Old 02-02-21 | 11:16 PM
  #1  
parkerposey
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
3-arm "circular" cranks vs. 5-arm starfish design

Hi all. Currently building up a pretty frame from the 80s, and I like the look of the Dia-Compe ENE Ciclo double crankset -- I can't upload a photo, but the design has 3 arms, and the arms branch as they approach the outer ring, creating three 'circles', in contrast to the 'starfish' shape of standard 80s cranks. Other details include cold-forged arms. I read that this process makes them even stronger, but this made me wonder if the rings, on the other hand, were not more flexible than rings with 5 arms of support, if the "circular" design improves stiffness relative to 'radial' arms, etc., etc..

My question is for anyone who's experienced both this 3-arm design and the more common 5-arm starfish of 80s/90s Sugino cranks etc. What were your impressions, how did they compare? Thanks in advance for your input.
parkerposey is offline  
Reply