^^^, what T-mar said. Don't leave home without 'em....

Bill

Especially if the bolt heads are painted.

Oh, I fully agree, and that's one reason some of my bikes have dust caps even if not all do. My point wasn't that we can't afford the time. It was about the notion of reconstructing a particular racing bike down to the last detail, then discovering that that last detail was in fact inaccurate. It's really a question of why one wants those pesky dust caps in the first place.

Dust caps...

Back in the 70's they looked dorky and the weight weenies thought they added extra weight to their bikes! :eek:

If they come on a bike or crankset that I pick up, I leave them on.... Or if the bike is going to be all original.

A lot of cranks sold on eBay come without bolts. If they're Campy cranks and are going on a rider I use these Campy bolts. For others I use the generic bolts with the plastic shields. The 10mm hex eliminates the possibility of a wrench or socket damaging the extractor threads.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=526547 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=526548

Both types function somewhat like dust caps especially with a little grease in the extractor threads.


verktyg :50:

Chas.

My spindle is nutted/caps look better; but I more than often break em or lose em.:(

My spindle is nutted too...but that's irrelevant here.

^^^^ Root guy, no pictures are required, nor solicited.....

;)

...I just can't help being irreverent.
It's a sickness.....

Lol!

I can't help being irrelevant.

"My baby's got dust caps...

Big bottom (bracket), she's got 'em
How can I leave her behind?"

I generally convert mine to the Allen/hex head with the plastic shield. I had a problem once on a ride where I did have to make repairs. FYI, the chainbreak bolt on a Park Tool IB-3 multitool will fit the head of most of the Hex bolts that I have encountered.

Got dem Old Bike Blues, yeaaaah.

I think the red Sugino caps are da bomb (not like JDT's bomb)....but they are so fragile that they are almost single use!

Back in the 80's, I was given a set of gold-plated Campy dust caps... I think the company made gold chainring bolts & seat post bolts as well. Still have them on my Falcon w/ NR cranks.

I prefer the look of dust caps w/ vintage cranks.... use the Allen wrench type with more modern cranks

For any new purchase, de-dorkification procedure:

1. Remove Presta valve plastic caps and locks nuts
2. Remove ninny reflectors
3. Remove dust caps
4. Remove dork discs
5. Remove uncool decals like the bike shop name (unless it is particularly cool)
6. Fenders, like WTF!

Go ride.

But nowadays, re-dorkification procedure:

1. Install valve caps and lock nuts
2. Install lights and ninny reflectors
3. Install cool vintage dust caps so it looks like catalog
4. SORRY, I cannot install dork discs, just saying :)
5. Install reflective tape all over
6. Install fenders

Oh, and a bell :). Go ride.

Riding without crank extractor dust caps is like riding without a helmet. You feel extremely cool, until you have your first incident.

I'm partial to the look of the vintage dust caps, those empty holes just look wrong on the older bikes.

NEVER ever re-dorkify a bike. The horror....the horror.

Iwas stopped by the C&V style police a few days ago for riding with valve caps. I asked the man what was wrong with them, and he couldn't answer. He let me off with just a warning.

FWIW, some sew-ups which come with no valve stem threads make noise from the stem moving against the rim.

"GAHSTLY LOOK" ??? people have been bent over the handlebars and flogged for less. For many years, few cyclists ever put dust caps over their crank bolts. And some less evolved souls (like me) thought disparaging thoughts about those who did.
If only I'd known that those silly things would sell for 25 bucks a pair... Yes, your bike will survive just fine without them. And a year from now you might wonder why you ever bothered...:rolleyes:

When you see Campy dust caps going for 65.00 it brings the question of why. My Colnago was race bred and purpose built. The original owner painted the crank bolts black to look sharp. Fine with me. For my Bday a buddy tossed me a set but for special events they come off.

Trust me, if you passed me on the road there'd be far more to think disparaging thoughts about then dust caps in my cranks..

I might have to paint my crank bolts. Red on the Masi might be nice

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! (inside joke) As opposed to BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

0311/1341/1345

verktyg :50:

Chas.

Dang grunts, always making loud gun type noises.

I darn sure didn't pay no $65.00 for the NR dust caps I got while doing the Medici project. Not going to brag, or even do the humble-brag bit, just saying it was far to the south of that mark, much farther.

A side note, R.I.P. Capt. Jeff Kuss, USMC, now flying opposing solo with the angels up in heaven. Watched Fat Albert and the No.5 Blue Angel, Lead Solo bring him home, here, smoking down the Pensacola Beach, down to the Delta Break at Perdido Beach, and on final to NAS Sherman Field, NAS Pensacola. Prayers for his wife and two young children, and for the Blues, as they stand down for re-group and evaluation.

Respectfully,
Bill