Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - White Industries Road/SS Crank

http://www.whiteind.com/VBC-specs.html

What do you think?

http://www.whiteind.com/VBC-specs.html

What do you think?

Looks neat.

Gross.

shiny and bulky but shiny

looks more like a mtb crank than a sleek road crank. it's a cool idea though. i still like their SS/ENO crank better, especially in that green they had (have?)

Hats off to WI for coming up with another another amazing solution to a problem no one has. Then they topped that **** off with outdated technology, a pointlessly proprietary interface that negates any possible advantage the system might have in the first place and presumably the steep price tag they're known for. Where do I sign up?

Hats off to WI for coming up with another another amazing solution to a problem no one has. Then they topped that **** off with outdated technology, a pointlessly proprietary interface that negates any possible advantage the system might have in the first place and presumably the steep price tag they're known for. Where do I sign up?

Man, as sarcastic as you are... and you are sarcastic, you sure make alot of sense.

I did consider the "proprietary" dilemma, but after your statement:

"for coming up with another another amazing solution to a problem no one has",

it makes me realize how ignorant I was even considering it.

So... thanks!(???)

I think it's aesthetically pleasing... to me.

I'm against it.

Strongly.

ugly but at least different.

ugly but at least different.

I don't want different in my cranks. I want a spider with a common BCD. Is that so much to ask?

No granny option. :(

For a fixed, I probably wouldn't want to use it(splined interface + backpressure = shiny trash), but the proprietary-ness doesn't really bother me so much on the fixed front because comparable chainrings for conventional cranksets cost just as much. However, the prospect of it getting ruined is enough to keep it out of consideration.

For a road bike I wouldn't want to use it either though. No granny option, expensive rings, and the fact that external bearing cranksets are so freaking available and becoming the norm, why go back to a square-taper setup?

no sir, I don't like it

I would like it if they gave me a free one, but no...I wouldn't pay for it.

Ugly and strange. Not interesting strange, but why-the-****-did-they-do-that strange. Quite an ingenious way of combining the disadvanteges of splines and square tapers.

We are a mean bunch...

It would look nice on a restoration, but then you'd have to convert the BB. It could be useful if you have really old wacky inch pitch chainrings or something, but then you still have the useless outer ring. This would have been a better idea if it was the same concept, but it didn't have any rings at all, so it would just be a regular double that could take a variety of of combinations of chainring BCDs, so you could use your favorites and mix and match.

Aw c'mon guys... now you can get that elusive 30/53 road double you've always wanted...

I want one of those 76t monster chainrings with a 22t MTB granny and no middle ring. I have a hunch that a custom FD and RD may be needed:)

No spider? Looks flexy.

For a road bike I wouldn't want to use it either though. No granny option, expensive rings, and the fact that external bearing cranksets are so freaking available and becoming the norm, why go back to a square-taper setup?

I agree with everything except your last point. Square taper bb's are easy to find and cheap. And it also allows you access to the all the other stuff either.

But it figures though seeing as how you don't mind proprietariness that you woudn't mind external bb **** either.

I agree with everything except your last point. Square taper bb's are easy to find and cheap. And it also allows you access to the all the other stuff either.
In my experience, a good BB is a good BB. I don't have the patience to deal with servicing a cup-and-cone thing, and my ISIS experience has been for ****. Square taper is fine, but all the new road stuff is has nothing to do with it, even Campy dropped that. Pretty soon, finding good square taper road cranks will become harder and harder to do. Why invest (and that crankset is an investment) in abandoned technology?

I think Surly will handle the multiple BCD thing much better (and approach a stronger market) with their Mr. Whirly crankset:
http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/851/MrWhirly.jpg

Is this crank for folks who cant neasure a BC? I no get it.
I enjoyed reading this thread for the great sarcasticness though. I am laughing now

Hats off to WI for coming up with another another amazing solution to a problem no one has.

Another, eh? What's the first/prior? If you're referring to the eccentric hub, you're off the mark, as it certainly provides a very elegant solution to a pretty common mechanical dilemma.

^^^Agreed...the eccentric hub is a near-perfect innovation. Their crankset; not so much.

Another, eh? What's the first/prior?
I believe they used to have a shifter/derailleur setup that was operated by two cables, thus eliminating the return spring.

And then there's the whole Duo freewheel crank/freewheel setup.

But all their SS specific stuff is absolutely gorgeous and high-quality at that. I like 'em.

Looks like WI reinvented the BMX crank only this time with a proprietary splined interface between the crank and chainring.

The proprietary spline is a non-issue. WI chainrings are only ~$40.00. If that's too much to spend on a chainring, the WI crank is out of your league... think Bulletproof.


But all their SS specific stuff is absolutely gorgeous and high-quality at that. I like 'em.

I'd have to agree with that. I have a wheel built on a WI ENO eccentric hub with a DOS freewheel and the quality of workmanship is a noticeable step or two up from Shimano, et al. I'd put it on a par with Phil Wood or Paul's. The next SS I build will have a WI crank.

The proprietary spline is a non-issue. WI chainrings are only ~$40.00.

they are only 40.00 now. Who knows how long WI will continue making these. My guess is probably not that long cause I don't see a market for them. Further you are more limited in your choice of chainring sizes and unable to use other brands which probably shift better.

The real absurd part though is that the only thing this crankset has going for it is the pretty worthless VBC feature. Even this small bit of functionality is completely negated by being required to only use a WI chainring anyway.

I don't see why they didn't just design a crank that has a spider with a variable bolt circle. There might be a market for that because you could bung on whatever you wanted and never have to worry about finding replacements. This would be a great feature on a trekking or touring bike.

I don't see why they didn't just design a crank that has a spider with a variable bolt circle. There might be a market for that because you could bung on whatever you wanted and never have to worry about finding replacements. This would be a great feature on a trekking or touring bike.

You could get a TA Carmina (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/carmina.asp).
Multiple spiders. Keep your cranks. You'll need to swap rings depending on bolt diameter.

You could get a TA Carmina (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/carmina.asp).
Multiple spiders. Keep your cranks. You'll need to swap rings depending on bolt diameter.
That's basically what that Surly is too.