randyjawa 

I have a 1969 Atala Pro, fitted with a Stronglight 49d crank set. The pedal threads are French. I can tap the threads to 9/16" but that would mean altering a pretty decent original old crank set. So, my Atala sits (hangs is, perhaps, more appropriate) in the bicycle shrine room with only a few miles, my miles, on it...

I do not want my crank set to end up looking like this Stronglight triple I have, thanks to the trap straps. I should add that I have run across quite a few worn cranks, due to this cause.



Don't know where I can find a set of French threaded SPD pedals?-)

trailangel

I have never seen wear like that. Means the rider never tightened the straps while riding?

bikemig 

You could always tap it to English and run a clipless pedal avoiding the fate of your Stronglight 99 . . . .

But some might consider that sacrilege, : )

Wildwood 

Looks like a bit like the metal cage from some toe holder rubbed it.
I'm a 'narrow pedaler' and the crank arms on my triples get marked some, but not as much in recent decades due to clipless.

daf1009

Wow...that is some wear...I have seen some cranks with a bit of wear from straps...but nothing like this! Of course, it might also reflect the mileage on those cranks...

Ed.

In the olden days I'da taken them to work, given them to Wayne and asked him to build 'em up a bit. Then we'd go see Ralph in the machine shop and ask him to smooth 'em up. When done, they'd look as new.

Find a good aluminum welder, and handy machine shop, and they should be able to fix them right up.

CliffordK

I've got some pretty heavy wear on my old Campy cranks. A bit more polished than that, but heavy wear nonetheless.

I think it is caused by lots of miles, and having a fairly wide foot wearing casual shoes rather than cleated cycling shoes.

Prowler 

I agree. I have classic cages and straps on my three road bikes and the straps do not touch the arms anywhere. I wear indoor soccer shoes that are just a bit wider than my foot and I keep the straps snug - tight enough to hold my foot to the pedal but loose enough that I can bail out easily (and pick em back up without looking down - sometimes faster than the clipless riders can clip in).

OldsCOOL

I see friction...wasted energy.

Velognome 

wind resistance too.....feets must be as huge a windmills!

Ex Pres 

The 49d came with 9/16 threading as an option, so with that in mind you're not really "altering".

Plus the Atala is not a French bike, so origin shouldn't hold you back from tapping.

randyjawa 

You are absolutely correct - the 49d did come with both threads option, however; I have the French threaded set and I have great difficulty altering anything, related to vintage bicycles, in an irreversible fashion.

If, however, the Atala was my only bicycle to ride, I would tap away and right away. But I do have a couple of really nice bicycles to ride so, allowing the Atala to hang, along with my Legnano (forget the gearing on this bicycle, it kills my knees), is not the end of the world, for me. However...

Though I don't like painting a bicycle (an absolutely irreversible action), I have, finally, decided to paint the cosmetically challenged Legnano. I have been riding it for three seasons, looking as it does now, and every time I think about it, I think about "should I or should I not" paint the bike? I should not, but I am going to anyway and I have been thinking of dark black...