Crankskins.com

The Big Cheese

Promted by a thread in the rides section, very reasonably priced.

Am thinking of getting some in blue to match my frame, and protect the crank arms...

Good idea?

Thoughts?

GHill

They're big in the cycling press over here. Will probably look good, but I'm not sure I buy the protection aspect.

nonnac85

Why not just put that clear BikeTape stuff on the crank arms?

cee

so instead of having worn patches and scuffs on the cranks.....you will have worn patches and scuff on this cover instead? So it will still look sh1t?

and 8mm thick! jeezo :shock:

Use heli tape.

In my experience, crank arms need replaced in the following circumstance, none of which this product will stop.
1 when an integrated chainset goes wrong (this won't fix that)
2 when the threads holding them onto the axel wear too much
3 snappage

but i guess if you really want to colour match your cranks to your frame or bar end plugs or whatever then that is fine...but it really is only a cosmetic upgrade....

MacAndCheese

8mm thick? think that might mean 0.8mm. I think the coloured ones look a bit tacky to be honest, but the clear ones would be good as I think you can get them cut the exact shape of the crank.

stumpyjon

but the clear ones would be good as I think you can get them cut the exact shape of the crank.

Agree, easier than copter tape and same effect.

cee

MacAndCheese wrote:

8mm thick? think that might mean 0.8mm. I think the coloured ones look a bit tacky to be honest, but the clear ones would be good as I think you can get them cut the exact shape of the crank.

yeah 8mm does seem too much...the site quotes 8 mil as the thickness...but....americans and metric?

It looks from the site that the Noir and XTR 970 cranksets have specific ones (actually looking again, there might be a couple of others too but...), but the rest are universal. so it still isn't going to be exact..

The Big Cheese

I will probably go for the blue XTR M970 cover, just to match my frame TBH, I don't think it will look tacky, and will defo stop heel rub, for that price you get 2 sets in the pack, I can see them lasting a while, and at least the cranksarms will remain protected, and its a lot cheaper than copter tape and already cut to fit, so another bonus

cee

The Big Cheese wrote:

I will probably go for the blue XTR M970 cover, just to match my frame TBH, I don't think it will look tacky, and will defo stop heel rub, for that price you get 2 sets in the pack, I can see them lasting a while, and at least the cranksarms will remain protected, and its a lot cheaper than copter tape and already cut to fit, so another bonus

let us know how you get on with them then....with pics or it didn't happen naturally

loltoride

I've seen the XTR ones in the states and they look cool.

mr_mills

the site quotes 8 mil as the thickness...but....americans and metric?

A 'mil' is one thousandth of an inch (i.e. 0.0254mm).

So '8 mil' is about 0.2mm.

Clever, me.

cee

mr_mills wrote:

the site quotes 8 mil as the thickness...but....americans and metric?

A 'mil' is one thousandth of an inch (i.e. 0.0254mm).

So '8 mil' is about 0.2mm.

Clever, me.

that makes sense. ta

dave_hill

mr_mills wrote:

the site quotes 8 mil as the thickness...but....americans and metric?

A 'mil' is one thousandth of an inch (i.e. 0.0254mm).

So '8 mil' is about 0.2mm.

Clever, me.

A "mil" is also a military unit of angle, generally taken as 1/6400 of the circumference of a circle according to NATO standards, or 1 degree = 17.78 mils.

So it could be 0,45° thick but that wouldn't make any sense whatsoever...

nicklouse

so they are just sticky backed plastic.

:roll:

and you buy the lightest cranks you can and then make them heavier? (yes i know not by much).

stumpyjon

No, I buy the lightest cranks I can afford because they have more bling factor and therefore I would like to maintain the bling for as long as possible

biff55

stumpyjon wrote:

No, I buy the lightest cranks I can afford because they have more bling factor and therefore I would like to maintain the bling for as long as possible

you're only one step away from riding the bike completely covered in bubble-wrap.

dave_hill

Problem? Solution? Looking for??

joshtp

anybody heard of...... COPTER TAPE!?!?!?!? it tougher (probably) lighter (probably) and it isnt too expensive...... also its clear, so you can still see you bling cranks you paid so much for....

The Big Cheese

LOL - contoversial...

The 'blue' (which you can get pantone-matched to your frame (or any colour) is semi transparent, so you can see the bling but in blue. Its just like Noir cranksets that come in different colours. The added bonus is that it protects as well.


It's a tart thing.

PS: my whole frame (and lowers on forks), give or take, is heli-taped. I don't want to be fooking up that paintjob.

nicklouse

Dont crash it.

´Copter tape is not that strong.

joshtp

nicklouse wrote:

Dont crash it.

´Copter tape is not that strong.

no? i was under the impression it was nigh on indestructable! i thought it is used to prevent damage in a bird strike! i thought it was totaly nuscratchable, TRAVESTY< TRAVESTY! copter tape isnt made of diamonds!

stunter ant

I used clear sticker vinyl for an mx bike and it worked fine and cost about £2

But i do like the idea, just dont think id bother spending the pennies

The Big Cheese

My belief system is in tatters

glen4

£10 to protect my shiny new XTR chainset??? Just bought some, thanks for the heads up.....

stumpyjon

Biggest issue with cranks is surface wear from your boots, helitape will help prevent that as will these dohickies plus they are supposed to be the correct shape to fit the crank saving you hassle of having to neatly cut out the heli tape. Win win.

And no my bikes are not buble wrapped, by the time I realised the stumpjumper was not bomb proof (end of the first ride) it was a bit pointless using helitape to protect the damage already sustained. When I built / bought my other bikes I was too impatient to get out and ride them by which time I was in the same situation as with the Stumpy

dave_hill

joshtp/mbukman wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

Dont crash it.

´Copter tape is not that strong.

no? i was under the impression it was nigh on indestructable! i thought it is used to prevent damage in a bird strike! i thought it was totaly nuscratchable!

It is pretty tough but its only designed for running repairs to the leading edge of rotor blades until they can be repaired/replaced properly.