Caveat emptor investors in new crank designs

[MattTuck]

http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2013/01/bad-physics-bad-investment.html

[54ny77]

physics aside, those things look hideous.

[Louis]

It's somewhat embarrassing that they feel like they even have to explain why those are stupid.

[charliedid]

Thanks, I'll pass.

[MattTuck]

It's somewhat embarrassing that they feel like they even have to explain why those are stupid.

There are lots of people trying to take advantage of gullible/ignorant people.... let's hope that this was a case where the guy was ignorant himself, and not intentionally deceiving on people.

[Ken Robb]

could these cranks be vertically compliant but laterally stiff?

[54ny77]

they're diagonally neutral, if not uncomfortable.

[Louis]

If the "physics" of the Z is that the longer crank gives you more leverage, then a spiral arm would be even longer, and thus give you even more leverage. Plus it would look really cool:

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120410062020/characters/images/0/03/Hypnotic_Spiral_Picture.gif

[esldude]

Hey, those spiral cranks would be cool. I think the way it spins like that reminds me of the opening scenes to "the Twilight zone". Now we are talking cool cranks if you can spin your way into the Twilight Zone. Should we call it the Rod Serling design or simply Serling cranks?

[mcallen]

follow the link to his site....apparently the design came to him in a dream. huh.

[ultraman6970]

What that guy has to do is to post torque crap tests and stuff so all the anal guys that like tables, scientific prove and crap might get interested in his cranks to gain 1 second each 200 miles or maybe to ride during the weekend.

Besides that stuff has been around for the last +50 years.

[oldpotatoe]

http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2013/01/bad-physics-bad-investment.html

That's been done..crank arms bending 90 degrees...maybe 20 years ago..

Dum then, dum now

[witcombusa]

That's been done..crank arms bending 90 degrees...maybe 20 years ago..

Dum then, dum now

Peter is correct, here are some earlier "examples" :confused:

[cachagua]

It is the shameful but unarguable fact that no product ever failed except through ineffective marketing. Merely being stupid, ugly, or useless is no disadvantage.

As someone above suggested, in a year this guy may be a millionaire.

[Black Dog]

I can see a lot of people wearing compression unitards riding around on these cranks. It is all about marketing, nothing more nothing less. Tell 'em its faster and they will buy it.

http://katyc1990.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/male_unitard.jpg + http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnoXbGRJ1M8/UPBb_zmODfI/AAAAAAAAAxw/lSsqwdEog70/s320/6150562616_e2a0de8472.jpg

[54ny77]

"touch my crank! love it!"

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PQbVMfpHJBg/TDyEE9AnnCI/AAAAAAAADXs/DQhTU1yY4_I/s1600/dieter5.jpg