50.4 crank.....
 

Optimistically, it should be here by June.....
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138019
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C1XrRVl3W8...ru+Crank+3.jpg

More info here:

http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2010...cru-crank.html

Very nice!!! How soon will the chain rings and related hardware be available???

Cheers,
Chris

Wow! That is sweet! I could see one of those on my Panasonic when I refurbish it.

oh god yes, this is exactly what i've been looking for!

+1 I already have two sets of the original TA cranks, but could use some rings. Any idea on pricing on the rings only?

This is cool, but at $160 or so, methinks that it is a tad overpriced. Clearly there is a retro look, but please (and I am talking about the blog link content) do not compare it to the old Stronglights, until you make that spider more sightly... At this time one can get brand new Shimano and Sugino compact cranks (will less retro arms, I admit) for half of that price and acquire a vintage used thing for about a sixth of the price.

And, please consider this as feedback, vs. a naysaying (because this is what is meant to be). You are getting free marketing here with this post, anyways ;)

A winner, but I'll never buy a pair. Why? No 172.5. Chris is starting to fall into the "Grant Peterson" category of "people should just ride what I want them to be riding" school of thought, which is a shame.

And, yes, I can feel the difference between a 170, a 172.5, and a 175.

Pete

How much would an NOS set of TA's set you back? (Though I realize these are based on the Stronglight model).

-Kurt

That's a nice set, I look forward to seeing how well the stiffer rings with pins and ramps shift.

Realistically, it's kind of crazy that VO is having even three distinct lengths made, with 165, 170, and 175. Quite a few cranks nowadays use one forging and just drill the pedal hole in a different spot for different lengths. To keep this crank classic looking, that would have been too much of an aesthetic compromise.

I'd buy a 172.5mm if they existed, but that doesn't mean I won't pick up a 175mm instead.

I want to know where I can find a vintage used one for one sixth of $160. I've been looking for a decent used Stringlight 49D or equivalent for at least a year and haven't seen one in any condition for anything near $26.67.

I watched a couple StrongLights and a TA or two go over the last couple of weeks for under 50 bux...woulda snapped em up if i had the money or the need



That Grand Cru is a Beautiful Crankset

I'm glad to see that VO is going to start making rings.

Grand Bois, I seem to be in possession of excess 49Ds right now. If you're interested in a trade, PM me.

Chris W, redxj: Hardware and chainrings will be available after the cranks are sold. I'm not entirely sure of that timeline. If all goes well with the production and delivery of the cranksets we should see the chainrings and parts out by the end of the year.

Ejuste: We sold out of the 175mm length Sugino PX crank arms at $175 in short time- those were the last 50.4 PX's in the world. TA is no longer interested in making 50.4 cranksets, and the arms alone were selling for $225 (from VO- for sure we were the cheapest out there). Chainrings and connecting hardware were additional. Modern Shimano (integrated, compact 110) cranksets are $225+ (for 105 via pricepoint). Sugino Alpina compact 110s are $150-160 (VO and Bens), and that's based on an exchange rate from 6-8 months ago. The new Soma Defiant fixie cranks are $160, with a useless for our market 144 bolt pattern (but it is 'retro').
I think the price for a complete crankset is well justified. We are not trying to be the low price leader for the entire crankset category, and in the larger category, it's a bargain. What does a dura Ace or Super Record crank go for (granted, it's not compact, or retro looking or even aluminum, to borrow your caveats)?
You can buy a low end compact crank for $50 off ebay. Occasionally a 50.4 crank arm set in passable condition (and maybe the size you need) will turn up for under $75, depending on your haggling skills or how well you know your newfound 'friend'. But those are not legit markets to bring up. It's not something we can realistically use to analyze pricing data, competition or opportunity, then pay for tooling and development costs, then produce, market and sell.

Mudboy: I totally understand what you are saying. I'm lobbying Chris to have 172.5 as an option for our cranks. Trouble is, we added 172.5 Sugino cranks since September, and sales have been anemic so far. Still, I think that size has more potential to sell than 165 or 170 lengths.

I72.5 crank arms seem to be the norm and all of my bikes have either these or 175's. I am not sure that I would not prefer 170 or even shorter crank arms but the expense of trying them just to try is prohibitive. Some of us may be riding too long of crank arms but it is what we have available.

Of course it is - this is C&V! Who would pay anything for a set of cranks when you can dig some out of the trash? ;)

Keep in mind: That fifty buck crank is not only a matter of having the money to buy, but it's also a matter of having the luck to be in the right place at the right time - and having nobody else there to compete with you for the purchase. It strikes me that $160.00 isn't all that unreasonable to have an item that is in stock when you need it, at a quality that you already know what to expect.

We're always guilty of people comparing the price of a one-in-a-million purchase with something that's commercially available. I wish the group was equally willing to brag about the times that they grossly overpaid on something that they needed.

Have a look at the eBay completed auctions. As many of those cranksets go for 50-60 bux as do $150+....Its far from one in a million.

It looks like you missed this one. It sold for $11.50 and it looks like a 49D to me.

That looks like a 49D to you? It looks nothing like one to me. It's a 122 BCD Stronglight 93.

That's a model 93 with French threaded pedal holes but was still a great deal for $11.50.

[QUOTE=sykerocker;10420609]Keep in mind: That fifty buck crank is not only a matter of having the money to buy, but it's also a matter of having the luck to be in the right place at the right time - and having nobody else there to compete with you for the purchase. It strikes me that $160.00 isn't all that unreasonable to have an item that is in stock when you need it, at a quality that you already know what to expect.

WQUOTE]e're always guilty of people comparing the price of a one-in-a-million purchase with something that's commercially available. I wish the group was equally willing to brag about the times that they grossly overpaid on something that they needed.[/

£28 (GB Pounds) for a used double Campagnolo clamp-on cable tunnel - because I NEEDED IT NOW! It was actually worth it at the time, I urgently needed to get the bike finished. The plus was that I had left the search saved on e-bay and picked up two more in the following two weeks, one 'New in Bag' for £0.99 and another nearly as good for £1.25. I thought it worth having a spare or two, but I've already used them both on other builds!

The VO crankset looks great and I could use a 170mm. I think it's probably worth the money but I don't know that I'd have the cash spare because I'd probably have spent it on another bike or set of wheels. I've had no luck finding a similar Stonglight or TA set at this price in UK auctions and this one's new.

Very nice cranks. Too bad I just bought a beat TA Pro 5 vis for about the same $ amount!!

Let's face it, at either end of the C&V social spectrum there's an outspoken class which constantly are at odds:

1) The big city flippers and hardcore bargain hunters who will get anything if it's a deal and nothing if it represents fair market value.

2) And the dyed in the wool connoisseurs who will pay real money for that authentic little part to complete a year long project.

Personally I'm bored stiff with the cheap-skate commentaries of the former, while the posts of the second group of folks usually have some value.

That's an interesting (albeit a bit sophomoric and beaucoup hypocritical -coming from someone like you who is 'flipping' campy parts on ebay) attempt for castification. Not to mention naive, because unlike the 'dyed in the wool connoisseurs' (interesting imagery, btw) who might think that a part manufactured in 2010 with an ugly aftermarket label is 'authentic' and are willing to pay the asking price no questions asked, the 'cheap-skates' who are looking for bargains (heck, nobody can dictate how wide anyone else should open his/her wallet) in period correct parts, are the ones who are more 'authentic' in this quest.

Wow...Just wow. Is it just me or is it getting hot in here? I don't like the tone one bit!




To the OP: I'll be buying those cranks when they come out. They're fantastic! And thanks VO for moving that drive side arm out a bit. That'll make life easier and I'll have more choices as far as front derailleurs are concerned. I appreciate the shift pins too.
Now all ya'all need to do is come up with a derailleur set that looks classic! Please make it serviceable like a Mavic but reminisant of a Campy NR. I don't need indexability or a drop parralelogram either. Geez...You've got frames and damn near a complete groupo! Bring it on!

Mea Culpa, but that comment, rubbed me the wrong way. I must be cranky (Pun intended)