Alternatives to pista/track cranksets

I just wanted to ask about alternatives to the usual SS cranksets (Miche, Sugino, Campag, etc).

RaceFace Evolve DH Single Chainset - £104 from CRC. Up to 44t chainring. Thoughts? Would I be able to use a KMC Kool chain on this?

All i can picture here is a beautiful vintage track frame, with those monstrous downhill cranks on.... I'm not sure if that even needs justifying?

If you like the look of something more modern, why not check the Truvativ Omnium Track crank?

Race Face. Hehehe, 'face'.

It's well pricey and looks poo.

Sugino messenger is 65 notes.

I don't geddit.

Too heavy for a start! (yes I do acknowledge I have bikearexia)

And what would the chainline be like? Would need to move ring to inside to get anywhere near I would imagine.
I prefer a more modern chainset as I am using a modern frame and parts but I just go for external BB which works for me

I'm with Kerley. Its massive overkill to put a DH crankset on a road bike.
Just fit a singlespeed/track chainring to a standard road crank, and adjust chainline if you want something different.

thoughts are:

you could do it but you shouldn't

massively overbuilt/priced for road, too heavy, would look gash.

and yes you could put a kmc kool chain on it.

Depends what frame you are putting it on I would say.

For example- if you are converting an MTB frame with widely flared chainstays you will not be able to run a "standard" sized ring and get a decent chainline.

Therefore a four bolt MTB ring makes a lot more sense.

You can get track sprockets in 3/32- it's what the pursuit riders used to use instead of 1/8th inch as it was said to flow more smoothly- according to Barrie Whitcomb when last I spoke to him anyway.

It would be overkill using something like Shimano Saint cranks- but sometimes overkill is fun.

Don't let others preconceptions of what your bike should look like hold you back.

Just put some Profiles (or equivalent) on it and do overkill properly :-)

Agree with Dammit that it is your bike so it should look like how you want it to, but on a technical note you do need to ensure the chainline would work out.

For example- if you are converting an MTB frame with widely flared chainstays you will not be able to run a "standard" sized ring and get a decent chainline.

You'd likely struggle with crank arm/chainstay clearance, with a MTN frame/ track crank set-up anyway.

Don't let others preconceptions of what your bike should look like hold you back.

Bollocks. Do something insane to anger the bike goods, like mix Campag and Shimano, and your toes will fall off in your sleep. Fact!

Bollocks. Do something insane to anger the bike goods, like mix Campag and Shimano, and your toes will fall off in your sleep. Fact!

segregation not integration!

sorry if i missed something.

...Do something insane to anger the bike goods, like mix Campag and Shimano, and your toes will fall off in your sleep. Fact!

Oh no, I nearly done this :(

thanks for the warning

You'd likely struggle with crank arm/chainstay clearance, with a MTN frame/ track crank set-up anyway.

Bollocks. Do something insane to anger the bike goods, like mix Campag and Shimano, and your toes will fall off in your sleep. Fact!

I have done this, on a 1950s hetchins curly as well - does this mean I'm going to hell?

Bollocks. Do something insane to anger the bike goods, like mix Campag and Shimano, and your toes will fall off in your sleep. Fact!

Right, I'm going to buy some Romanian built bike components on the way home and put them on one of the road bikes.

I shall photograph my toes before bed tonight and post a before and after tomorrow morning.

mmmm sacrilegeous...

I have done this, on a 1950s hetchins curly as well - does this mean I'm going to hell?

No, just your toes.

Right, I'm going to buy some Romanian built bike components on the way home and put them on one of the road bikes.

I shall photograph my toes before bed tonight and post a before and after tomorrow morning.

On the plus side the bike imp is related to the tooth fairy. Thus you can expect a shiny coin per toe :)

On the plus side the bike imp is related to the tooth fairy. Thus you can expect a shiny coin per toe :)

I think the Tooth Fairy works for the GPO- I've lost approx four teeth this year and had narry as much as a fifty pence piece left under my pillow.

My cash is probably in a Fairy sorting office awaiting re-delivery sometime in 2027.

e

mmmm sacrilegeous...

Those Noirs are lovely. Just far too pricey. I'mordering a set of these for the 29er when I get the funds.

Cleverly incorperates an oversized spindle which fits into a standard BB shell. Spooky claimed weight of 666g though.

I think the Tooth Fairy works for the GPO- I've lost approx four teeth this year and had narry as much as a fifty pence piece left under my pillow.

My cash is probably in a Fairy sorting office awaiting re-delivery sometime in 2027.

I had four taken out last year. The irony of fifty pence per tooth would have been lost on me considering the massive bill I recieved :S

This year its fingers.
Broke three (on individual occasions) so far, and I've still got a few rugby matches, and a ski/snowboarding/snowcycling? season to go. On the plus side the Norwegian health service is free after you've spent certain amount that year.

As for OP. Track cranks have nice low Q-factors, and singlespeed cranks are lighter (massive generalisation) if they are purely designed for road (or maybe XC) use. If never of these things are of high priority to you then use what you think looks good and gives you a decent chainline (and does'nt interfere with the chainstays).

Thanks for the feedback.

They'll be going on a On-One Pompino. The pedals are most likely going to be Burgtec Penthouse Flats, so I thought I might want to look into getting a SS chainset which would look good with them. Overkill? Of course. But I want to try it anyway. Could be even more insane and fit an e.thirteen Supercharger bash ring... :)

Some photos with them on other bikes:

Thanks for the feedback.

They'll be going on a On-One Pompino. The pedals are most likely going to be Burgtec Penthouse Flats, so I thought I might want to look into getting a SS chainset which would look good with them. Overkill? Of course. But I want to try it anyway. Could be even more insane and fit an e.thirteen Supercharger bash ring... :)

Some photos with them on other bikes:

Those are standard SS MTN cranks (XC in fact) not DownHill cranks, so would actually be a good choice technically specking (not that DH cranks are a bad chioce as such). Especially if they are going on a 135mm rear spaced (MTN spaced) pompino, as they would give the correct chainline.
Have you looked here?
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread14421.html

The stylo 1.1 from truvativ are pretty good for the money.
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/117288.html

But like I said I'm getting a pair of these beauties.
http://bythehive.com/?page_id=1012

what about these?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=41536

or
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=41434

or http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=41433

not what you were describing but look ace

fit fit fit - and cheap cheap cheap!

If you're going square taper/isis, might as well go middleburn.