Is this a good deal for the money?

Basically, this looks like a good deal to me...

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=STROCHAT290

Does any one know whether they would they fit on any JIS BB, even an old loose bearing BB?

Would you say it was the best option for that amount of money, or should I go for Sugino messengers for a little more?

Maybe crap question but there's too many variable with cranks, confuzzlin

Any help much appreciated

it'll fit any JIS BB, but it needs a 107mm one to give a 42mm chainline, by the sounds of it.

basically it's the st1000 crank with a new ring on there. not going to set the world on fire, but it'll do the job fine

only £5 more:
http://tokyofixedgear.com/proddetails.asp?idprod=248&multi=False

and no postage..

The Stronglight has more sizes and ring options tho so it depends what you have already and if it's for road or track.

having used both the messenger, and the stronglight, I'd say the stronglight was better made

What BCD is the Stronglight?

only £5 more:
http://tokyofixedgear.com/proddetails.asp?idprod=248&multi=False

Yeah, I was looking at the the Sugino messengers from tokyo FG, but I was wondering whether people thought the stronlight ones were better for around the same money? The messengers seem to be tried and trusted but the stronglights look to be reduced from 110squid, better value?

looks like the stronlight would probably be the better choice then.

Sugino's JIS too right?

What BCD is the Stronglight?

130

if the messenger is 144 then that might swing it, I can't remember.

didn't edscoble say he got some black sugino messenger cranks and chainring from condor for £50?

Sugino's JIS too right?

yes but the messengers need a 103mm BB, which shimano don't do. kinda limits your choices a little

I would ideally want a 39t chainring (long story), I have like £90max to spend on cranks, cheapest option for this I could find was Sugino XD and Surly chainring on Hubjub (£92), but then I would have to buy a new BB, so that's that out the window.

So I thought to just get cranks with another size chainring for now and the swap it for a 39t at a later date, so I guess availabilty of different sizes of chainring would be a factor that I need to take into consideration, and I would need 170+ cranks because of my long legs.

This is why I said there a too many variables with cranks!

there are these of course, 39tooth, but I've heard bad things.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=320326852908

130

if the messenger is 144 then that might swing it, I can't remember.

130 also.

the fsa is just a rebranded RPM crank i believe... for me the messenger has it on looks...

the fsa is just a rebranded RPM crank i believe... for me the messenger has it on looks...

It sure is, and I've heard they're a bit crap, looks and quality.

I'd go for the stronglights tbh. Although they're both 130bcd, the messengers still have tabs on the back for a second chainring, and as mentioned, they need a 103 BB which only sugino make (i think, infrom me if i'm wrong!).

Having seen both up close i'd say the stringlights seem to be nicer made...not that the suginos are bad in any way. But, the only (fairly trivial) thing i didn't like about the stronglights is that there is no recess for the chainring bolts to sit in on the back, like you'd expect with a 'track' chainset.

As for wanting to run a 39t chainring, you'll have trouble finding one in 1/8", but if this isn't an issue then you'll be fine...guess you could just run a complete 3/32" transmission?

[ame="http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=103mm+bottom+bracket+-sugino&btnG=Search&meta="]103mm bottom bracket -sugino - Google Search[/ame] Maybe not just Sugino?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=103mm+bottom+bracket+-sugino&btnG=Search&meta= Maybe not just Sugino?

Ooh cool. I knew that the Dura-Ace ones were available once, but it seems they haven't been made for a long time?! And those TA ones def look the biz, but are unfortunately way more expensive than a shimano UN54 or the like...which is why cranksets they use a 107 JIS BB are convenient.

I doubt that those buying messenger chainsets would want to spent almost as much on the BB as on the cranks?! May as well just get nicer cranks and a cheaper BB? Depends on priorities?

As for wanting to run a 39t chainring, you'll have trouble finding one in 1/8", but if this isn't an issue then you'll be fine...guess you could just run a complete 3/32" transmission?

I was thinking of going 3/32", but what may be better is going up to a 41tooth chainring which I could probably get in 1/8", and also I don't think 144 bcd chainrings (which I think the stronglight is) go down past 41t. I think?

Does anyone know a good place to buy a 41t 144bcd chainring by any chance for around £20? I haven't got the time or patience to wait around for one to come up on ebay.

plus, I just found out with a gear analysis thingamybob on t'internet that if I use a 41 tooth chainring the number of skid patches is the number teeth on whatever rear cog you're running... ooooooooh

Yeah, the more skid spots the better!!

And yes, smallest 144bcd chainring i've ever seen is 42t.

So anyway, what's the long story surrounding wanting 39t anyway? Do you already have your cog sorted?

nah I don't already have the cog.

The long story is, I've got a double fixed flip-flop hub, and I wanted as much difference as possible in gear ratios on either side, and I've only seen rear cogs in 13-19 tooth, with 39:13 thats like 3:1 ratio which should be ideal for riding round london, and then I could have something like 39:18 or 19 for mucking around/tricks(ish) + polo etc. This would still be possible with a 41t chainring, but it starts getting harder to get a low ratio as the chainring gets bigger.

Why the need for a 39T? Can you not just use a larger chainring and larger cog to compensate for it?

EDIT: Fuck it.

Will your dropouts/track-ends and chain length accommodate such a change?

Ah, i see.
But cogs are readily available up to 22t; both EAI and Surly cogs go up to 22t.
3:1 ratios are good gear wise, but will give you much fewer skid spots. But yeah, with a 41t chainring you've still got plenty of scope for running a spinny gear.