Graham, it's been too long since I checked you feed, much, much too long. During one of these hot Tucson, Arizona days I need to binge watch your videos on my 60 inch screen! I stumbled onto this video about the short cranks. Here's my experience. When I first started riding a trike I had a TT Rambler GT with the 26" rear wheel. Riding the Razorback Greenway in Arkansas was hell. There were hills I couldn't handle without stopping part way up to catch my breath...not fun. I needed some lower gearing badly and I read about the Lasco crankset with 42/32/22 rings. What I didn't realize at the time was the Lasco came with 152 mm arms whereas the stock crankset had 174 mm arms. I now had had a wonderful "granny" gear and could take those kick a$$ hills. What I also came to realize was how much better my knees felt. What a revelation! When I bought the Catrike 559 I again got the Lasco. When I finally traded for the Dumont I continued the tradition. No matter how far I ride my knees do well. I'm thankful for that accidental discovery and it sounds like it's working well for you too. As always, it's great to watch your videos. Thanks Graham.
Hi and thanks for watching. Yes its all about the knees, a little harder on the hills but no problems with knees, I will have them fited to my othere trike when I get around to it, good to hear from you
Hi Graham. As others have remarked you are an inspiration to trike riders all over the planet. I was just checking in to say hello and tell you that's it's been too long since I last watched any of your videos. I put in my two cents worth about my experience with shorter cranks. A reader on the TT Forum remarked that shorter cranks meant you didn't have to flex the knee as far and I think that is a good way to express it. It worked for me and I'm glad it's working for you as well. I don't use Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram because there's just too much weirdness on social media. I do occasionally use the Terra Trike Forum and Bentrideronline message board, but that's it. I'm pretty much a low key kind of retired guy. I wanted to say hello and keep those videos coming. Use Barry to keep you out of trouble yet on the road peddling! Cheers, mate...
Now you can shout, "Hi Ho Silver" and be off and away!😄😆😉 Hope you enjoy your new cranks and no more muscle/knee issues and start getting more mileage on the trike Touring! Cheers to you!
Thanks for the interesting vid, I learn a lot from you about servicing trikes. Also, it's nice to see you out on the ICE again - I know you love the Velo, but it seems to contain less action :-)
Graham, in theory it should be harder to start as you don't have as much leverage or torque with the shorter cracks. Your knee bend however will be less and therefore be less wear on the knee joint. I run 152 mm. Cranks on my HP Velotechnik and find that it makes climbing a tad more difficult. Good vlog, Happy trails, Keith.
What make are your cranks Graham ? I see that you also had to change the BB, is that because you couldn't get 155 cranks for a Truvativ Firex chainring or is the square internal BB better ?
It was down to price and the Cranks Barry got for me where solids so simpler to cut down and drill, I do not know the make Barry would no aske him if you like.
My wife and I are leisurely riders and tend to ride around 7 to 10 kmh. How beneficial is a fairing at slower speeds? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.
in the cold not that great as it keeps the cold in and freezes up, I have it on for long distends and when I have a trailer on the back, but overall for what you are cycling It’s not that beneficial, other than wet riding , hope that helps
I just ordered my new trike. I am a grandma who has not cycled for a few years. I cycled when I was young, but my husband cared for the bikes. I want to learn what I can about how to care for them. I am in the US. Aside from CZcams, is there a book or something out there that you recommend so that a newbie can learn how bikes work and how to care for them? Thanks. I sure know my way around sewing and embroidery machines, but not bikes.
Book not that I know off, Great youare geting a trike, Best just aske the delea about your trike, get him to set it up right for you most importent you get your legs right, Just give the trike a cleen and if it gets realy muky wash it but dry it and re oil and grees things, thanks for waching
I wunder Whay go from New stuff to Old stuff - holo to masive that is a downgrade it weight more, and not as god in powertransfer then the black one, because of the placement of the beings....inside vs. outside
Hi The wait deferments is minimal, there light wait alloy. Plus with hollow its more difficult to cut down and drill, it can be done but solids are simpler. Plus Turing a inner bottom end lasts longer. For instants I have had to change the external bottom end on my Velo once already after 3000 miles. All the items are new and well tried and tested to work well and have done for over 100 years. Now the so called new stuff! Mmmm Yep well let’s face it it’s not always better and will be designed for not long life but to sell more in the long run! And what I have benefited from changing from a long crank to a short one in the fact that my knees and tendents will last longer it’s a good trade off .
Graham, it's been too long since I checked you feed, much, much too long. During one of these hot Tucson, Arizona days I need to binge watch your videos on my 60 inch screen! I stumbled onto this video about the short cranks. Here's my experience.
When I first started riding a trike I had a TT Rambler GT with the 26" rear wheel. Riding the Razorback Greenway in Arkansas was hell. There were hills I couldn't handle without stopping part way up to catch my breath...not fun. I needed some lower gearing badly and I read about the Lasco crankset with 42/32/22 rings. What I didn't realize at the time was the Lasco came with 152 mm arms whereas the stock crankset had 174 mm arms.
I now had had a wonderful "granny" gear and could take those kick a$$ hills. What I also came to realize was how much better my knees felt. What a revelation! When I bought the Catrike 559 I again got the Lasco. When I finally traded for the Dumont I continued the tradition. No matter how far I ride my knees do well. I'm thankful for that accidental discovery and it sounds like it's working well for you too.
As always, it's great to watch your videos. Thanks Graham.
Hi and thanks for watching. Yes its all about the knees, a little harder on the hills but no problems with knees, I will have them fited to my othere trike when I get around to it, good to hear from you
I am on Face book have a chat there
Hi Graham. As others have remarked you are an inspiration to trike riders all over the planet.
I was just checking in to say hello and tell you that's it's been too long since I last watched any of your videos. I put in my two cents worth about my experience with shorter cranks. A reader on the TT Forum remarked that shorter cranks meant you didn't have to flex the knee as far and I think that is a good way to express it. It worked for me and I'm glad it's working for you as well.
I don't use Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram because there's just too much weirdness on social media. I do occasionally use the Terra Trike Forum and Bentrideronline message board, but that's it. I'm pretty much a low key kind of retired guy. I wanted to say hello and keep those videos coming. Use Barry to keep you out of trouble yet on the road peddling! Cheers, mate...
Looking forward to hearing how you like them as I have Achilles and knee issues. Great video.
Thanks for waching
Now you can shout, "Hi Ho Silver" and be off and away!😄😆😉 Hope you enjoy your new cranks and no more muscle/knee issues and start getting more mileage on the trike Touring! Cheers to you!
Thanks for the interesting vid, I learn a lot from you about servicing trikes. Also, it's nice to see you out on the ICE again - I know you love the Velo, but it seems to contain less action :-)
i just shortened the tiagra that was with the trike shortened quite a few
Graham, in theory it should be harder to start as you don't have as much leverage or torque with the shorter cracks. Your knee bend however will be less and therefore be less wear on the knee joint. I run 152 mm. Cranks on my HP Velotechnik and find that it makes climbing a tad more difficult. Good vlog, Happy trails, Keith.
Thanks having a long ride to day cheking it out
he did a good job Graham .
Yep he is a artist
What are your chain ring sizes for the 3 chain ring s? Great series of videos, I really enjoy them.
Hi52/39/20 Hope that helps and thanks for waching. O I have a 10 speed back casset
Was there something to be gained by switching to shorter cranks?
100% Yes less strain in the knees for a start. less strain on the in the leg muscles, and less joint movement.
What make are your cranks Graham ? I see that you also had to change the BB, is that because you couldn't get 155 cranks for a Truvativ Firex chainring or is the square internal BB better ?
It was down to price and the Cranks Barry got for me where solids so simpler to cut down and drill, I do not know the make Barry would no aske him if you like.
@booksgraham
amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PKGYT8Y/
Is there a difference in the length of chain for those trikes?
Yes Lots :-)
Only 30 quid for the booklet, what a bargan. Now, let me get back to watching.
My wife and I are leisurely riders and tend to ride around 7 to 10 kmh. How beneficial is a fairing at slower speeds? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.
in the cold not that great as it keeps the cold in and freezes
up, I have it on for long distends and when I have a trailer on the back, but overall
for what you are cycling It’s not that beneficial,
other than wet riding , hope that helps
I just ordered my new trike. I am a grandma who has not cycled for a few years. I cycled when I was young, but my husband cared for the bikes. I want to learn what I can about how to care for them. I am in the US. Aside from CZcams, is there a book or something out there that you recommend so that a newbie can learn how bikes work and how to care for them? Thanks. I sure know my way around sewing and embroidery machines, but not bikes.
Book not that I know off, Great youare geting a trike, Best just aske the delea about your trike, get him to set it up right for you most importent you get your legs right, Just give the trike a cleen and if it gets realy muky wash it but dry it and re oil and grees things, thanks for waching
Thank you.
I wunder Whay go from New stuff to Old stuff - holo to masive that is a downgrade it weight more, and not as god in powertransfer then the black one, because of the placement of the beings....inside vs. outside
Hi
The wait deferments is minimal, there light wait alloy.
Plus with hollow its more difficult to cut down and drill,
it can be done but solids are simpler.
Plus Turing a inner bottom end lasts longer.
For instants I have had to change the external bottom end on
my Velo once already after 3000 miles.
All the items are new and well tried and tested to work well
and have done for over 100 years.
Now the so called new stuff! Mmmm Yep well let’s face it it’s
not always better and will be designed
for not long life but to sell more in the long run!
And what I have benefited from changing from a long crank to a short one in the fact
that my knees and tendents will last longer it’s a good trade off .