On eBay and of course the matching pedals are being sold in a separate auction listing.

Yeah, nice cranks - original Deore group. Pity the seller is such a goddamn flake.

Kinda figured he'd get more as a set. Each is worthless without the other.

Yup -- that was another evolutionary dead-end -- oversize pedal spindle threads.

I have the triple version of those Deore cranks on my Kogswell. Unfortunately, the left-side crank arm seems buggered, so I have a substitute at the moment. And, yes, I have the original pedals.

Neal

Heh, as soon as I saw the green towel I knew who the seller was.

What is it with Shimano and their gimmicky "innovations"? Just change for the sake of change I guess? I'm sure it makes sense from a marketing standpoint but has anything like this that they have introduced ever stuck around? (says the guy who still rides with Biopace)

I have an old Ross here with Shimano's front freewheel system on it if you want to talk about gimmicky.

Isn't that Dyna Drive? Loose screws has the adapters for $33.35.

They also have the pedals for $18 a set.

well they ARE interesting as an historic document: Shimano tries updating (and copying) the TA Cyclotouriste, but at the same time introducing their short-lived single inboard-bearing pedal all in a single crankset aimed at the touring crowd...which was never that big and soon shrunk to microscopic. Lots of marketing "adventures" happened back in the late seventies and early eighties, it was a simpler time...and many of them happened just to Shimano. Just imagine what could have developed if they had kept producing a huge range of chainrings for this crank (as TA has done) but lost the oversize pedal feature.

Uh, how about STI?

imo, the dyna drive pedal system was a superior design and a genuine improvement over conventional quill pedals.

Can't fault Shimano for innovation. The only way they can find out if something sells is to bring it to market, and see how it does.

Aaron

You know, it figures that I would forget the most obvious.

And I'm certainly not putting them down for their failed attempts. I'm genuinely curious as I'm pretty much just a giant newb when it comes to most of this stuff.

The Dyna Drive stuff is interesting because of the investmentutput ratio is SO high.

They had money to burn in 1981.

I think the Dura Ace version is the second prettiest crank ever: flowing lines, engraved logo.

the Dyna-Drive pedal definitely WAS innovative, and might have really taken hold if Shimano had kept after the design and improved reliability of the single big bearing (which I understand was the Achilles Heel of these pedals in real-world use). It certainly was a good-looking design. I recall reading somebody's opinion that the main design precept of lowering the pedal's effective axle-center to be level with the sole was either flawed or of dubious value, but I have no opinion myself on this. Hard to find replacement toeclips and bearings, that much I DO know.

my experience with dyna drive pedals goes back nearly 25 years. if you haven't ridden with it, it's difficult to explain the feeling of solidity and stability during the pedal stroke. a quick switch back to a conventional quill pedal for comparison and the foot feels tippy and just a little awkward. i have no idea of the actual biomechanical effect , either positive or negative but there is most certainly an assuredness and 'rightness' to how dyna drive feels under foot. then there's a very useful increase in cornering angles and perhaps due to the lowering of the saddle by a full 3/8" due to the offset pedal platform, an handling effect not unlike that of a frame with a lower bottom bracket. the only quibbles are flipping the pedal up with the pedalcage toe tang as the angle that the pedal hangs is more acute than ,say, a campy record quill pedal & clip. in regards to an design related achilles heel, i have had absolutely no complaints and have never needed anything more than an occassional service lube. my only real-world concern has been that the nylon labyrinth seals are finally drying out and hardening after all these years of use. NOS replacement cages in all sizes are still available if you patiently look around.

What one needs to keep in mind is that Shimano is responsible for every major cycling innovation since the early 80's. Prior to that the last major innovation was the Suntour drop parralellogram and before that the Campy parralellogram.

Shimano: Indexed DT levers, cassette hubs, contoured freewheel cogs (HG IG), ramped and pinned chainrings, dual pivot brake callipers, STI. Some of the technology may have been around before hand but it was Shimano who took the initiative and revolutionized cycling components. I cant think of a single major innovation that Shimano didnt lead way with. Everything Campy has done since the early 80's has been a direct result of Shimano.

As far as the Dynadrive....excellent concept but the achilles heel was the oversized pedal hole. I remember the days of repacking those....it wasn't too bad.