mower@sunybcs.UUCP (James E. Mower) (05/16/85)
Here are two interesting replies to my query concerning triple cranks. I hope they are of use to the masses! ______________________________________________________________ It seems to me that there are no real differences in cranks in general, except in material and styling, and triple cranks are no exception. My bicycle has a Specialized triple crank, which I have found to be reasonably useful. It has a 50/46/30 combination but can take chainwheels down to 24 teeth. I have not frequently used the lowest gear, but suspect that it'll be much more useful on a loaded bike when one is touring. Shifting initially was a problem, but with a change of chain to a Sedisport, shifting is quite easy. Really not too much else to say, I like the triple because you can have half step gearing, and not lose low gears when you need them. I like the Specialized over the others because of its styling - thinner chainrings compared to say, Sugino. (that's thinner in the difference between the outside and inside circumference). Avocet also makes an attractive one, its advantage being that the outer chainrings are interchangable with Campy and others. The cost of the Specialized is a bit steep at ~$114 (I think, it may be more) The Avocet is also comparably expensive. An Ofmega triple, which looks like the Avocet sold for $89.95 in last year's Performance Bicycle catalog. _____________________________________________________________________ As I recall the only triple chainwheels with less that 30 teeth are either an old TA triple or a new Avocet. The old TA you could probably find for under $100 ( though I don't have one, sorry ) but finding an Avocet for that price will be alittle harder. -- Jim Mower Dept. of Geography at SUNY/Buffalo mower%buffalo%csnet-relay@WISCUM or mower%buffalo.csnet@csnet-relay