I'd sort of avoided responding because my equipment choices are not really driven by preference. For me one of the fun aspects of this hobby is riding the bikes the way they were built, and how they would have been setup when they were current. Since fashions and ideas of what was "right" have changed over the years, my bikes are also very different. I'm actually trying to get into some sort of shape to ride a local TT that apparently will let you ride almost anything safe. So hopefully I'll get to ride a couple of my funny bikes the way they were intended to be ridden. One of them is even on topic. If I ride it I'll have to get a pic to post.
I think I've ridden with most bolt circles from 50.4 up to 144. I don't think I have anything with 151 yet.
I also don't really have a favorite gearing, but most of what I own is doubles with 52/42 and moderate range freewheels. The steepest I've ridden is 65x14 which was not as bad as I had thought it would be. The lowest is something like 20x 20 and really far off topic.
Steve Birmingham Lowell, Massachusetts USA
Message: 14 Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:41:54 +0100 From: Kai Hilbertz <khilbertz@googlemail.com> Subject: [CR] Cranks and BCD, old + new Hello List,
not too many responses so far, I was hoping to get something resembling a mini survey going. Perhaps my long original post scared most folks off.
To recap in simplified form, my questions to the List are: 1. What is/are your favorite BCD(s) for your cranks? 2. Do you use only vintage cranks, or post '83 cranks as well? 3. Do you like doubles or triples? Favorite gearing?
From 151 to 50.4 mm, or even beyond, let us know!
Greets
Kai Hilbertz
Munich, Germany