Is it just me or am I the only one who finds Campy NR cranks so boring to look at.
04-17-12, 05:55 PM
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Is it just me or am I the only one who finds Campy NR cranks so boring to look at.
I'm kinda stuck with my latest project as I know that I need a Campy NR crank to complete the early 70's NR gruppo on it....but Dang!, the looks of the Campy NR crank/rings just does not do it for me! It just looks so dull and plain. Kinda weird that Campagnolo did not bother to embellish the NR crank after they designed the NR RD so nicely.
Only thing I can think of is to find some sort of aftermarket drillium rings from the early 70's for NR arms to jazz it up a bit. I've seen some interesting ones on Ebay made by "Rino", but wouldn't that be blasphemous to use on NR crnak arms?? Not really looking to go SR on the crank (yet) because of the added costs and the SR being non-period correct to my early 70's build, although they are so much more interesting looking than NR cranks (I don't remember, but is it just the rings that are different??).
Anyone have any suggestions? I'm sure some of you guys encountered this feeling with a build using NR gruppo. Any examples out there of guzzied up NR cranks on your bikes?
Chombi
Only thing I can think of is to find some sort of aftermarket drillium rings from the early 70's for NR arms to jazz it up a bit. I've seen some interesting ones on Ebay made by "Rino", but wouldn't that be blasphemous to use on NR crnak arms?? Not really looking to go SR on the crank (yet) because of the added costs and the SR being non-period correct to my early 70's build, although they are so much more interesting looking than NR cranks (I don't remember, but is it just the rings that are different??).
Anyone have any suggestions? I'm sure some of you guys encountered this feeling with a build using NR gruppo. Any examples out there of guzzied up NR cranks on your bikes?
Chombi
04-17-12, 06:05 PM
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You actually might be the only one on this forum...
BTW, the cut out chainrings that became the SR rings were developed grassroots by the riders before Campagnolo. Cut em out if you want.
BTW, the cut out chainrings that became the SR rings were developed grassroots by the riders before Campagnolo. Cut em out if you want.
04-17-12, 06:07 PM
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I'm with you. They're boring. It is one of the drawbacks of the bikes of that period. Sadly I don't think drillium, or SR rings, improves the look. They aren't pretty arms, but they look best with NR rings. Isn't there some other crank you can use? Stronglight made some pretty stuff, but at the time Stronglight would have been considered a downgrade.
04-17-12, 06:12 PM
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It's just you. Campagnolo embellished the Record crankset by introducing the SR crankset. And yes, it's just the rings that are different. Note that there really is no "NR" crank - it was "Record" all the way.I personally find it classic and aesthetically quite attractive.
I have a large NR chainring that was drilled out by Art Stump, but it has had a lot of material removed, and is really only suitable for a show bike.
I have a large NR chainring that was drilled out by Art Stump, but it has had a lot of material removed, and is really only suitable for a show bike.
04-17-12, 06:18 PM
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They were ubiquitous in their era.
That does not make them boring, just common.
They were a design that was copied probably by more than any other Campagnolo component, save maybe the high flange hubs.
Cutting away the inner chainring web, milling or drilling of the rings can make them stand out.
That does not make them boring, just common.
They were a design that was copied probably by more than any other Campagnolo component, save maybe the high flange hubs.
Cutting away the inner chainring web, milling or drilling of the rings can make them stand out.
04-17-12, 06:21 PM
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04-17-12, 06:22 PM
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I can take it leave it. I have two and I am not clamoring to get OK OK I have a SR and a NR but still I think that is enough.
I think perhaps one of the reasons they are so bland but functional is simply the time they were designed in. Campagnolo made a good light crank that did a tough job and took a beating. There was no CAD or CNC computer or machines back then so all the design was done with sliderule and trial and error. Taking the time and money to design something else that may look nice but possibly not function well was perhaps a risk they were unwilling to take.
I think a little paint can go a long way to spruce them up though and that is likely one of the main reasons so many builder had then pantographed.
Personally I think the original Chrous is the best looking crankset ever made followed closely by the C-Rec and the Victory. Victory would be second but it never came in 172.5
I think perhaps one of the reasons they are so bland but functional is simply the time they were designed in. Campagnolo made a good light crank that did a tough job and took a beating. There was no CAD or CNC computer or machines back then so all the design was done with sliderule and trial and error. Taking the time and money to design something else that may look nice but possibly not function well was perhaps a risk they were unwilling to take.
I think a little paint can go a long way to spruce them up though and that is likely one of the main reasons so many builder had then pantographed.
Personally I think the original Chrous is the best looking crankset ever made followed closely by the C-Rec and the Victory. Victory would be second but it never came in 172.5
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04-17-12, 06:25 PM
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I like them quite a bit as well.
I just picked up an extra NR crankset for DD to do his magic on in the fall.
Going on my son's Super.
Should be extra attractive by the time he's finished.
I just picked up an extra NR crankset for DD to do his magic on in the fall.
Going on my son's Super.
Should be extra attractive by the time he's finished.
04-17-12, 06:27 PM
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At the time (late 50's), steel cranks were still the norm, and alloy racing cranks were a relatively new concept that many racers were hesitant to embrace. The fact that they're not as slender as some of the steel designs is a result of the need for the alloy cranks to use more material to achieve the same strength.
The main reason so many builders had the Campagnolo cranks pantographed was branding, pure and simple.
The main reason so many builders had the Campagnolo cranks pantographed was branding, pure and simple.
04-17-12, 06:28 PM
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They're still sexy to me. But, they don't stir the soul quite as much as a sexy TA crank set.....
04-17-12, 06:28 PM
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yep moved it down already, thats a picture before i adjusted everything. most people on this forum ought to be detectives. you guys dont miss a thing.
04-17-12, 06:29 PM
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Each of mine throughout the years had them in a slightly different spot.
Same with the decal sets for Supers.
04-17-12, 06:31 PM
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I lost all love for NR/SR cranks when I had a crankarm break on me while sprinting out of a corner, sending me down hard onto the road.
04-17-12, 06:35 PM
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Send them to me - I can make them damn-sexy for you in a little over 2 hours:
For the record, when I think "classic racing crankset", Campy NR or SR personifies the term for me. Always has been, always will be...
DD
For the record, when I think "classic racing crankset", Campy NR or SR personifies the term for me. Always has been, always will be...
DD
04-17-12, 06:48 PM
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04-17-12, 06:55 PM
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Depends on the photo and the rings.
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04-17-12, 06:55 PM
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Because the designer designed the frame without the crank in place. Cinelli did the same thing by putting their logo too low on the seat tube and it got covered by the crank. Just a boneheaded move by the designer in charge. I personally have gotten reamed for a lot less.
04-17-12, 06:57 PM
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Nice Crank
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04-17-12, 07:03 PM
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What??? Only 2 wheels?
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04-17-12, 07:08 PM
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my name is Jim
I think they are gorgeous to begin with but you can also make them prettier:
I love Stronglight and TA too though.
I love Stronglight and TA too though.
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04-17-12, 07:27 PM
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[QUOTE=Drillium Dude;14111020]Send them to me - I can make them damn-sexy for you in a little over 2 hours:
For the record, when I think "classic racing crankset", Campy NR or SR personifies the term for me. Always has been, always will be...
Gorgeous.
I have a NR crankset on the way.
That's exactly what I'd like to see after you do your magic.
For the record, when I think "classic racing crankset", Campy NR or SR personifies the term for me. Always has been, always will be...
Gorgeous.
I have a NR crankset on the way.
That's exactly what I'd like to see after you do your magic.
