Originally Posted by
79pmooney
The secret "with enough options on hand". That you can dry fit on the workbench and measure. The other approach that works very well but isn't cheap - get your hands on a long Shimano BB. Install and mount your cranks on it. Now measure how much further in or out you want each crank. Deduct (or add) these numbers to the Shimano spindle. Order that from Phil Wood. (And the tools unless you know someone with.) Now you have exactly the spindle and crank location you want, it will outlast your offspring and it will only cost you a mortgage payment or two.
Well, you're quite right, the more the merrier but many times I have solved the puzzle with only three good candidates on hand although I always try to have more.
I have gotten lucky plenty of times and quickly leaned in and got the hang of it very early on, again, IMO, it ain't rocket surgery.
