Unicycle Crank Review

Unicycles and Equipment
1

Here is my review on some cranks that are being sold on the web.

In a recent copy of the Japan Unicycle Association magazine, there were
some interesting cranks they had for sale. Since there was a website
(http://www.mys-co.com/), I checked it out. When I first went to the
website it was all in Japanese and from what I could tell didn’t have too
much (a work in progress). I checked back recently and found that they
were open for business. And, the cranks that I thought looked really nice
were on sale on this website (the website was in English as well as
Japanese). These cranks are Aluminum and come in sizes of 89 mm, 102 mm,
114, mm, 125 mm, and 170 mm. The special that they had going on was for a
set of three cranks. I chose the 102, 114, and 125 mm. With shipping, the
cost was about $40 per set. Kind of pricey but I figured if they were
lightweight and strong, then it would be well worth the money.

I got them within four days. Pretty amazing since they were coming from
Japan. As soon as I opened up the package I was immediately disappointed.
The cranks were all cut down from 170 mm (I knew this because the 170 mm
was stamped on them). Cut down means that the extra length is removed and
a new hole for the pedal is tapped. Usually, this means that the crank is
not as strong. But, if it is good quality Aluminum then it shouldn’t
matter. I figured while it didn’t look as nice, only I would really be
the one to notice. I put on 114 mm on my artistic uni and did some
tricks. But, within 2 minutes, they had bent. They had bent so bad that
there was no hope in salvaging them. The skill that I bent them on was
called side hopping. Side hopping is somewhat hard on cranks but all my
other cranks don’t seem to mind (I do this skill a lot). I’m guessing
that even if I avoided side hoping, I would have bent the cranks just
jumping around or even going off curbs. I weigh 140 pounds so I’m
guessing some of the heavier riders would have bent them just by looking
cross-eyed at them. The cranks bent in two places: where the pedal is
attached and at the base of the crank. Having it bend at the base of the
crank makes me think all the cranks (of any size) are no good. If I were
to use the 170 mm cranks, it would have put more force on the cranks and
they would bend even easier.

My suggestion is to avoid those cranks. I still have two other sets of
these cranks (102 and 125). I will use the shorter cranks on a kids uni
(hopefully they won’t bend too quick) or on my distance 28” where
hopefully the stresses aren’t too much for the cranks.

I’ll send an email to MYS and talk to them about the cranks. There is a
possibility that I got a bad batch. If I hear anything else about the
cranks, I’ll be sure to post a message.

-Andy

PS. I’ll bring the bent set of cranks to Nationals for your viewing
enjoyment.

Andy Cotter - Andy.Cotter@OutTech.com Unicycle Video “One Wheel - No
Limit” - http://www.tcuc.org/nolimit/ Twin Cities Unicycle Club -
http://www.tcuc.org European Unicycle Tour -
http://www.outtech.com/Unicycle/EUT/ International Unicycling Federation

  • Director
2

Greetings

In message “Unicycle Crank Review”, Andy.Cotter@OutTech.com wrote…
>Here is my review on some cranks that are being sold on the web.
>
>In a recent copy of the Japan Unicycle Association magazine, there were
>some interesting cranks they had for sale. Since there was a website
>(http://www.mys-co.com/), I checked it out. When I first went

Oops! That wasn’t supposed to be announced yet because I didn’t have a
chance to review it. Yes, it does have “clanks”, if you have noticed :slight_smile:

>to the website it was all in Japanese and from what I could tell
>didne$BCUe(B have too much (a work in progress). I checked back recently

There is an English version now – have another look.

More comments below so read on…

>and found that they were open for business. And, the cranks that I
>thought looked really nice were on sale on this website (the website was
>in English as well as Japanese). These cranks are Aluminum and come in
>sizes of 89 mm, 102 mm, 114, mm, 125 mm, and 170 mm. The special that
>they had going on was for a set of three cranks. I chose the 102, 114,
>and 125 mm. With shipping, the cost was about $40 per set. Kind of
>pricey but I figured if they were lightweight and strong, then it would
>be well worth the money.
>
>I got them within four days. Pretty amazing since they were coming from
>Japan. As soon as I opened up the package I was immediately
>disappointed. The cranks were all cut down from 170 mm (I knew this
>because the 170 mm was stamped on them). Cut down means that the extra
>length is removed and a new hole for the pedal is tapped. Usually, this
>means that the crank is not as strong. But, if it is good quality
>Aluminum then it shouldne$BCUe(B matter. I figured while it didne$BCUe(B
>look as nice, only I would really be the one to notice. I put on 114 mm
>on my artistic uni and did some tricks. But, within 2 minutes, they had
>bent. They had bent so bad that there was no hope in salvaging them. The
>skill that I bent them on was called side hopping. Side hopping is
>somewhat hard on cranks but all my other cranks done$BCUe(B seem to mind
>(I do this skill a lot). Ie$BCNe(B guessing that even if I avoided side
>hoping, I would have bent the cranks just jumping around or even going
>off curbs. I weigh 140 pounds so Ie$BCNe(B guessing some of the heavier
>riders would have bent them just by looking cross-eyed at them. The
>cranks bent in two places: where the pedal is attached and at the base
>of the crank. Having it bend at the base of the crank makes me think all
>the cranks (of any size) are no good. If I were to use the 170 mm
>cranks, it would have put more force on the cranks and they would bend
>even easier.

This is very sad to hear, and is not charcateristic of Japanese cranks in
general I will make sure that your detailed analysis gets to those in
charge and see if that situation can be corrected.

>My suggestion is to avoid those cranks. I still have two other sets of
>these cranks (102 and 125). I will use the shorter cranks on a kids uni
>(hopefully they wone$BCUe(B bend too quick) or on my distance 28e$B".e(B
>where hopefully the stresses arene$BCUe(B too much for the cranks.

I have no personal business interest in this, but would say that you
shouldn’t quite give up on it yet. Let me investigate this and get
back to you.

>Ie$BCMe(Bl send an email to MYS and talk to them about the cranks. There
>is a possibility that I got a bad batch. If I hear anything else about
>the cranks, Ie$BCMe(Bl be sure to post a message.
>
>-Andy
>
>PS. Ie$BCMe(Bl bring the bent set of cranks to Nationals for your
> viewing enjoyment.

If you send me a picture of them I will show them to the MYS people
involved. BTW, MYS and the JUA is under the same roof and managed by the
same people.

>

>Andy Cotter - Andy.Cotter@OutTech.com Unicycle Video "One Wheel - No
>Limit" - http://www.tcuc.org/nolimit/ Twin Cities Unicycle Club -
>http://www.tcuc.org European Unicycle Tour -
>http://www.outtech.com/Unicycle/EUT/ International Unicycling Federation
>- Director
>

Regards, Jack Halpern President, The CJK Dictionary Institute, Inc.
http://www.cjk.org Phone: +81-48-473-3508

3

Jack Halpern wrote:

>
> >to the website it was all in Japanese and from what I could tell
> >didne$BCUe(B have too much (a work in progress). I checked back
> >recently
>
> There is an English version now – have another look.

I still get:

>Not Found

>The requested URL /main.css was not found on this server.

from the english link on the web site.

John Hooten

4

> I still get:
>
> >Not Found
>
> >The requested URL /main.css was not found on this server.
>
> from the english link on the web site.

This is also what I got, using two versions of Netscape. Using IE 5.5, I
got error messages popping up on every page. It looks like the site is not
yet completed, or that the site’s creator is not testing in multiple
browsers to see if it works.

If the site is to sell to a non-Japanese market, the English needs
some work.

But the custom Freestyle frames look fascinating!

Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone jfoss@unicycling.com
www.unicycling.com

There can be a fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.” – scary
reality-check for unicyclists

5

John Hooten wrote…
>
>
>Jack Halpern wrote:
>
>>
>> >to the website it was all in Japanese and from what I could tell
>> >didn’t have too much (a work in progress). I checked back recently
>>
>> There is an English version now – have another look.
>
>I still get:
>
>>Not Found
>
>>The requested URL /main.css was not found on this server.
>
>from the english link on the web site.

Sorry, but I lost the thread here. Is this about the JUA website?

Regards, Jack Halpern President, The CJK Dictionary Institute, Inc.
http://www.cjk.org Phone: +81-48-473-3508

6

It’s about the MYS website. The main.css file is not there so when some users go to your site all they get is an error message saying that the CSS file is not there.

You can see the whole thread at http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13188

7

Greetings

In message “Re: Unicycle Crank Review”, Gilby wrote…
>
>
>It’s about the MYS website. The main.css file is not there so when some
>users go to your site all they get is an error message saying that the
>CSS file is not there.

I have asked Yuuichiro Kato, the Webmaster, to deal with this.

>You can see the whole thread at
>http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13188

This is very nice! Not at all like the email interface I always use. I s
there a way to search any thread and read it in that format?

>
>Jack Halpern wrote:
> > Sorry, but I lost the thread here. Is this about the JUA website?
>
>
>–
>Posted via the Unicyclist Community - http://unicyclist.com/forums
>

Stay on top, Jack Halpern Executive Director for International Development
International Unicycling Federation, Inc. Website: http://www.kanji.org

8

You can search for anything in all the threads or posts since 1993. Just go to http://www.unicyclist.com and there is a search box on the top of each page.