Crank It Up
A question for those that know these things:
On my Orange 5 I have an XT Hollowtech crank/chainset. Having just looked on CRC it seems that you have to buy a BB with the cranks - is this right? Is it impossible to replace just the cranks?
Any help appreciated.
Have you got Hollowtech or Hollowtech II?
Older XT (Hollowtech/octalink) use an 8 spline BB with the bearings inside the BB shell. Newer XT (Hollowtech II) use bearing cups with the bearings outside the bb shell and the axle permanently attached to the driveside crank arm.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:06 pmOK, it’s Hollowtech II (according to the Orange website). So do I have to replace the whole lot?
Am I being dim? I don’t really get it.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:14 pmIf it’s Hollowtech II then you get the whole lot when you buy it - cranks (with axle attached) and bb cups.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:20 pmWhy do you want to replace the cranks, are yours broken?
Nah - as mentioned in my previous post I seem to be striking the ground a lot on my pedal stroke and this is because the BB height on my frame is only 335mm. I am thinking that a cheap way (i.e. not buying a new frame/bike) way of solving that might be to get shorter (165mm) cranks.
I really like the rest of the bike so am reluctant to change it.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:23 pmOh yeah, I missed that bit. I’m not sure that 165mm cranks will help that much to be honest. Better off putting up with pedal strikes and/or modifying your pedalling style a bit so that you’re hitting less stuff.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:34 pmHmm, I notice it on the trails round here but nowhere near as much as when I ride the rockier trails of somewhere like Afan.
Surely taking 10mm off the length of the crank arm will reduce the strike rate? My real concern was how shorter cranks might adversely effect my pedalling.
To be fair, by the end of the day I was already adjusting the way I was riding to prevent pedal strikes but it’s pretty annoying as it stops me from really riding smoothly (that and my my general lack of fitness and skill).
I’ll see how I get on over the next few months before forking out a ton on some new cranks though.
Cheers for your help Mr B!
October 10th, 2007 at 4:40 pmI’d harden the shock up a bit, and learn to pedal between the lumps
shorter cranks can screw up your pedalling as making smaller circles. just ride more and you’ll intinctively learn to not crack your pedals into things, you cojuld try thinner pedals too, like Crank Bros (flat pedals) or some cageless SPD pedals, that will increase the distance between rocks and you, however as I say, ride more and you just stop clanking automatically.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:46 pm…what they said. Yeah. (???!!!???)
October 11th, 2007 at 6:15 ammatt - Cheers chap. It’s quite refreshing to hear someone say DON’T buy anything new. I do need to ride more - it’s just about finding the time.
NaiT - I thought you’d agree.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:25 amErr yes, what Matt said. I had the same problem with my Prophet at first (though I think it’s BB s a bit higher than yours) and learned to ride around it.
The lower BB is a good thing anyway - I find it makes the bike feel more stable and confidence inspiring on the descents.
October 11th, 2007 at 10:27 amUntil your pedal grabs a big handful of rock and you end up face-planting!
October 11th, 2007 at 10:32 amI think erm.. staightline or something like straightline spelt wrong, do really low profile flat pedals, here we go
HERE!
October 11th, 2007 at 1:09 pmI sense a note of pessimism creeping into your comment there Mr Clay.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:36 pmWho, me? Never!
October 11th, 2007 at 1:40 pm