http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Two Technical Questions en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:52:17 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115131 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:33:25 +0000 chdot 115131@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For newer people -</p> <p><a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-bcd.html" rel="nofollow">http://sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-bcd.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115130 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:30:52 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 115130@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I did consider a while back singlespeeding it, but I want it for weekend pootles with Mel as well, and the gears are nice for taking it easy up hills.</p> <p>Don't know where my mind is - heading out tonight I thought I'd see if the middle ring on the current setup has the same BCD to do a swap over. That's what I'll look at tomorrow night. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115128 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:17:34 +0000 Instography 115128@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Couldn't the chainring be replaced by a 10-speed compatible one? Or just make it a single speed at the back and run a wider chain. I'll give you the back end gubbins - spacers and cog - since I have it attached to a wheel and will never use it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115127 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:13:36 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 115127@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>All academic... The teeth on the chainring are too wide, the chain won't sit right down into them (and riding it they'd be trying to force the plates apart!).</p> <p>Will stick with the triple for the time being and ponder more. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115071 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:19:00 +0000 Bhachgen 115071@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think the chainring might well be OK. Bearing in mind you won't be asking it to change gear so the fact the chain will be a bit "tight" shouldn't be an issue.</p> <p>The different length cranks I don't much fancy. Instinct says it can't be good for the knees. If it was your only bike I would guess that you wouldn't notice but if you ride others regularly I think you will notice this one being a bit "squinty"</p> <p>All conjecture so look forward to being proved wrong... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115057 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:31:09 +0000 allebong 115057@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@DaveC you better check both arms on your coat are the same length before putting it on.</p> <p>5mm over a 170mm crank doesn't seem all that significant, especially when you throw in all the other tolerances, maybe wearing a thicker sock on that side will counteract it? (edit: :P) Then again I've never ridden with mismatched crank lengths. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115040 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:24:04 +0000 DaveC 115040@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>one.</p> <p>?? I defer to those more knowledgable than I.</p> <p>two.<br /> [joke] you'll eventually end up pedaling in circles[/joke] This sounds like they only had one side of the crank and sold it cheap? Presume you no longer need a triple/double up front for simple commuting?</p> <p>I'll get my coat. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115022 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:11:09 +0000 kaputnik 115022@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>.one</em></p> <p>I've seen it done, so it must work. you could always either replace the ring with the correct one (using the new spider) or file down the teeth if it's proving to be too wide! It might "work" but might wear through chains faster as it will undoubtedly put more internal lateral force on the chain than the correct tooth width.</p> <p><em>If one crank is 170mm, and the other is 175mm, will you actually notice when riding?</em></p> <p>Eventually. It means one leg is effectively pedalling in a slightly different gear than the other one. But then again your legs may be slightly different and you never do notice! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115020 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:07:14 +0000 wingpig 115020@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Chain might possibly get held a little too tightly by the fatter teeth of the chainring, especially in the presence of pathsludge.<br /> You'll notice. You can notice the difference when one foot is slightly differently-placed on the pedal, all crank lengths being equal. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115018 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:58:56 +0000 Cyclingmollie 115018@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've no ten speed kit but I have an eight speed cassette/single chainring bike which only worked properly once I had replaced the o.e. cheap pressed steel chainring with an aluminium one with superfluous ramps and pins costing a sixth the price of the entire bike. And that was with a chain guard and dog-fang trying to keep the unruly chain-line under control into the bargain. </p> <p>I would like to hear how the mismatched cranks feel. I suspect you may not notice, though you will <em>know</em>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10502#post-115005 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:34:59 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 115005@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>.one<br /> I got a single chainring chainset today to give it a try on the Kaff, giving me a weird 10spd, single up-front thing. But obviously the chainring isn't made for 10 speed - will the chain fit? (okay, easy for me to find out tonight, but then we can see whose thoughts are correct). It's a neat chainset because the ring is stepped out from the spider, so about in the position that a middle chainring on a triple (which is what it's replacing) would be.</p> <p>.two<br /> If one crank is 170mm, and the other is 175mm, will you actually notice when riding? (bearing in mind the other thread on knees and SPDs, I'm more than aware of the limitations of my knees, so any indication while riding that it's a problem and I'[ll be seeking replacement - the slightly longer left hand crank was all the Bike Station had matching). </p>