hyperRevue

Require a Miche BB?
What are the other options?

Also, what do people think of these cranks?

mrRed

Mine are amazing, and gorgeous.



I'm running a miche bottom bracket as well, but I don't think you have to.

ZappCatt

You just need an ISO, not JIS BB.
Thus, Campy is another option.

hyperRevue

I'm not famaliar with ISO Taper, what is that exactly? Not splined? Not square taper?

After looking at BusinessCycles, I see the BB is only $23. I was under the assumption they were expensive (from doing a search on here, actually). Are the BBs nice?

onetwentyeight 

I used to have one on a phil. Its italian taper, all you need is a bb for that. From what I've heard (never used one myself) the miche bbs are kinda crap.

edit: oh and i think they're really great, good looking cranks. Great deal for the $

Jose R

From reading a few comments about these cranks from track racers, it seems that they can be a bit "soft", but good entry level cranks and people wind up upgrading to Suginos or DA.

But, soft for a 180-220lb sprinter may be "stiff enough" for the average 150lb commuter/courier.

I also remember John Darcy of BC telling me that the BB is actually quite nice and great value.

Personally, I like the look of the Miche, but opted for Suginos.

mattface 

there are 2 different versions of square taper. All Japanese cranks and most cranks these days are JIS. Campy, and some campy knockoffs including old Suginos were ISO.

I think Miche, and Phil Wood are the only brands of ISO bbs currently offered in 107mm length which is the prescribed length for the Miche cranks. Depending upon your setup you might be able to fudge good chainline with a 103 or 110.5 campy bb

hyperRevue

A search answered my ISO vs. JIS question.
I have 75s on my main bike and love them am looking for something different and not crazy expensive (like campy or superbe) for my new Cannondale (maybe) down the line.

ZappCatt

I can hardly wait until I get strong enough on the track to worry about my Miche cranks being "soft". I will GLADLY drop $300 on DA's if/when I get that strong...

I currently am 215...

p.s. In case anyone thinks I am being snarky, I am serious!!!

hyperRevue

If Miche are stiff enough for ZappCatt, I highly doubt I'll be able to notice any softness.

baxtefer

Miche are nice cranks for the money, but have their idiosycracies (sp?) -just like all other Miche products.

- 135 BCD... you already own a set of 75's which are 144BCD. I would stay away from the Miche just so you can share a set of chainrings between your bikes. Same goes for if you want to race this bike at the track. It's easier to borrow 144 chainrings.
- integrated chainring bolts... the chainring bolts thread into the spider if you strip one, you're hosed
- limited BB choice... the miche "track" bottom bracket is a 107mm ISO taper. (beware, there's a "road" version of this BB too that has, I think, a 113 mm spindle). I have heard mixed reviews of the Miche BB - not very long-lived, but cheap. Other BB options are limited. a 102mm Campy BB also works, or Phil also makes one

hyperRevue

Above 75s, the price seems to jump rather quickly. Grand Mighty (or whatever the other Suginos are), Campy, Superbe.
Am I missing anything?

eddiebrannan

+1

and you can see em in that link down there \/

mascher

Not a lot of miles on it, but I can't tell the difference between the Miche unit and a un72 (or un5x or any other cartridge so far). Only thing I don't like is the aluminum bb cups (that I managed to damage the splines by just wrenching hard), but apparently nicer bbs all have al cups.

230 pounds today, and the wild increase in stiffness over my old setup/old frame makes it difficult to gauge how much stiffer, but it feels good to me.

mrRed

I think they're damn stiff. After riding on some Shimano 600's for a while, and going to this, I saw a big difference, although mainly when going hard from a full stop to full steam.

hyperRevue

I think I'm sold on them.
I'll use my Truvativ Titanium BB and cranks for now but will go Miche in the near future.
Can't wait!

mrRed

Welcome to the club. you wont be dissapointed!

Aeroplane

Interesting fact... duly noted and tucked away in gray matter folds.

queerpunk

on the other hand, no messing with those chainring bolts that no chainring bolt tool ever fits properly, no need for anything but your hex set...

eddiebrannan

this is what i've heard too. i bought a primato crank and campy bb off a board member and i have excellent chainline. i'm not sure which bb it is (i imagine it's 103 given how close to the stay the inside of the spider is), but it works.

shishi

Did you get those damn white tires yet???

hyperRevue

HAha, not yet.
My current tires are still in good shape.
The money went toward a Cannondale Track.

desire

I have miche cranks, never had any probs so far. Feel stiff and strong enough. The bb seems o.k too, just bought a new one after my other one needed replacing. Oh and they are good if you are on a budget. Only grumbles is the odd bcd, limited chainrings.

hyperRevue

Business Cycles offers Miche chainrings in sizes from 46 to 52.
That seems like a great selection, so why would you need another option?
How nice are their chainrings? Stiff and true?

queerpunk

i know it's pronounced mee-kay, but i still wanna say meesh.