We recently found a decent sized stash of new old stock TA tandem captain’s cranks. On a tandem, the front cranks have pedal threads opposite those of a normal crank set, great if you want to set up a tandem with a left timing chain, not so great if you don’t have the stoker cranks to match. Without the matching rear arms, they’re pretty much useless.
Except, we had them rethreaded for use as normal cranks. A small machine shop did the work, and they came out good as new:
These are functionally the same as normal new old stock 165mm Cyclotouristes, and they come with the original foil stickers. They will be available only in 165mm length, that’s all there is.
We’ve got a couple of chainring sizes on order, but we’re soliciting opinions on what rings to stock with the cranks. Have you always wanted a new Cyclotouriste crank but couldn’t afford it? What size rings would you buy? A classic compact double at 46-30? A single 42 or 46 tooth ring? We’re looking for input, so please leave a comment if you have any interest. These are genuine TA Cyclotouriste cranks, with the same restrictions on triple front derailleur use as described here.
We expect to have these available with chainrings, chainring fixing hardware and dustcaps within a couple of weeks.
9 Comments
I have been on a hunt for a 46T single for around five years. I have a used 46T with extra holes to use as a double….not what I want, but it is all I have been able to get (It was used).
Please consider stocking 42T and 46T singles. They are NOT available anywhere else and they are extremely useful. You would have many customers having a lot more flexibility with their bikes. It reinvigorates a lot of good bikes, and opens a lot of doors for new builds. Please stock TA singles.
We looked, but were unable to find any single rings without holes. TA doesn’t sell them anymore, none of our distributors have them still. Sorry.
Yup,
I have literally scannin’ the net for five year. One 46T did sell on eBay awhile back and I didn’t pull the trigger. It was very pricey and located in France. If you are actually in a position to speak with TA, perhaps you could inquire a bit more into if they might consider a run sometime down the line. Give’em a nudge.
Oh yeah,
If you get to nudging TA (big “if” I know) but ask for the 3/32 singles, or whatever their metric equivalent is. Back in the day TA made single in both 3/32 style and track style.
With all the fixie hoopla I can imagine they might be inspired there, but the 3/32 is the hot ticket in TA singles.
Excellent find! 46-30 is on the right track, but I’d go for a smaller inner ring, maybe 26 or 28. A 42 or 44 single ring would go well with an Alfine or iMotion-9, but a 46 is getting a little large if one needs lower gears rather than higher gears. (If you’re using an internal gear hub, I’m guessing that lower is more important than higher.)
Very disappointed that 165 is the only size, though.
dwainedibbly-
I really wish they were longer too, when they first came in I dug through and looked in vain for 170 or longer, but no luck, they’re all 165.
We still have one set of the more recent laser-etched cranks, but they’re 185mm. That’s a little excessive.
How in the world did you do that without seeing the original, wrong-direction thread? I’m all but positive these were never made with 1/2″ threads. Even rethreading the old French 14mm size, I would expect to see the original… No helicoil?
I’m stumped.
Arthur- from two angles in the arm, you can see what remains of the original thread as expected, but not very clearly. I couldn’t get a very good photograph of it. These were indeed 9/16″ threaded.
We experimented with using a thread insert, but it was much more difficult with the tools we have here at the shop to get the insert in the correct plane so as not to have a crooked pedal.
Our machinist had the correct tools to perform the rethreading, but I’m not sure exactly how it was done.
I love these cranks. What would you suggest for a bottom bracket that would fit well with the tapers and give a good chainline on a fixed gear?
thanks,
-w