Heatherbikes

Hi, I am searching for some cranks with smaller arms for my 1980's cramerotti with campy victory. An onslaught of winter and de icer has made mincemeat of the chainrings on my campy victory cranks. It could cost less to get a new crankset than to replace the 116 bcd chainrings. I'd like to upgrade to more size appropriate cranks anyway. 160mm would be great. Some of the crank length charts suggest 155. Oddly enough I am finding it easier to find 155mm than 160mm. Companies that used to make 160mm cranks no longer do. The TA site is too frustrating and way out of budget. I do have a vintage specialties ta 160mm crank so I know how that feels. I also have a vintage raleigh with the original cottered 155mm cranks. It is in temporary retirement but I used to wonder why riding that bike felt so good and I could really move even though it was creaky and heavy.
On the internet and eBay I do find some new cranks with smaller arms, but they are either poor quality or to modern and black. In Canada the bike shops I asked could barely manage anything below 170 and claimed the sugino xd2 in 160mm do not exist....
I could get some super affordable stronglight 165mm cranks, but that rather defeats the purpose of wanting size appropriate cranks. There is a 160mm dura ace crankset on eBay for more than I'd like and would have to buy chainrings. They are from the early 70's. They would look right on the bike.
Suggestions beside home machinist shortenings?
thanks!

CliffordK

Have you looked at the Origin8 Cranksets?

https://www.amazon.com/Origin8-Tripl.../dp/B00R6R5PBE

DIMcyclist

I can fully appreciate your situation; ten years after the fact, I'm still a little stunned by the difference going to a 170mm crank (from a 175) made for me.

There seemed to be a greater variety of crank lengths available back in the '80s; beyond that, I've occasionally seen older Sugino cranks (AT; GP; RT; Impell) in 160mm...

Also, I agree: TA's website is kind of a pain to navigate; have you tried XXcycle.com? They have good prices (esp. right now, with both Sterling & the Euro on the skids) & reasonably quick shipping. You might also want to check out Ribblecyles.com.uk; they're often a good source for chainrings.

clubman 

I've been sourcing short cranks for awhile because of knee problems. Best deal is the 160 mm Stronglight cranks out of the UK with your choice of rings. Bargoon.

SPA CYCLES XD-2 Touring Double Chainset with custom TA chainrings :: £97.00 :: Parts & Accessories :: Components - Gears - Chainsets :: Spa Cycles, Harrogate - The touring cyclists specialist.

bulldog1935

Alex Cycles in Japan sells nice short cranks.

Sugino Mighty Tour begins at 160mm



and Sugino OX901D
not quite as classic-looking


They also have the Sugino Mighty Comp
Not sure of the difference with the Mighty Tour - both are 110 bcd - maybe just the ring sizes it comes with


Might check Bens Cycle for the Sugino, as well.

rhm

I have been through this, and I applaud your efforts!

A few points:

1. Some cranks are measured in inches. Don't forget to search for 6" cranks!
5¾" = 146 mm
6" = 152 mm
6¼" = 159 mm
6½" = 165 mm

2. Few "vintage" cranks are beefy enough for this, but many newer cranks can be shortened by a minimum of 22 mm. So a 175 mm crank can be made into a 153 pretty easily, and so on, do the math.

3. Mark Stonich, BikeSmithDesigns (dot com, dot net, dot something) is a fervent believer in short cranks, and has a good stock of the options. Worth a look.

4. There are some cheap bmx options. Search for "bmx 155" and the like.

5. Good cranks shorter than 165 mm will probably remain hard to get for the foreseeable future, so I regrettably recommend you don't get used to them. It is easy and possible to switch from 170's to 165's, but a move in the other direction is painful. I know this first hand.

clubman 

There are also these rather expensive but high quality units. Comes with XRAM style Hollow BB that you must install. Look good for modern.
Cobb Cranksets | 145 mm, 155 mm, 160mm, 165mm

jimmuller 

What he said.

BikeSmith Design and Fabrication

Mark made the stoker's crank for our tandem.

repechage

While looking for inner 38-40t inner rings for a TA 3 pin crank on that pervasive site, there was a listing for short TA crank arms, 155 or 160 mm .... You might look.
I bought a take off set of 155 mm Bulletproof cranks, a while back when my son was just graduating from a 24" wheeled bike to a 700c. They worked well till he shot up in height.

Heatherbikes

Thanks. I have looked at the crank shortening over the years, but would have to find a very long and suitable crank to send them and this would take a l o n g time. Those origin 8 cranks look nice and cheap and Cobb do have the goods, but I'm not ready for black yet... and still over budget at the moment. I have been imaginary shopping those sugino cranks for awhile! But, I would be very happy to get a hold of some more affordable sugino xd2 160mm cranks.

xxecycle has amazing prices(I know, be careful about the shipping method)which has created my quandary. Do I get the strong light 155 enfant cranks, or the 165 cranks if I am hoping for 160mm?
I have looked at the spa cycles site but have to go over it again. There are a few 160mm cranks which appeared to be sugino xd2 with strong light or TA cranks.
I have 2 frames to build up and 2 bicycles with 170mm cranks I'd like to replace, so I could try different cranks and sizes. The issue is that I need to deal with my main ride bicycle now because it is barely ridable beyond the nearest town. I might just put the specialties TA crank on, but then the other bike will be crankless and I had aspired to keep it out of foul weather.
I live in the realm of classic and vintage, I'm used to scrounging around, buying used. I apologize, but in my mind, the most amazing 160mm cranks are just hiding somewhere, which years on has not proven to be true. I recently bought a crankset on eBay that was listed as 160mm, and it was 170mm. There are how many cranksets in my bike bin? I am going to have to sell some things!
How do other people find switching to shorter cranks?

CliffordK

For "vintage", keep your nose to the ground on E-Bay.

Quite a few 165 cranks show up, but a few other sizes too.

The Origin8 cranks seem to come in two styles.
More Classic Styling
ORIGIN8 CRANK ARMS & SETS Triple Alloy Crankarms 155mm 120 SQR JIS SIL 130/74x5B

Chunkier Look (160's).
Origin8 Crankarm Set 160 110 Bcd Forged Silver

155:
dotek 155 crankset

160:
Sugino XD 2 Crank Crank 110 mm LK - silver - 160

165:
Vintage Sugino 165mm Cranks 110BCD BMX MTB Road Touring Japan Old School Retro

SR SAKAE SILSTAR CRANKSET 165 MM DOUBLE 52-40T

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vuelta-Pista.../ 170mm Silver

Sugino 165mm triple crankset

shimano 165 105 crankset 53/42

SR Sakae/Ringyo Rennrad Kurbel 165mm 49/42 Zähne Guter Zustand

Somebody will probably disagree, but you may be able to run a triple crankest with a double chainring.

Heatherbikes

Thanks. i have settled on ordering 165mm strong light cranks from xxcycle. With the bicycle in question going any shorter would require tinkering with handlebars and stems...but for my other bicycles I have some options. If it works in comparison to 170mm or 160mm I will at least have wider options. Campagnolo did make bambino cranks in the 70's or 80's? which appear occasionally on eBay and I would buy if they were not so overpriced. There is a suntour 160mm crankset on eBay but it has been on my watchlist for a long time. Nobody else is willing to pay the price. I do wish Campagnolo, Shimano etc would make some shorter cranks. I wish I could find something that looks stunning and fits. Functionality and comfort will have to prevail. I will eventually forget about it.

It should be said that for years I have mostly ridden 170mm or more if 175 was standard on mountain bikes. I didn't question if anything was amiss, but it always felt I was over reaching, I've got some trouble in my hips and knees, there have been efficiency problems and as other short riders describe a lot of empty spaces or gaps in pedalling...whatever that is, I experience it. The stairs analogy does not work. Riding 155mm or 160mm gives me more power, but those pedals have been on heavy commuter bikes, not road bikes, so I have to find out what works.

jimmuller 

Good point about having to tinker with stuff. A short crank requires raising saddle to achieve the same leg extension. The first "short", only 165, crank I ever used was on my Bianchi. On my test ride I felt like I was waaay up in the air. It turns out the BB was also about 1cm higher than my most commonly ridden bike. The saddle was 15mm higher than I was used to and I really noticed it.

repechage

Those Campagnolo kids cranks were 155 as I recall.

CliffordK

A unique crankset is the SR Grand Silver.

https://www.bikeforums.net/12213933-post2.html

I believe they only came in 165 length. I've seen them on E-Bay in the past, but nothing now.