The 5 Vis appreciation thread
11-11-20, 11:26 AM
#76
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Big fan of the Viscount outer ring. How can you argue with industrial disco sci-fi wanna-be-C-3PO-Metropolisque bling for your bike? Sure, it's 50.4 bcd, but it's not trying to be the same thing as the classy TA rings.
What's more, they're a wonderful anecdote to Campagnolo Superfluous Record.
I honestly don't remember which crankarms I used, nor can I ID them from this pic. Sure looks nice though.
Still kicking myself 11 years ago for selling the bike with the Viscount rings on it. Couldn't care less about the Trek, but that chainring has never left my mind.
-Kurt
What's more, they're a wonderful anecdote to Campagnolo Superfluous Record.
I honestly don't remember which crankarms I used, nor can I ID them from this pic. Sure looks nice though.
Still kicking myself 11 years ago for selling the bike with the Viscount rings on it. Couldn't care less about the Trek, but that chainring has never left my mind.
-Kurt
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11-11-20, 11:28 AM
#77
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Traditionally, TA seemed to have catered to time trialling and other speed record attempts. Mike Barry always had a wild assortment of TA stuff, his son is currently selling much of it on ebay. (bicyclespecialties) They made some ridiculously big rings, probably more range than any other marque.
I've always found that TA rings are pretty tough as well. Back in my high mileage days, I seemed to go through Shimano rings in a couple of seasons, no so with TA.
I've always found that TA rings are pretty tough as well. Back in my high mileage days, I seemed to go through Shimano rings in a couple of seasons, no so with TA.
-Kurt
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11-11-20, 12:10 PM
#78
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that reminds me of another big ring that also happens to use the 50.4mm bolt circle....
and is it just chance that the author of the Cyclist magazine article has the first initials of "T.A."??
I've seen this bike on display, since it used to be part of the Schwinn collection. Not sure if I could find the photos of it, though.
Steve in Peoria
and is it just chance that the author of the Cyclist magazine article has the first initials of "T.A."??
I've seen this bike on display, since it used to be part of the Schwinn collection. Not sure if I could find the photos of it, though.
Steve in Peoria
11-11-20, 12:48 PM
#79
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Wow, I am impressed with the weird stuff that @bulgie showed us above... but there's more. From Hilary Stone's website:
"FB ROUND TAPER CHAINSET 170mm 50T 3/32in chainring Early 1950s complete with bottom bracket, has been quite well rechromed, small amount of pitting to BB axle, complete with axle keys. Exceptionally rare."
Can it be that no one mentioned that in England they used a very similar five pin design-- not exactly 50.4 mm but close enough that one can make the rings interchangeable with some fettling. This photo is also from Hilary Stone's site:
"FB ROUND TAPER CHAINSET 170mm 50T 3/32in chainring Early 1950s complete with bottom bracket, has been quite well rechromed, small amount of pitting to BB axle, complete with axle keys. Exceptionally rare."
Can it be that no one mentioned that in England they used a very similar five pin design-- not exactly 50.4 mm but close enough that one can make the rings interchangeable with some fettling. This photo is also from Hilary Stone's site:
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11-11-20, 01:18 PM
#80
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As far as VO... does their customer base include a lot of folks using STI and Ergo? I've never used these, but I'm guessing that they benefit from the easier shifting??
In some ways, I think it is good for people to appreciate what shifting is like when using downtube levers and plain chainrings.. "it builds character".
On the other hand... it's sort of like expecting people to grow their own vegetables and raise and butcher their own livestock. It's probably good to know and understand, but it's never going to happen.
Steve in Peoria
In some ways, I think it is good for people to appreciate what shifting is like when using downtube levers and plain chainrings.. "it builds character".
On the other hand... it's sort of like expecting people to grow their own vegetables and raise and butcher their own livestock. It's probably good to know and understand, but it's never going to happen.
Steve in Peoria
VO certainly seems to expect that their customers who buy their framesets are using modern shifting and braking gear. I believe all of their current frame offerings are of the disc brake and threadless headset flavor, but they seem to be doing a great job of balancing the modern tech with a more vintage flavor. Lots of polished alloy parts in classic shapes, but with tech like pinned and ramped chainrings, thru axle disc brake hubs, etc. I think it's assumed that if you are using STI or Ergo shift levers that the drivetrain should be able to handle shifting out of the saddle under load.
I'm happy that I've had the experience of friction shifting a 10 speed with plain chainrings - I've really had no complaints about how well the chain moves across the drivetrain but I'm also not a competitive rider trying to keep up with someone else. Sometimes, though, you want dead simple operation, which is why my rando bike now has indexed shifting. During a long day in the saddle it's a luxury to not have to think about the mechanics of shifting all that much
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11-11-20, 04:42 PM
#81
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Goodness, I really love this thread and all its bike obscura!! 
The only trouble I have with 5V cranks is how expensive they are. Thus, playing to my strengths, I have been toying with an idea lately, to take a cheap five-arm in my favorite 165 length and try machining a 50.4 spider out of the existing arms and web. This would be child's play on a CNC mill. Just a few lines of code for the arc-shaped "step" that the chainring sits on, and a few more for the bolt circle. I'd have to file a bit behind the crank arm, where the mill cannot reach. Think I should try? There's a grungy orphaned drive-side Silstar on Ebay I could pick up for $32ish, but it seems a little much to be throwing at an idea that may or may not work depending on the crank's geometry, which I cannot just go and measure.
The only trouble I have with 5V cranks is how expensive they are. Thus, playing to my strengths, I have been toying with an idea lately, to take a cheap five-arm in my favorite 165 length and try machining a 50.4 spider out of the existing arms and web. This would be child's play on a CNC mill. Just a few lines of code for the arc-shaped "step" that the chainring sits on, and a few more for the bolt circle. I'd have to file a bit behind the crank arm, where the mill cannot reach. Think I should try? There's a grungy orphaned drive-side Silstar on Ebay I could pick up for $32ish, but it seems a little much to be throwing at an idea that may or may not work depending on the crank's geometry, which I cannot just go and measure.
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11-11-20, 04:53 PM
#82
Shifting is fun!
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Goodness, I really love this thread and all its bike obscura!!
The only trouble I have with 5V cranks is how expensive they are. Thus, playing to my strengths, I have been toying with an idea lately, to take a cheap five-arm in my favorite 165 length and try machining a 50.4 spider out of the existing arms and web. This would be child's play on a CNC mill. Just a few lines of code for the arc-shaped "step" that the chainring sits on, and a few more for the bolt circle. I'd have to file a bit behind the crank arm, where the mill cannot reach. Think I should try? There's a grungy orphaned drive-side Silstar on Ebay I could pick up for $32ish, but it seems a little much to be throwing at an idea that may or may not work depending on the crank's geometry, which I cannot just go and measure.
The only trouble I have with 5V cranks is how expensive they are. Thus, playing to my strengths, I have been toying with an idea lately, to take a cheap five-arm in my favorite 165 length and try machining a 50.4 spider out of the existing arms and web. This would be child's play on a CNC mill. Just a few lines of code for the arc-shaped "step" that the chainring sits on, and a few more for the bolt circle. I'd have to file a bit behind the crank arm, where the mill cannot reach. Think I should try? There's a grungy orphaned drive-side Silstar on Ebay I could pick up for $32ish, but it seems a little much to be throwing at an idea that may or may not work depending on the crank's geometry, which I cannot just go and measure.
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11-11-20, 05:07 PM
#83
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I think that Silstar I was eyeing is a 118 BCD. It is listed as 120 but I recall some old SR cranks coming in 118 and they are close.
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11-11-20, 05:28 PM
#84
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@scarlson, I have a couple of orphan drive-side cranks hanging in my basement, but should it be a particular bcd so that you have material to work with?
11-11-20, 06:10 PM
#85
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@scarlson, I have a couple of orphan drive-side cranks hanging in my basement, but should it be a particular bcd so that you have material to work with?
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11-11-20, 11:29 PM
#86
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A relevant piece of artwork:
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11-12-20, 06:57 AM
#87
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Hey, thanks for thinking of me! I would have to see 'em to be sure. I mean, the bigger the "web" between the arms is, the better chance this has of working. But there are other factors at play as well. I'll have to measure the hole in the middle of a 5-Vis chainring to see what the minimum "step" diameter is. Big nono would be any arms with holes in them, or cranks that aren't 5-arm. But what I really like for myself is 165 length.
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11-12-20, 07:47 AM
#88
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This thread has taught me a lot of stuff I thought I already knew. The amount of knowledge in here never ceases to humble me. Thanks to all contributors.
Last edited by J.Higgins; 11-12-20 at 07:58 AM.
11-12-20, 08:01 AM
#89
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11-12-20, 05:53 PM
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Hey, thanks for thinking of me! I would have to see 'em to be sure. I mean, the bigger the "web" between the arms is, the better chance this has of working. But there are other factors at play as well. I'll have to measure the hole in the middle of a 5-Vis chainring to see what the minimum "step" diameter is. Big nono would be any arms with holes in them, or cranks that aren't 5-arm. But what I really like for myself is 165 length.
11-12-20, 05:56 PM
#91
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Find this 50.4 steel cottered crank in my stash. Nicklin?
11-12-20, 07:47 PM
#92
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11-13-20, 08:25 AM
#93
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Here are some pics from "The Complete Handbook Of Cycling", which is a catalog of Big Wheel, Ltd, Denver Colorado. Year unknown, but presuming early 1970's.
