Why do so many cylists use carbon cranks?

[Sandy]

Why do we see so many bikes with carbon cranks? Weight? Appearance? Stiffness? Availability? "Newest and finest"?


Cranky Sandy

[e-RICHIE]

Why do we see so many bikes with carbon cranks? Weight? Appearance? Stiffness? Availability? "Newest and finest"?


Cranky Sandy

for me it's vanity.
i'm serious.
i just love the black stuff,
goth - and all that. it's just
so effin' complementary to
everything else of bicycles
these days. i guess the coach (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bobbesrs/detail?.dir=8e6e&.dnm=0f07.jpg&.src=ph)
is getting more tolerant.

[Len J]

for me it's vanity.
i'm serious.
i just love the black stuff,
goth - and all that. it's just
so effin' complementary to
everything else of bicycles
these days. i guess the coach (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bobbesrs/detail?.dir=8e6e&.dnm=0f07.jpg&.src=ph)
is getting more tolerant.

How do you talk....with your tongue so far in your cheek?

LOL

Len

[Sandy]

for me it's vanity.
i'm serious.
i just love the black stuff,
goth - and all that. it's just
so effin' complementary to
everything else of bicycles
these days. i guess the coach (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bobbesrs/detail?.dir=8e6e&.dnm=0f07.jpg&.src=ph)
is getting more tolerant.

Is this a subtle way of telling us that you are going to be building carbon bikes? Are you stopping production of lugged steel bikes? ;)


Big Lug Sandy

[BumbleBeeDave]

VeloNews had a story last year where they actually set up a deflection testing machine and tested the carbon cranks vs. Dura Ace, Record, et. al. . . and it didn't really surprise me that the actual stiffest was the 10 speed dura-Ace.

But I still love my FSA because it cosmetically does look so much better on my black and yellow bike. Sure it's not quite as stiff as my 9-speed DA probably is, but the difference would be so small that someone of my middling pedalling power would never be able to tell, so why not accede to cosmetic vanity?

BBD, aka "Cycle Fashion Slave Dave"

[e-RICHIE]

Is this a subtle way of telling us that you are going to be building carbon bikes? Are you stopping production of lugged steel bikes? ;)


Big Lug Sandy

i have use "all" the carbon parts since the inception.
well, except for handlebars...

[e-RICHIE]

How do you talk....with your tongue so far in your cheek?

LOL

Len


well - i use the stuff, so i guess
i'm a consumer atmo. it all has
soul - and the best stuff also
has edge.

[Ken Robb]

I replaced 10 spd DA cranks with FSA compact because it was the only compact I could find at the time.

[coylifut]

[QUOTE=e-RICHIE]
i just love the black stuff,
goth - and all that. QUOTE]

reason enough

[Argos]

I like Carbon. That said, I am thinking about taking off the Carbon Crank from my Ottrott (FSA) and going back to the classic Silver of a Record 10 Crank.

I do think it will be super nice and compliment the bike aesthetically. I do not think I will notice a performance difference. :rolleyes:

Click link to see the pic below my signature, then imagine it in silver.

[andy mac]

.

[oracle]

and hey, carbon is organic.......

[The Spider]

Argos,

I reckon it looks pretty sweet with the carbon. and with the new wheels....whoa!

some really futuristic looking bikes need the lines of a carbon crank just like steel frames need the beauty of alloy Campagnolo.

Other than that I really don't think there is much of a reason (unless we're talking THM).

[William]

I like the blacked out look myself.....but there ain't no effin way I'm using CF cranks. Alloy all the way for me baby....that is until everything is CF and I have no other choice. :rolleyes:



William

[Kevin]

I have the Carbon Record cranks because of the look. I am too slow to tell the difference.

Kevin

[e-RICHIE]

I have the Carbon Record cranks because of the look. I am too slow to tell the difference.

Kevin

i have the cf record cranks on and
can tell the difference: they're black.
other than that, i "feel" no material
characteristics. and i've used them
for 4+ years already.

[stevep]

i have all octalink ultegra bbs which i love ( last 7,500 miles perfect and easy to replace )
on these one stella azzurra carbon crank, 1 da-9 crank w/ 10 spd stuff and 1 winter bike w/ ultegra alloy crank.
with all of them..when i push down on the pedal.. the bike goes forward.
about the same amount i think.
the new da chainrings cost too much for me to handle and i do not like the way they look and thats the way it is! but i have no doubt that the crank is the stiffest in the world.

[sc53]

Sandy, I put that carbon Stella Azurra crankset on my Ottrott last spring all because of the big blue star in the middle of it. Really stupid reason! Also it was a compact crank and I wanted to try that route.

[Grant McLean]

i have the cf record cranks on and
can tell the difference: they're black.
other than that, i "feel" no material
characteristics. and i've used them
for 4+ years already.

I 'think' I can tell the difference between the alloy record cranks and the
carbon ones, but of my bikes, only on my C40, because it's so stiff.
I originally had the alloy ones on that bike, and when i switched to the
carbon ones, I was sure that they felt stiffer when climbing out of the
saddle, especially in the big ring.

Could be just wishful thinking, but there it is.

Shimano had a crank demo thingy at interbike a few years ago, a contraption
that you could stand on, but would only rotate so far against a stop. There
was a bb, and a crankarm with a pedal installed.
They had their 'old' crank on the left, and a new hollow one on the right.
The difference in deflection was incredible, but again, on the bike? who knows.

Like many of these kinds of "improvements" it often takes 4 or 5 of them
together to generate a "next level" of performance feeling like you wouldn't
go back to where it was a few years ago.

-g

[e-RICHIE]

I 'think' I can tell the difference>>>
-g

think. feel...

describing bike parts need a myers-briggs type indicator system.
judging. perceiving. thinking. feeling. sensing.

it's a task for bicycling magazine atmo.

[Grant McLean]

think. feel...
describing bike parts need a myers-briggs type indicator system.
judging. perceiving. thinking. feeling. sensing.
it's a task for bicycling magazine atmo.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218839/

-g

[OldDog]

What, no marketing guy has picked up that cf cranks dampen road vibration and when combined with a ti pedal spindle and cf shoes totally eliminate all sensations to the feet to give you that heavenly floating feeling, like your not even pedaling?

:rolleyes:


Serious content: I like silver components on my lugged/painted bikes. CF is cool on ti and carbon bikes.

I am getting to old and stiff and slow to give a hoot about performance products.

[David Kirk]

think. feel...

describing bike parts need a myers-briggs type indicator system.
judging. perceiving. thinking. feeling. sensing.

it's a task for bicycling magazine atmo.

INTJ

Dave

[scrooge]

but i have no doubt that the crank is the stiffest in the world.

I'd wager that Zinn's might be stiffer, but I've never ridden the DA, so I couldn't tell you...

[e-RICHIE]

INTJ

Dave

ISFP

[Grant McLean]

ISFP

?

http://www.typelogic.com/isfp.html

g

[e-RICHIE]

?

http://www.typelogic.com/isfp.html

g


that's me.
an introverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving fool yo.

[Grant McLean]

that's me.
an introverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving fool yo.

that's quite a list of pals...

Fred Astaire
Marilyn Monroe
Liberace
Elizabeth Taylor
Yogi Berra, professional baseball player ("It's deja vu all over again.")
Dan Rather
Orrin Hatch, U.S. Senator
Ervin "Magic" Johnson, NBA basketball star
Patrick Duffey
Dan Quayle, U.S. Vice President, 1988-1992
Paul McCartney
Christopher Reeve
Michael Jackson
Kevin Costner
Greg Louganis, U.S. Olympic gold medalist
Brooke Shields
Britney Spears
John Travolta
Ashton Kutcher
Donald Trump

[e-RICHIE]

that's quite a list of pals...

Fred Astaire
Marilyn Monroe
Liberace
Elizabeth Taylor
Yogi Berra, professional baseball player ("It's deja vu all over again.")
Dan Rather
Orrin Hatch, U.S. Senator
Ervin "Magic" Johnson, NBA basketball star
Patrick Duffey
Dan Quayle, U.S. Vice President, 1988-1992
Paul McCartney
Christopher Reeve
Michael Jackson
Kevin Costner
Greg Louganis, U.S. Olympic gold medalist
Brooke Shields
Britney Spears
John Travolta
Ashton Kutcher
Donald Trump


get the first edition:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316845221/002-7769027-0902427?v=glance&n=283155

[manet]

that's me.
an introverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving fool yo.

http://www.mindonthemedia.org/

[Len J]

ISFP

ENFP

Len

[Headwinds]

VeloNews had a story last year where they actually set up a deflection testing machine and tested the carbon cranks vs. Dura Ace, Record, et. al. . . and it didn't really surprise me that the actual stiffest was the 10 speed dura-Ace.

RIDE cycling review had a similar test and they found out that Shimano Ultegra actually had the best overall rating. I will look at the arcticle again later and I will post the actual results, but I do remember that Campy Record carbon was 4th (out of 12 sets tested), and FSA was at the bottom of the list on almost everything....

As for me, I use (Campy) carbon cranksets because (in order of importance): Problem free component, ease of installation/maintenance, weight, looks, and brand name.

I have always believed that if a particular component has been consistently* used at the Pro level; there is no way in hell that I will break it or that it is not going to perform well for the amount of riding I currently do. If Boonen and Petacchi are not flexing a particular crankset, there is no way I am going to even get remotely close to flex that crankset!

* I mean used for more than one season and for training, such as the case of the current Campy carbon cranksets! Remember, you did not see any pro's using the first generation Campy carbon crankset.

Cheers!

[Kevan]

I didn't waste anytime going over to the darkside. It's those damn eyes I tell yeah!

[David Kirk]

ENFP

Len

You can tell all the folks who've been in therapy..........they know thier letters.

INTJ Dave

[e-RICHIE]

You can tell all the folks who've been in therapy..........they know thier letters.

INTJ Dave
aroma-around therapy for me.
makes scents yo.

[Len J]

aroma-around therapy for me.
makes scents yo.


They know their letters, and hopefully themselves.

Scents......cheap laugh yo

Len

[manet]

aroma-around therapy for me.
makes scents yo.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nerone.cc/romemtm/nuovosito/immagini/vespa_tours/vespa_tour_27_sett._liberty_03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nerone.cc/romemtm/nuovosito/vespa_tours.htm&h=267&w=200&sz=9&tbnid=B2pVy0HWibCZxM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=80&hl=en&start=8&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drome%2Bvespa%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%2 6lr%3D%26sa%3DG

[David Kirk]

I once had a new employer give me the test a day after hiring me. INTJ is NOT what a new employer wants to see.

Dave

[e-RICHIE]

I once had a new employer give me the test a day after hiring me. INTJ is NOT what a new employer wants to see.

Dave


bro' that's why some of us are rebels, loners, and dangerous.

[manet]

bro' that's why some of us are rebels, loners, and dangerous.

http://www.haebc.com/deanne/archives/ipeewhenilaugh.jpg

[eddief]

strong enfp's don't even need anything beyond the tapered square bottom bracket era. and p don't stand for practical.

[Tailwinds]

ENFP

Len

ENFJ

I can't feel the difference b/w alloy and carbon cranks... I FEEL that alloy cranks look cool. YMMV.

[Len J]

I once had a new employer give me the test a day after hiring me. INTJ is NOT what a new employer wants to see.

Dave

working at a Multi National in accounting.......they tested us and then asked all the ISTJ's to stand up and move to one side...it was about 90%. I was the only ENFP accountant out of 500.

An ENFP is not your typical green eye shade accountant!

It was pretty eye opening.

Len

[eddief]

if you enjoy your work? Hope so. MBTI type has been researched pretty thoroughly and can be one effective indicator of "right work."

[bluesea]

Because they are not available in magnesium yet.

[Grant McLean]

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nerone.cc/romemtm/nuovosito/immagini/vespa_tours/vespa_tour_27_sett._liberty_03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nerone.cc/romemtm/nuovosito/vespa_tours.htm&h=267&w=200&sz=9&tbnid=B2pVy0HWibCZxM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=80&hl=en&start=8&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drome%2Bvespa%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%2 6lr%3D%26sa%3DG


that's the funniest thing i've ever read on this forum!

A-Roma!

HA!

-g

[Sandy]

Because they are not available in magnesium yet.

GREAT answer. I really like that one. Made me smile and laugh.



Magnesium Mirman

[manet]

that's the funniest thing i've ever read on this forum!

A-Roma!

HA!

-g

hey thanks for looking.
that other guy _ he's a gas.

[TweeWielen]

I once had a new employer give me the test a day after hiring me. INTJ is NOT what a new employer wants to see.

Dave

Uh Oh... whats wrong with being an INTJ? :)

Served me pretty well for 35 years.

Its funny, you can tell another within about 2 minutes of meeting them. :beer:

[David Kirk]

Uh Oh... whats wrong with being an INTJ? :)

Served me pretty well for 35 years.

Its funny, you can tell another within about 2 minutes of meeting them. :beer:

The whole "not respecting authority and hierarchy" thing doesn't make a boss feel too confident.

Happily self employed Dave

[Dr. Doofus]

think. feel...

describing bike parts need a myers-briggs type indicator system.
judging. perceiving. thinking. feeling. sensing.

it's a task for bicycling magazine atmo.


people get them because they're marketed and they're there

(and since tom boonen doesn't use em, there's no there there but then sachs does so...there)


Dr. Doofus: INTP

Dr. Bruylants: NESP

[Len J]

if you enjoy your work? Hope so. MBTI type has been researched pretty thoroughly and can be one effective indicator of "right work."

is turn my nateral bent for problem solving and creativity and need for a new problem into a role where I "Fix" broken companies....a new assignment every few months.

Len

[catulle]

think. feel...

describing bike parts need a myers-briggs type indicator system.
judging. perceiving. thinking. feeling. sensing.

it's a task for bicycling magazine atmo.

Hell, no fitting problems with Briggs & Stratton, atmo... :no:

[andy mac]

ENTP.





(Trump an introvert????? - from the earlier list of famous people)

[dirtdigger88]

I once had a new employer give me the test a day after hiring me. INTJ is NOT what a new employer wants to see.

Dave

ENTJ-

I guess it depends on what an employer is looking for - they either cant wait to hire me - or they are afraid Ill take the company over-

Jason

[CNY rider]

Looking forward to NOT socializing with all you fellow introverts at dbrk's this August.....