Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - i've decided.

at least one bike will have bmx cranks, in order to run crazy-ass bmx chainrings like this:

http://www.phantomcycles.com.au/product.php?productid=841&cat=161&page=1

or, you know, along those lines.

you could go 1:1 and go dumb.
http://stepankova.agrotec.cz/galerie-fota/sejmout0007-c613c7.jpg

i've seriously thought about doing that before. there's no guarantee i won't do it at some point.

yeah, and bust some mad skids
http://www.atbneuhausen.ch/Unterseiten/Galerie/2004/Niklaus%20Pokal%2004/023_24A.jpg

you have to start that young?! crap!!!

but yeah, there are some fixed gear bikes at the bike polo games here with a ratio of maybe 1.5:1, and you can get some mad skids with those.

as far as bmx cranks...i know most chainwheels are pretty small, but i know i can get them up to 44t, which is about what i like...i have 43x17 now and love it. i just have to figure out bb compatibility, chainline, etc.

i've seriously thought about doing that before. there's no guarantee i won't do it at some point.
I'm in. I've been looking for an artistic cycling frameset and a cycleball set, I don't have the cash right now but I did find this: http://www.langenberg-manufaktur.de/index2.htm check out the indoor and radball sections.

do you need a special sort of frameset for that? there was a guy at the west side invite doing some stuff like that on a trashed-up conversion.

radball...well...lives up to its name. i keep trying to get people to play it with me. i know i'll suck, but we all will at first anyway, right?

Like this:
http://static.flickr.com/54/169806575_b1e6e306b2.jpg
Bike: Pista concept
Chainring: Profile Blackjack
Cranks: Profile
Chain: some half-link chain
Wheel: Velocity with Bladed spokes

do you need a special sort of frameset for that?

I'm sure with a little skill you can make anything work, but radball frames have the seatpost coming out of the back of the top tube, you're sitting super over the wheel. I'm guessing that has something to do with weight distribution when "kicking" the ball with a wheelie. also the handlebars are wierd, but that should be an easy fix.
http://www.langenberg-manufaktur.de/images/radball-ahmen-kl.jpg

there's a couple radball vids on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy9--JI6FSs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO8xBlkumYM

oh, right. i was talking about bike dancing. i'd noticed the radball frames before. i also notice they use a smaller ball...seems like it's for ease of hopping the front wheel over the ball to shoot/stop it.

carleton--that's pretty much what i have in mind. i may do a different chainring...but that one is sort of cool. i mean...most bmx chainrings that are cool are as dorky as they are cool, but it's that mixture that makes me want one.

oh, but what bb are you using, and how'd you get the chainline straight?

you can get euro bearings for bmx cranks.
then the chainline is adjusted over spacers.
...but the axles are usually w i d e.

Like this:
http://static.flickr.com/54/169806575_b1e6e306b2.jpg
Bike: Pista concept
Chainring: Profile Blackjack
Cranks: Profile
Chain: some half-link chain
Wheel: Velocity with Bladed spokes


i like the gold and black combo

hmmm, yeah. the gold would also work on my miyata--the lugs have gold striping around them.

god, i never thought i'd have a bike with a speck of gold on it. though, as i've said before, a tiny touch of gold can be tasteful.

oh, but what bb are you using, and how'd you get the chainline straight?

Profile makes a "euro" BB for BMX now. Before about 6 years ago BMX bikes had to PRESS their BBs in. Now they screw in like road/mtb. When that transition happened, they made BBs to mate with the BMX crank arms and chainwheels.

Maybe try this for your setup (make sure to choose the "European" BB option: http://www.profileracing.com/loader.php?load=shop&productid=118

I'm sure that you can contact Profile and get the width of the BB spindle. They are a cool group of folks.

That bike isn't mine. It belongs to "Big Dog" a messer in Baltimore. But, this pic shows that your idea will definitely work.

oh, okay, i thought it was yours.

i've just read a few posts on here with people trying to calculate chainline with bmx cranks (fugazi dave was one, maybe i should pm him). i suck at math pretty badly, so i'll probably just copy someone else's setup.

i like the gold and black combo

Yeah, that bike is one of the dopest in town. Here is more:

http://static.flickr.com/69/169834435_6cf627c279_o.jpg

oh, wow...196 for those cranks...i think i'll keep looking. probably a very decent pair...but...yeah. especially not for a build that's starting off of a 50 dollar frame.

Keep in mind that that price includes the bottom bracket. Profile is tops in the game used by top pros etc. There are other options:

Bizhouse, $80 (arms only):
http://www.danscomp.com/images/products/mid_452001.gif

Check Danscomp.com and flatlandfuel.com for more BMX-style options.

On flatlandfuel.com:
Arestic Ice Metal Crank Euro 165mm (with bottom bracket)
List Price: $149.99
Sale Price: $104.99
http://www.flatlandfuel.com/Images/ares_illeuro.jpg


http://obmx.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=3217&catalogId=150
PROFILE - MINI MAGNUTANIUM 3-PIECE CRANKS (138) $300.00 (with bottom bracket)
http://obmx.com/merchant/551/images/large/PROFILEMAGNUTANIUMCRANKS.jpg

Keep a lookout for "Flatland" specific parts. BMX Flatlanders are weight weinies and run short crank arms starting at around 160mm (even down to 140mm).

Profile makes a "euro" BB for BMX now. Before about 6 years ago BMX bikes had to PRESS their BBs in. Now they screw in like road/mtb. When that transition happened, they made BBs to mate with the BMX crank arms and chainwheels.


Just wanted to clarify something here..

There are 4 different BMX bottom bracket standards now, and a host of axle sizes/splines.

American - big 68mm unthreaded shell, requires press-in cups with bearings
Euro - When BMX started getting weight concious, they started releasing these.. unfortunately the bearings don't like side loading, so while MTB guys may be into 'external' euro bearings, its pretty much gone in BMX.
Spanish - smaller BB shell than American, unthreaded, machined for precise fit. Bearings must be pressed directly into the frame
Mid - Very similar to spanish, only with a different bearing size.

The standard axle sizes are 19 and 22mm. Most sprockets have a 22mm hole in the centre.

Here's an older George French article on the matter:
http://gsport.kishmish.com/tech/bbs_again.php
^note that 'mid' doesn't exist here, and he's proposing a press in standard similar to American, but with Poly cups, called the 'Yorkshire'.

Further clarification: American BB's were originallly used with one-piece or "Ashtabula" cranks. A lot of old bikes have these cranks, so they will take an American crankset/bb quite well. However, a lot of Huffys and Schwinns had proprietary BB sizing, so it might be a little harder for them.