Cranksets for dummies question
Discussion
Evening all,
I'm building up a bike with my son for his 10th birthday. So far, we've got the frame!
Most of the other bits aren't going to present a challenge, but I'm a little bemused over choosing a crankset.
The frame is an One One Inbred, so 68mm English BB. Ideally, I'll fit a Shimano Hollowtech BB to it, for the simple reasoni that this means I can upgrade mine and do a hand me down!
For the actual cranks though, I've got two challenges...
1. How long should I make the arms? The shortest typically seem to be 165mm, but should I try to find something shorter for a 10yr old?
2. I'd like to set it up with a single ring and a wide ratio rear cassette. Obviously there are loads of bloody expensive 1x cranksets, but the plan isn't to go for expensive new components here. Is there a cheaper way of doing this? Can I take a second hand double ring crankset and just take off one of the chainrings?
He's not going to be doing anything overly aggressive, so I don't really see him needing a narrow/wide setup or anything!
I'm building up a bike with my son for his 10th birthday. So far, we've got the frame!
Most of the other bits aren't going to present a challenge, but I'm a little bemused over choosing a crankset.
The frame is an One One Inbred, so 68mm English BB. Ideally, I'll fit a Shimano Hollowtech BB to it, for the simple reasoni that this means I can upgrade mine and do a hand me down!
For the actual cranks though, I've got two challenges...
1. How long should I make the arms? The shortest typically seem to be 165mm, but should I try to find something shorter for a 10yr old?
2. I'd like to set it up with a single ring and a wide ratio rear cassette. Obviously there are loads of bloody expensive 1x cranksets, but the plan isn't to go for expensive new components here. Is there a cheaper way of doing this? Can I take a second hand double ring crankset and just take off one of the chainrings?
He's not going to be doing anything overly aggressive, so I don't really see him needing a narrow/wide setup or anything!
You can get new 160mm triple cranks from Spa Cycles : http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s...
£20!
Spacers should sort out single speed use - they would advise on that & sort out a chainring I`m sure.
Good luck!
£20!
Spacers should sort out single speed use - they would advise on that & sort out a chainring I`m sure.
Good luck!
julianm said:
You can get new 160mm triple cranks from Spa Cycles : http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s...
£20!
Spacers should sort out single speed use - they would advise on that & sort out a chainring I`m sure.
Good luck!
Wrong BB for the frame, sadly.£20!
Spacers should sort out single speed use - they would advise on that & sort out a chainring I`m sure.
Good luck!
Kermit power said:
Evening all,
I'm building up a bike with my son for his 10th birthday. So far, we've got the frame!
Most of the other bits aren't going to present a challenge, but I'm a little bemused over choosing a crankset.
The frame is an One One Inbred, so 68mm English BB. Ideally, I'll fit a Shimano Hollowtech BB to it, for the simple reasoni that this means I can upgrade mine and do a hand me down!
For the actual cranks though, I've got two challenges...
1. How long should I make the arms? The shortest typically seem to be 165mm, but should I try to find something shorter for a 10yr old?
2. I'd like to set it up with a single ring and a wide ratio rear cassette. Obviously there are loads of bloody expensive 1x cranksets, but the plan isn't to go for expensive new components here. Is there a cheaper way of doing this? Can I take a second hand double ring crankset and just take off one of the chainrings?
He's not going to be doing anything overly aggressive, so I don't really see him needing a narrow/wide setup or anything!
He's 10 years old ? just let him go & choose the bike he wants. I'm building up a bike with my son for his 10th birthday. So far, we've got the frame!
Most of the other bits aren't going to present a challenge, but I'm a little bemused over choosing a crankset.
The frame is an One One Inbred, so 68mm English BB. Ideally, I'll fit a Shimano Hollowtech BB to it, for the simple reasoni that this means I can upgrade mine and do a hand me down!
For the actual cranks though, I've got two challenges...
1. How long should I make the arms? The shortest typically seem to be 165mm, but should I try to find something shorter for a 10yr old?
2. I'd like to set it up with a single ring and a wide ratio rear cassette. Obviously there are loads of bloody expensive 1x cranksets, but the plan isn't to go for expensive new components here. Is there a cheaper way of doing this? Can I take a second hand double ring crankset and just take off one of the chainrings?
He's not going to be doing anything overly aggressive, so I don't really see him needing a narrow/wide setup or anything!
Are you getting him a Garmin too ?
i know , i know
Black can man said:
He's 10 years old ? just let him go & choose the bike he wants.
Are you getting him a Garmin too ?
i know , i know
I'm guessing you've never had a ten year old boy? Are you getting him a Garmin too ?
i know , i know
He was offered the choice... A new Islabike same as his big sister, or the same budget to spend on parts to build a bike together.
It took him all of three seconds to decide, and that was before we figured out that we should have enough budget to get the frame powder-coated in whatever colour he wants! For him, building it together and learning how it all works will be worth as much as actually riding the finished bike.
As was already said on my other thread, finding the cranks is likely to be the only difficult part, hence starting a separate thread.
Much bigger choice of cranks using a square taper BB. Just had a look on Spa Cycles and they do kids cranks but road so the smaller ring is 34T, too high for a mtb.
When I built my lads' 24" I found a cheap 150mm double and cut the outer ring off leaving a 28T single ring in conjunction with a top chain guide. Simple, saves weight, no need for a front mech or shifter.
I might have a spare
When I built my lads' 24" I found a cheap 150mm double and cut the outer ring off leaving a 28T single ring in conjunction with a top chain guide. Simple, saves weight, no need for a front mech or shifter.
I might have a spare
Kermit power said:
Black can man said:
He's 10 years old ? just let him go & choose the bike he wants.
Are you getting him a Garmin too ?
i know , i know
I'm guessing you've never had a ten year old boy? Are you getting him a Garmin too ?
i know , i know
He was offered the choice... A new Islabike same as his big sister, or the same budget to spend on parts to build a bike together.
It took him all of three seconds to decide, and that was before we figured out that we should have enough budget to get the frame powder-coated in whatever colour he wants! For him, building it together and learning how it all works will be worth as much as actually riding the finished bike.
As was already said on my other thread, finding the cranks is likely to be the only difficult part, hence starting a separate thread.
Budget is a f
ker isn't it.Good luck finding the parts & time you need .
richardxjr said:
Much bigger choice of cranks using a square taper BB. Just had a look on Spa Cycles and they do kids cranks but road so the smaller ring is 34T, too high for a mtb.
When I built my lads' 24" I found a cheap 150mm double and cut the outer ring off leaving a 28T single ring in conjunction with a top chain guide. Simple, saves weight, no need for a front mech or shifter.
I might have a spare
Christ, I'm getting confused by bottom brackets!!! When I built my lads' 24" I found a cheap 150mm double and cut the outer ring off leaving a 28T single ring in conjunction with a top chain guide. Simple, saves weight, no need for a front mech or shifter.
I might have a spare
I didn't even think I could fit a square taper BB to this frame, but turns out that I can. Would you care to tell me more about your spare?
Aah, it's a 140 which will be too small. 150 or 155 would be ideal.
Also, my boys build was a 24" bike. Now he's (nearly) 11 I would build a small 26", like you, and I'd put proper stuff on it, so a 165mm Zee crank (comes with an HTII BB), £70 from CRC, and a 30T Ringmaster narrow wide £20 from Planet X, and a 11-36T 10-sp cassette & chain, Zee clutch mech & shifter.
Also, my boys build was a 24" bike. Now he's (nearly) 11 I would build a small 26", like you, and I'd put proper stuff on it, so a 165mm Zee crank (comes with an HTII BB), £70 from CRC, and a 30T Ringmaster narrow wide £20 from Planet X, and a 11-36T 10-sp cassette & chain, Zee clutch mech & shifter.
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