Coker rim/cranks observation

[MuniAddict]

WOw! I just got a loaner coker from a friend who has two, so that's really cool and now I'll have a 36-er to use 'till I get my own! But here's what I've noticed very quickly; This loaner is an original coker w/steel rim, which was just trued and spins beautifully.

John (Vivalargo) also has a basic coker but with an (older) airfoil and the same coker tire as my loaner. He uses the prowheel 127mm alum. cranks and when I rode it, It was smooth, nimble and got up to speed quickly. It is a joy to ride.

On *This* loaner, with the steel rim and coker tire, and 127mm *steel* cranks (couldn't find any alum. 127's locally) with no "q" factor like the Prowheels, I immediately noticed that it was MUCH harder to get this coker up to speed, and overall it just felt sluggish.

So my question is, do you think it *soley* because of the steel rim and or the steel cranks vs John's setup? The conditions were basically the same, on flat ground with little or no wind. I also noticed that when I *did* hit a hilly section, that it was more difficult to climb, compared to John's coker. thoughts?

[kington99]

Yeah the rim weight seems to make a hell of a difference. I found my airfoil/125mm alloy cranks wheel to be easier to accelerate than my steel rim/150mm steel crank wheel, despite it being a higher gear.

[MuniAddict]

Originally Posted by kington99

Yeah the rim weight seems to make a hell of a difference. I found my airfoil/125mm alloy cranks wheel to be easier to accelerate than my steel rim/150mm steel crank wheel, despite it being a higher gear.

Now that's amazing, and I totally can believe that! Yeah I felt that when I rode john's Coker it was as easy or maybe even easier to ride than with the standard 152's on a steel rim. I was mainly wondering if there were maybe some other factors involved other than weight, like the more aerodynamic shape of the rim. Thanks.

[Brian O.]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! From what I've heard it seems to be the lighter rolling weight of the airfoil which makes the difference. I've got a radial with steel rim, alloy 125mm cranks and coker tire at 50psi and the setup isn't exactly zippy but I enjoy it. At first I had difficulty wielding the beast but since I've gained much more control and strength.

[Jerrick]

I have steel rim and cranks, and I get up to speed just fine.

[Uniman_3]

if u have a light car it gets up to speed faster than a heavier car right...
so if u have a light coker it will get up to speed faster than a heavier coker..

[MuniAddict]

Originally Posted by Jerrick

I have steel rim and cranks, and I get up to speed just fine.

That's good, but from what I'm sensing from those who have ridden *both* steel then airfoils, is that everything is just that much easier and faster. Again, that's not to say that your setup isn't fine for you. Have you made the comparison, and did you find any substantial difference? Btw, what size/material cranks are you using?

[mscalisi]

I'm guessing that's more rim the rim then the cranks. Were the spokes the same?

[MuniAddict]

Originally Posted by mscalisi

I'm guessing that's more rim the rim then the cranks. Were the spokes the same?

Yeah John has the 12 gauge non-stainless spokes, as does my loaner. only real difference is the rim and crank material; length is identical.

[Jerrick]

I said both rim and crank were steel. =p

Umm, length is 127, or 125, I cant remember which ones I bought. Pretty sure its the 127s though.

I dont know, I just have never cared too much about weight, or even think about it when riding. I hop on and start pedaling, and in a few revs im up to my cruising speed and I jsut relax and float.

[MuniAddict]

Originally Posted by Jerrick

I said both rim and crank were steel. =p

Umm, length is 127, or 125, I cant remember which ones I bought. Pretty sure its the 127s though.

I dont know, I just have never cared too much about weight, or even think about it when riding. I hop on and start pedaling, and in a few revs im up to my cruising speed and I jsut relax and float.

Oh yeah sorry I saw that you did mention alum! Well that's cool. I rode a friends steel rimmed coker for a 20 miler using 152mm (steel) cranks and it was smooth as butta!

[Jerrick]

Yeah, you just get more leverage which helps move the steel rim. I had 150ish cranks on at first, and rode those a lot, but bent them doing muni, and then bought shorter cranks just for fun.

At first, hills felt a little harder to get up, but now they feel the sme as how the longer cranks feel.

[mscalisi]

There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but lighter components will get you there faster. To those of us who do a significant amount of riding on 36ers, the higher performance components are worth it. For a more casual rider, steel is indeed fine.

Just like square taper cranks might fine for a casual MUni rider, but don't really serve the needs of those who want to take it to the next level.

Originally Posted by Jerrick

I have steel rim and cranks, and I get up to speed just fine.

[corbin]

i santa cruz, many of us despise aluminum cranks; they break way too easily (right jason?). I've seen it happen a few times on rides. Steel is the way to go, although, it will bend...

corbin

[MuniAddict]

Originally Posted by corbin

i santa cruz, many of us despise aluminum cranks; they break way too easily (right jason?). I've seen it happen a few times on rides. Steel is the way to go, although, it will bend...

corbin

They break? Is that under "normal" riding conditions, or offroad riding where there's probably a lot more stress on them? That still shouldn't cause them to break should it? The KH Moment cranks are aluminum and I haven't heard of any of those breaking, and I do 5' drops with them! Or could it be the inferior quality of *some* alum cranks that cause them to break?