Crankskins - WELL Impressed!

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

Has anyone else used this company before?

I ordered some crankskins from them on Friday and they arrived today.

Maybe I'm being a mong, but I dont get it. I ordered 1 set of transparent orange skins. Cost me about £10 including delivery.

I'd imagine 1 set means 1 skin for the left crank, and 1 for the right, but apparently not. They've sent a total of 4 orange ones and 2 clear ones. They've also sent what looks to be 2 half skins, with the union flag printed on them.

I am really really impressed and thought I'd share that with you.

Oh, they also sent me a 20% off coupon for orders over $15 if anyone wants it?

Pics of what arrived:

el loco pollo · February 2010

I might be being thick but what are they?

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

http://www.crankskins.com/

They are like helicopter tape for your cranks. You can either use them to stop the cranks getting scuffed up, to cover up scuffs already there, or just to add a bit of tartyness.

Ginjafro · February 2010

Wow, I've never used them but checked out their web site. I was impressed - some great ideas and loads of colour schemes and styles. Not just for cranks either, they do protective covers for frames, wheels and seat posts(!?).

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

and forks

bails87 · February 2010

Sounds like you've accidentally got someone else's order thrown in with yours

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

That's what I was thinking. I've emailed tham to ask wtf? If they put me in contact with the correct person, I'll forward them on.

The Big Cheese · February 2010

Cat With No Tail wrote:

That's what I was thinking. I've emailed tham to ask wtf? If they put me in contact with the correct person, I'll forward them on.

Nope, it's normal for you to get 2 sets and a set of clear (says so somewhere on the webby)

I want some blue ones for the XTR.

Pics of them fitted?

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

Yep, just got an email back from them (about 10 mins after my email to them and at 06:15 in the US :shock: ) saying it's normal and the flag ones are a complementary tester 3/4 length "no-pedal removal needed" set.

Pics of them fitted later on.

The Big Cheese PM me before you order and I'll give you the 20% off code.

The Big Cheese · February 2010

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Yep, just got an email back from them (about 10 mins after my email to them and at 06:15 in the US :shock: ) saying it's normal and the flag ones are a complementary tester 3/4 length "no-pedal removal needed" set.

Pics of them fitted later on.

The Big Cheese PM me before you order and I'll give you the 20% off code.

Sweet, will do matey

Sarnian · February 2010

Think I must go take a look

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

Skins fitted to cranks:

And cranks fitted to bike:

Still needs a quick going over with a hairdryer I reckon, just to smooth out the edges a bit.

Beardface · February 2010

Really like the look of them CWNT.. they almost look 2 tone (maybe it's just the pics), but look orange for your orange bits, and brown-ish to compliment the frame..

Might get me a set at some point!

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

I know what you mean, orange over the brushed aluminium bits looks orange, and then a brownish where it covers the dark grey bits.

For a tenner, I'm pretty happy with them.

stevieboy · February 2010

Until I saw the pic's I thought "why bother" but having seen them, they look sweet!

nfrang · February 2010

stevieboy wrote:

Until I saw the pic's I thought "why bother" but having seen them, they look sweet!

Wouldn't go that far(no offence). Cant really see the need myself. The finish on those is bulletproof anyway and if shoes are rubbing on them your feet are surely in the wrong position?

joshtp · February 2010

nfrang wrote:

stevieboy wrote:

Until I saw the pic's I thought "why bother" but having seen them, they look sweet!

Wouldn't go that far(no offence). Cant really see the need myself. The finish on those is bulletproof anyway and if shoes are rubbing on them your feet are surely in the wrong position?

+1, they do look good, but the slx alredy have a polished bit for that purpose.. and if you put your foot in the right place, or if you ride spuds then they have no purpose....

-liam- · February 2010

I like how my slx cranks look anyway so just use heli tape? Cheaper than putting "skins" on em?

The Big Cheese · February 2010

I think they look good, and more importantly they will protect the cranks, no matter how much you try to you scuff the cranks up with all the 'correct ride/foot position waffle, and for £10 good value, the problem being that unlike XTR the slx has counters )not just a plain, metallic face)

Top kit methinks. He also has enough to last him eons!!

Anonymous · February 2010

i quite like them, and i have some slx cranks........................................

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

I'm not so worried about my feet rubbing them.
For me if I'm honest it was mostly a cosmetic thing anyway.
The initial plan was to try and get them anodized, but this is much easier and far cheaper. And if I want to sell them on or switch to a different frame, I can take the skins off and I'm not stuck with some orange cranks nobody wants and they will almost certainly be in better condition than an equivalent unprotected set. t'was a bit of a no-brainer for me really.

As I write this, I just had an email from EJ, the guy who owns the site saying he's put the pic from above up on his website.

Cool, the 456 is now a Photoshoot bike 8) Hope it dosent start to get all tempremental and needy now though :P

Da Mighty Chicken · February 2010

Your pic is on their front page! Woohoo, you be famous.....for 60% I'll be your manager

nfrang · February 2010

Da Mighty Chicken wrote:

Your pic is on their front page! Woohoo, you be famous.....for 60% I'll be your manager

Thats pretty cool cat! Surely Bikeradar should be on their 'Links to our bike friends' page now 8)

Chaz.Harding · February 2010

Only the yanks would have a photoshoot for a triathlon bike with a Nascar.... :?

I thought half the idea of being 'into' bicycles was to get away from cars...???

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-2512561113 ... 1_41403358

Rich9 · February 2010

Want some 8) , but cant find my cranks on the list :?

cat_with_no_tail · February 2010

Rich9 wrote:

Want some 8) , but cant find my cranks on the list :?

I'd email EJ through the "contact us" bit on the site, he may well be able to get some sorted for you.

spongtastic · February 2010

with the wear rate on my Deore 590's I've been tempted and ordered a gold set for the Barry white.

cat_with_no_tail · March 2010

Just a quick update on these.

After 2 weeks and a couple of hundred miles in some snow, some heavy rain, some thick sandy mud and even something called sunshine(?). These crankskins are holding up well.

Sarnian · March 2010

Good to know that they are lasting out, as I just ordered there frame protector pack.

Atz · March 2010

Got to admit, still don't get the point. The worst that happens to cranks is you rub the paint off unlike frames, forks etc where there's enough rubbing that either the cable outer or the metal goes.

The Big Cheese · March 2010

If you spend £300+ on XTR cranks (or whatever cranks you have that you lke) you want them to last as long as possible and to keep them looking good too. So you've got a top-drawer bike, but your crank arms are so worn through heel rub.

Some guy on here recently bought a brand new Giant, and after one ride in a UK trail centre has no branding left on his Saint cranks.

Sure, rubbing doesn't affect performance, but it's not nice to see your lovely new cranks rubbed to death after a couple of outings.

Its about preserving the aesthetics of the finish, like copter tape on downtubes etc.

And also helps if you want to sell them on.

Crankskins - WELL Impressed!

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