Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Campy cranks, 75s, IRO cranks...

I currently have a mid 80's Pinarello with a Campagnolo bottom bracket that runs smooth. I rode it last year with IRO cranks with no problems. I can't decide if an upgrade is worth it, or if I want to buy another IRO set. I'm a little skeptical of getting old Campy Pista cranks, even NOS, because they're not meant for street riding and I can just imagine me failing them at the worst possible time. I love the fluted look of them, but again I just can't put my trust in them. Anyone have experience with new Campy stuff? I'm guessing I'd have to get some proprietary tools to make it work, if it's worth it. I like Sugino 75s, but then I'd need to get a different bottom bracket, I'm guessing. I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep it simple and get another set of IRO cranks. Any suggestions/similar experiences? Oh, and I don't like Miche stuff at all.

IRO cranks and campy BB have different tapers.

also. campy pista cranks were used by the burliest, biggest-thighed track dudes ever. what makes you think average riding is going to make them break, just because you're not on a velodrome?

i like my miche cranks. a lot.

IRO cranks and campy BB have different tapers.

also. campy pista cranks were used by the burliest, biggest-thighed track dudes ever. what makes you think average riding is going to make them break, just because you're not on a velodrome?

i like my miche cranks. a lot.

Well I've ridden IRO cranks on the old Campy bottom bracket just fine...flawlessly. So that's not an issue. I just can't decide if an upgrade is worth it. IRO works with old Campy. I am a burly thighed dude but I am still nervous about old Campy failing. Those pictures that come up every once in a while certainly don't help. I do plenty of hopping and skidding which is something they're not designed for.

Youve probably deformed either the cranks or the spindle or both by forcing the IRO's on there. Yes it works, but it might not work as well once you take off the cranks and try a new pair.

I've ridden old campy for a while and had no problems, and I know man others who have as well. I also know many other people who like their new campy bits.

At least the last set of mangled old campy that was posted here had been dremeled out. I mean, stuff can fail, but generally I wouldn't not run anything made by campy, shimano, or any other major maker just because you think it will go crunch. There are exceptions, but I wouldn't worry about it.

Youve probably deformed either the cranks or the spindle or both by forcing the IRO's on there. Yes it works, but it might not work as well once you take off the cranks and try a new pair.

Yup. Almost certainly the cranks, cos they're softer.

I ride both the old 151BCD and the newer 141BCD Pista cranksets on the street. I don't see a problem.

yeah, lots of people ride campy track stuff on the street. from what i remember, it seems like the company just uses the "not intended for street use" disclaimer to weasel out of warranty replacements.

technically even with road stuff, if you do anything other than ride it on flat, smooth pavement you're voiding the warranty.

the new campy pista cranks look pretty bombproof.

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/crank-fail-004.jpg

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/crank-fail-005.jpg

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/Dscn2422_640.jpg

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/recordcrankscloseup-quarter.jpg

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/crank-campy-70s-2.250.jpg

**** happens... if you are going to ride vintage cranks (or anything) be sure to inspect them regularly. 128 and the fixer obviously are experienced with vintage cranks, so maybe they can give some advice on maintenance and inspection?

either way, queerpunk and 128 are right that you probably deformed either the bb spindle or the crank, so you'd probably have to get a new bb to run anything except another iro crank.

john and off - it's generally the crank that gets deformed, not the spindle.

john and off - it's generally the crank that gets deformed, not the spindle.
makes sense, i suppose... so the op's options aren't necessarily as limited as i thought... but vintage cranks might still be something to contemplate and discuss with people who have experience with them.

thanks - learn something new every day!

edited because of poor reading comprehension

Uh, what happened to the original IRO set that you rode last year? What do you think is wrong with them? (Other than they probably only fit on your spindle now.)

I run a Campy Chorus Crank and BB on my single speed and it works great. I used to run super record on my SS and it worked fine for years. I have been riding my SS off and on for the last 12 years with Campy Super Record, Suprbe Pro, and most recently Campy Chorus and it worked great. I only switched to the new Chorus because they have a 102mm BB spindle length and it worked best with my current setup.

the old campy strada cranks...like nuovo record and stuff...what spindle length do they need to hit a 42mm chainline with the ring on the outside?

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/crank-fail-004.jpg

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/crank-fail-005.jpg

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/Dscn2422_640.jpg

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/recordcrankscloseup-quarter.jpg

http://pardo.net/pardo/bike/pic/fail/crank-campy-70s-2.250.jpg

**** happens... if you are going to ride vintage cranks (or anything) be sure to inspect them regularly. 128 and the fixer obviously are experienced with vintage cranks, so maybe they can give some advice on maintenance and inspection?

either way, queerpunk and 128 are right that you probably deformed either the bb spindle or the crank, so you'd probably have to get a new bb to run anything except another iro crank.


producing a few pictures of broken cranks doesn't mean squat. I've seen and heard of other types of cranks being broken as well. It happens and anyone could probably just as easily dig of photos of other broken cranks as well. I've broken Shimano 105s. A friend of mine broke some ultegras. Tons of people break MTB cranks.

yeah, but what about a list of pictures of intact cranks as counter-proof?

hmmmmm.

producing a few pictures of broken cranks doesn't mean squat. I've seen and heard of other types of cranks being broken as well. It happens and anyone could probably just as easily dig of photos of other broken cranks as well. I've broken Shimano 105s. A friend of mine broke some ultegras. Tons of people break MTB cranks.
sure, anything can break if it's not taken care of... there are other photos of other makes of cranks - old and new - to be seen on the same site as those pictures. i didn't mean to present myself as the authority on vintage crank failure - far from it, i have absolutely no experience with them. if 128, the fixer, or anyone else with direct experience wants to drop some knowledge, i'm sure we'd all appreciate it.

i always felt campy was inferior to dura ace.

get paul cranks. they use the campy spindle and are damn awesome.

a friend of mine broke his at the stamp

just get the old stradas off ebay for the cheaps they are good cranks and will work or get pauls or miches

do you like the new campy track cranks? i haven't heard of, nor seen photos of, anyone having breakage problems with them. campy hasn't changed their design in a long time. . . they are tried and true. i know some people hate the curvature of the spider though. . . its personal preference. i have the c-records (with the shield), love em.

i always felt campy was inferior to dura ace.
Wow, that is a bold statement!

My Campy BB is still fine, I took off the IRO cranks when I bought a second set new for $49, so I slapped those on. So I've had two sets of IRO cranks on the Campy BB. The old set of IRO cranks went on my current winter beater's Shimano sealed BB, and I have no problems there either.

the problem isn't that they won't fit on, its that it's probably not the best match that you can get for the equipment (iro on iso taper) - some people have issues doing this, you clearly don't

this taper issue really needs to die, because it seems every 3rd person i have met mixes and matches square tapers, and their bikes are solid, sure its not perfect, but whatever.

I have the current model Campy Record Pista Cranks and BB. I love them and they also look really nice too.

this taper issue really needs to die, because it seems every 3rd person i have met mixes and matches square tapers, and their bikes are solid, sure its not perfect, but whatever.

Ok, so it works for your buddies. Great. What people are saying is that you will have to fudge with your chainline because IRO cranks are not made for ISO tapered spindles. That, and after you put them on an ISO spindle, your JIS cranks might be a little bit effed (for the next time you try to put them on a propper JIS spindle).