Pacific Cycles BSO's are engineered by idiots.
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Pacific Cycles engineers had nothing to do with the design of the crank
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As far as I know, the left-left, right-right design for pedal threads was a Wright Bros idea (they were in the bicycle business along with being tinkerers with things that fly). I believe they may have even patented it (?). Regardless, those guys were not idiots. The little bit of reading I've done on their idea to use reverse threading for the left pedal was based on the fact that, with right-hand threading on both pedals, the left pedal on bicycles often loosened up and came off.
They made a simple observation and came up with a simple solution that is still in use today.
As far as I know, the left-left, right-right design for pedal threads was a Wright Bros idea (they were in the bicycle business along with being tinkerers with things that fly). I believe they may have even patented it (?). Regardless, those guys were not idiots. The little bit of reading I've done on their idea to use reverse threading for the left pedal was based on the fact that, with right-hand threading on both pedals, the left pedal on bicycles often loosened up and came off.
They made a simple observation and came up with a simple solution that is still in use today.
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Whatever it was, it's an American thing and you aren't using an Allen wrench to attach a pedal.
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I always thought that the left side/right side pedal threading was also done so that if the pedal bearings seized, the pedal would unscrew from the crankarm rather than breaking your ankle or leg.
Is this just folklore? Urban legend? Reading comprehension problem on my part?
Is this just folklore? Urban legend? Reading comprehension problem on my part?
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No, I think the OP misunderstood the reason for left-hand thread, in the original post.
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I always thought that the left side/right side pedal threading was also done so that if the pedal bearings seized, the pedal would unscrew from the crankarm rather than breaking your ankle or leg.
Is this just folklore? Urban legend? Reading comprehension problem on my part?
Is this just folklore? Urban legend? Reading comprehension problem on my part?
While it may be technically possible, that'd be such a rare event as to be entirely unimportant in the overall scale of things.
Taking the anecdotal approach, I've never experienced, read or heard of anyone having a pedal seize solid while riding.
What usually happens is that the bearing balls are ground to shrapnel, then you're stuck with what's basically a big, poorly lubed glide bearing with a HUGE amount of slop/play.
Taking the analytical approach, now we're looking at a big, poorly lubed glide bearing with a HUGE amount of slop/play. And it's doing maybe 100 rpm, tops. Going from there to seizing solid is quite a challenge.
Continuing the analytical approach:
While wrestling with stuck pedals, I've cracked an Allen keyed pedal axle, shattered an adjustable wrench, and bent the jaws of a regular wrench open.
Given that my ankle is likely to be stronger than my wrist, and that any ball bearing fragments lodging between pedal axle and housing are hugely unlikely to engage as strongly as the intended tool interfaces, I'm really struggling to see how a pedal would be able to seize badly enough to do any direct damage to the rider.
It might do some secondary damage by allowing the foot to roll off the pedal and whacking the rider on the calf though.
Pedalso loosening due to precession/threadwalk is a far more credible/ "real" issue to avoid.
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