Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - recommendation for 144 bcd crankset that isn't crazy expensive?

what the title says!

i know of those vuelta pistas....
and i see old campys on ebay....

and if possible keeping it below 80 would be nice.
just looking for options.

out of curiosity, why?

if i told you the reason im sure i would get a lecture about all kinds of reasons to stick with 130 bcd.

ill just go with the answer "just because" :)

These are great. I bought 2 sets and love them. Great quality for the price >>> http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_193_660&products_id=1532 Come in many colors and shipping is free for orders over $100.

You want a cheap 144bcd crank but have you thought about the fact that the majority or 144bcd chain rings are more expensive?

Personally, I would just drop the cash on a good crankset. Can you still get Omniums for $160? It'll last a long time and Omniums are good enough that you won't feel the need to "upgrade" later on. Plus I wouldn't **** around with anything thats got a cheap chainring on it. The main benefit of having a 144BCD crank is the availability of very high quality track-specific chainrings that are smooth, long lasting, and nearly perfectly round, which eliminates tight and loose spots in the chain. The chainring is a critical part of a really good FG drivetrain. A ****ty non-round chainring will ruin the whole experience.

Iv got some old SR Custom arms in 144bcd ill sell ya for $80. Ill even include a chainring.

These are great. I bought 2 sets and love them. Great quality for the price >>> http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_193_660&products_id=1532 Come in many colors and shipping is free for orders over $100.

same crank here for a bit cheaper:
http://alienbikes.com/

Personally, I would just drop the cash on a good crankset. Can you still get Omniums for $160? It'll last a long time and Omniums are good enough that you won't feel the need to "upgrade" later on. Plus I wouldn't **** around with anything thats got a cheap chainring on it. The main benefit of having a 144BCD crank is the availability of very high quality track-specific chainrings that are smooth, long lasting, and nearly perfectly round, which eliminates tight and loose spots in the chain. The chainring is a critical part of a really good FG drivetrain. A ****ty non-round chainring will ruin the whole experience.

since i'm running a biopace chainring, i'd have to disagree:)

I've used both Suntour Superbe Pro and 70s Nuovo Record double cranks with the Origin8 1/8" CNC rings, short stack bolts and narrower spindles. Works great and I like the look of 144BCD cranks/rings. I bought both said cranks for $30 each shipped here on BF. I polished them and the $25-30 rings and had great looking cranks for $60 each.

Running a biopace on a fixed gear is kinda a bad idea.

Running a biopace on a fixed gear is kinda a bad idea.

sheldon brown and i would both disagree with your unfounded statements.

Running a biopace on a fixed gear is kinda a bad idea.

If the chainline is close enough it probably won't be much of a problem, but it's still kinda silly.

These are great. I bought 2 sets and love them. Great quality for the price >>> http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_193_660&products_id=1532 Come in many colors and shipping is free for orders over $100.

cool, wasn't aware of these, thanks!

gotcha.

well, lets just say ive been wanting to upgrade from the pake crankset, and came across a brand new miche advanced chainring for 15 bucks.
hence wanting a 144 bcd crankset ;p

Iv got some old SR Custom arms in 144bcd ill sell ya for $80. Ill even include a chainring.
have any pics? or at least a link to a pic of the same model?

gotcha.

well, lets just say ive been wanting to upgrade from the pake crankset, and came across a brand new miche advanced chainring for 15 bucks.
hence wanting a 144 bcd crankset ;p

Baller. If you wanted to be real ghetto about it you could Craigslist/eBay around for just a drive-side arm and save some bucks.

Running a biopace on a fixed gear is kinda a bad idea.

I suspect you've never done it. I've never done it, so I have no first hand experience. It sounds odd to me, especially as I look at the spinning BioPace rings on my touring bike. But, if Sheldon did it without issue I'm not going to argue until I have first hand experience.

Baller. If you wanted to be real ghetto about it you could Craigslist/eBay around for just a drive-side arm and save some bucks.
lol well i guess im not trying to be overly cheap about it, but basically just trying to get an idea of if there is some crank out there im unaware of that has a good balance between price and quality....

since i'm running a biopace chainring, i'd have to disagree:)

I don't see how you are disagreeing with me. As I hinted at earlier, there's no reason to use a 144BCD crank unless you really want to enjoy the experience of a high quality track ring. If ultimate stiffness, perfect tension, and chainring roundness are not high on your priority list, don't bother with a track crankset. A biopace ring and/or any chainring of any BCD, bolted to just about any crankset will work just fine.

i've used biopace chainring on a FG before. It was fine. It was also my first experience with biopace.

I don't see how you are disagreeing with me. As I hinted at earlier, there's no reason to use a 144BCD crank unless you really want to enjoy the experience of a high quality track ring. If ultimate stiffness, perfect tension, and chainring roundness are not high on your priority list, don't bother with a track crankset. A biopace ring and/or any chainring of any BCD, bolted to just about any crankset will work just fine.


actually, re-reading that, i do agree with you.

OP, i have a Kazane KZ-2 crankset (http://www.starlightbikes.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=109) (the red one) that i scored for 45 bucks. As far as i know it's a rebadged Andel, only for like 40% of the original price. I f'in love it.

i love my kazane kz2 as well but they only have funky colors and sizes left.

even at 70 bucks, it's a great crank.

same crank here for a bit cheaper:
http://alienbikes.com/

Maybe they're cheaper if you live in Norway.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ZZ276A43-All-City+612+Track+Crank.aspx
BLING BLING.

Maybe they're cheaper if you live in Norway.

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_193_660&products_id=1532
$104

http://www.alienbikes.com/
$70 plus shipping

I dunno what you mean...

BikeIsland have their Vuelta track cranks (http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1829) for $40.

However, I can not guarantee that it's quality made or anything.

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_193_660&products_id=1532
$104

http://www.alienbikes.com/
$70 plus shipping

I dunno what you mean...


ALIENBIKES ©2007-2010
Sentrumsbygget 3145 Tjøme Norway
Org 986947914
info@alienbikes.com

Edit: Shipping was only $14 to my zipcode

If you don't need to buy a set right now to get rolling, and this is simply a vanity purchase (nothing wrong with that), then why not just save up for the nice cranks that you want? The difference between a budget crankset and a nice one might only be a few more weeks of strict saving, but will last you years.

It would suck to spend good money to make a lateral change in components.

^^^ Agreed. After lots of debating and researching while searching for my first 144bcd set, I settled I'd invest in a quality piece, so I did some eBayin' and found a dude selling his very lightly used black Sugino 75s with 49t 75 chainring for a bangin' 200 shipped. Couldn't be happier with the decision.

If you don't need to buy a set right now to get rolling, and this is simply a vanity purchase (nothing wrong with that), then why not just save up for the nice cranks that you want? The difference between a budget crankset and a nice one might only be a few more weeks of strict saving, but will last you years.

It would suck to spend good money to make a lateral change in components.
i see your point.
however i was under the assumption pretty much most 144 bcd cranksets out there would be a step up and not a lateral move from a 40 dollar pake crankset ;p

btw how are SR customs? ive heard of SR, isn't it sakae? but i wasn't cycling in the 80s (or were they in the 90s) so not sure if they were quality or what.

I believe TT Recommended the Andels as being great cranks, personally If I weren't obsessed with the Omnium's I would totally have picked up the Andels.

^^^ Agreed. After lots of debating and researching while searching for my first 144bcd set, I settled I'd invest in a quality piece, so I did some eBayin' and found a dude selling his very lightly used black Sugino 75s with 49t 75 chainring for a bangin' 200 shipped. Couldn't be happier with the decision.
jealous of that deal. Great job.

perhaps i should spring for this?
http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/product/parts_accessories/cranksets_track/FC_MICHE_144.html

the miche advanced crank arms for 130....seeing as though i got a new miche adanvced chainring for 15 bucks (well, before shipping)...


my other option right now is a used SR custom crankset...

SR is for Sakae/Ringyo, they were around from early to late 80's.

From Sheldon.

S.R. ®

A slippery abbreviation, with two different meanings:
As a trade name, it is an alternate form of Sakae Ringyo, a major Japanese maker of aluminum parts, particularly cranks and seat posts. In the 1990's, S. R. bought what was left of the bankrupt Sun Tour, and the combined companies are now known as SR-Sun Tour.

The other meaning had to do with Campy so I didnt feel it was relevant.

i see your point.
however i was under the assumption pretty much most 144 bcd cranksets out there would be a step up and not a lateral move from a 40 dollar pake crankset ;p

btw how are SR customs? ive heard of SR, isn't it sakae? but i wasn't cycling in the 80s (or were they in the 90s) so not sure if they were quality or what.

I guess my point is that if you are gonna upgrade, do it right and get what you want, not just what you can afford right now today, because I willing to bet that if you buy a basic 144BCD crankset now, you will itch for a nicer one down the road.

Those Miche arms are nice, and 130 isn't bad at all.

sheldon brown and i would both disagree with your unfounded statements.
It depends on what size ring you use. The smaller the BioPace ring, the more eccentric it is. 28T BioPace rings look almost square.

I guess my point is that if you are gonna upgrade, do it right and get what you want, not just what you can afford right now today, because I willing to bet that if you buy a basic 144BCD crankset now, you will itch for a nicer one down the road.
true, true...
well i think im forgoing the cheap althernatives....
id hate to be that "tell me what to buy" newb, but i guess this forum is for asking people more knowledgeable than oneself about bikes....

so basically im looking at 4 options....

a used SR super custom for 80...
a lightly used sugino 75 for 130...
brand new miche primato for 130....
soma hellyer for 111...comes with chainring...

i already have a miche advanced chainring i acquired for very cheap....

part of me thinks getting the miche primato new makes sense to combine with the miche chainring....
and it does seem they are all ihigher end cranks i guess, but im not quite sure if one of these options is much better than the others....(again, limited knowledge...)

I would honestly say you couldnt go wrong with the Sugino 75's or the Miche Primato. Very nice cranks.

It depends on what size ring you use. The smaller the BioPace ring, the more eccentric it is. 28T BioPace rings look almost square.

I ran a 28t biopace with 14t in back as an experiment. Besides the horrible chainline and noise, it worked ok to play around in the snow.

true, true...
well i think im forgoing the cheap althernatives....
id hate to be that "tell me what to buy" newb, but i guess this forum is for asking people more knowledgeable than oneself about bikes....

so basically im looking at 4 options....

a used SR super custom for 80...
a lightly used sugino 75 for 130...
brand new miche primato for 130....
soma hellyer for 111...comes with chainring...

i already have a miche advanced chainring i acquired for very cheap....

part of me thinks getting the miche primato new makes sense to combine with the miche chainring....
and it does seem they are all ihigher end cranks i guess, but im not quite sure if one of these options is much better than the others....(again, limited knowledge...)

Does it come with a ring?

Does it come with a ring?

nope.

God, man. Just save up another $100 and get new Omniums with a BB and a chainring.

God, man. Just save up another $100 and get new Omniums with a BB and a chainring.

i dont really like the look of ominums. and like i said before i already have a miche advanced chainring....
so yah think i will just go for the miche crankarms. sorry if you found this thread annoying

You will also need to buy a new BB for the Miche cranks, they use an odd spindle length. If you decide to go with the 75s you will most likely need a new BB too, because they use an ISO taper, rather than the much more common JIS.

I dont think omniums would be the right choice for you since you would either have to use a lower quality ring(the standard sram ring) or buy/ get a mixed match set of chainring bolts and use your nice ring.

God, man. Just save up another $100 and get new Omniums with a BB and a chainring.

Just out of curiosity, whats your experience with the Omnium chainring? I've never tried Omniums. My Sugino Zen ring, which is starting to show a lot of wear, cost almost as much as a complete Omnium crankset w/BB. This might be a good opportunity to switch from 75s, to lighter stiffer Omniums. I could easily make a profit selling off my 75s (w 75BB) and buying some Omniums. The only thing that I'm not sure about is the chainring...I've heard that its not as refined as a NJS DA or Sugino ring, but have no direct experience. I probably wouldn't bother switching to Omniums unless I can just use the stock ring.

You will also need to buy a new BB for the Miche cranks, they use an odd spindle length. If you decide to go with the 75s you will most likely need a new BB too, because they use an ISO taper, rather than the much more common JIS.

I dont think omniums would be the right choice for you since you would either have to use a lower quality ring(the standard sram ring) or buy/ get a mixed match set of chainring bolts and use your nice ring.

hmmm

i just read this in a very old thread, from just googling "miche primato"

I recently replaced my Miche bottom bracket with the very easy to find 107mm Shimano UN-73. No fit/taper issues. It works great with the cranks, better, IMO, than the original BB. Basically, the Miche BB required constant attention and maintenance -- adjustable cups kept loosening in the BB shell (http://www.bikeforums.net/../archive/index.php/t-103732.html), even with loc-tite, and the crank arms kept loosening on the spindle. I have had no such problems since switching to the UN-73.

You will also need to buy a new BB for the Miche cranks, they use an odd spindle length. If you decide to go with the 75s you will most likely need a new BB too, because they use an ISO taper, rather than the much more common JIS.

I dont think omniums would be the right choice for you since you would either have to use a lower quality ring(the standard sram ring) or buy/ get a mixed match set of chainring bolts and use your nice ring.

You can run 75s with a JIS spindle. It will kick your chainline out a few mm, so you need to factor that into your choice of spindle length. If you are an anal perfectionist it may relentlessly bother you, but it will work just fine nonetheless.