My pal is 6'5" and 16+ stone of lean muscle - he keeps breaking crank arms road riding and today I struggled to replace his chainrings - both the BB spindle ( square taper) and crank arm was bent! Replacing the BB meant the chainring wobble was only a couple of MM - with the old bb it was about 1 cm. No wonder his chain kept on coming off.
His bike is a hybrid type thingy uysed only on road commutting so its not as if he is going over jumps. I fear that shimano HT2 type ones he will just bust the cranks at the splined fitting
He has broken 3 crank arms - they sheer at the pedal thread just riding along
His bike runs a nexus hub. He is clearly a masher on the pedals as he runs what I consider ridiculous high gearing - 42 chainring and 16 rear on 700c
So what BB and crankset is gorrilla proof? He is also tightfisted so cheap would also be good. Moon on a stick I know
Only thing I can think that might be stronger than a HT2 Saint would be a Truvative Howitzer (not that I ever used one, and they do look suspiciously like ISIS...) or a 3-piece BMX crankset with a 19mm spindle and a Euro BMX bb like this: https://www.customriders.com/11406/products/mankind-bmx-euro-bottom-bracket-19mm-black.aspx
Good idea on the 3 piece BMX crank although not sure how the chainline would work out?
DMR Axe. Not the cheapest, but he won't break it.
Is that a bet?
Ta chaps
I've got some Race Face Evolve DH cranks on eBay at the minute. Seem to be absolutely bomb proof - if you want them I'll pull the auction and post them to you for 25 quid including a HT2 BB.
Cheers davy but we have just got him with a working bike again - Its more for when he inevitably breaks the current setup. Great offer tho thanks
If he were my customer I would be fitting Shimano MTB cranks. They deal with 18-20 stone MTB use no bother.
Only issues I see are if people dont tighten the pinch bolts.
(if it works chainring size wise)
Shimano Saint would be my thought.
Or some steel BMX cranks, no idea if they’d fit the bike though.
ta again. the bent ones are shimano square taper - I mean how do you bend a crankset? *shakes head*
Only thing I can think that might be stronger than a HT2 Saint would be a Truvative Howitzer (not that I ever used one, and they do look suspiciously like ISIS…)
Truvativ Howitzer BBs are pretty much indestructible!
Similar interface to Isis, but bigger, outboard bearings (like a combo of Isis and HTII), thicker axle, and VERY robust cranks (cranks are called Hussefelt)
I've got a set that are coming up to 10 years old, been on a singlespeed for most of that time.
Original bearings too, just pop the seals for a grease every year or so.
Maybe just limit his gears so he can’t exert full torque, teach him souplesse 😉
just spend some money. Square taper these days = cheap
Any decent road crank will be fine.
If he breaks that then he needs to learn how to pedal smoothly. Marcel Kittel managed it, and he ain't weedy.
Sounds like he needs a Dura Ace track chainset. Robert Forsterman and Chris Hoy can’t be wrong! Also a bit spendy though!
Personally in terms of overall price/durability compromise I'd try a Shimano MTB/Gravel crank with an appropriately sized chainring fitted, make sure the BB shell faces are square and pair with a relatively meaty BB to which the bearings can be replaced.
The combination of 24mm diameter steel spindle and bearings being more outboard makes it significantly harder to bend than a square taper setup.