cup BB, with TA (or Nervar?) cotterless cranks.
Your mileage may vary, mine will be at Cirque.
harvey sachs mcLean va (and just back from riding on the American River Parkway in Sacramento)