The 5 Vis appreciation thread
11-11-20, 11:26 AM
#76
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Posts: 3,254
Bikes: More than there were awhile ago.
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 638 Post(s)
Liked 1,294 Times
in
612 Posts
Big fan of the Viscount outer ring. How can you argue with industrial disco sci-fi wanna-be-C-3PO-Metropolisque bling for your bike? Sure, it's 50.4 bcd, but it's not trying to be the same thing as the classy TA rings.
What's more, they're a wonderful anecdote to Campagnolo Superfluous Record.
I honestly don't remember which crankarms I used, nor can I ID them from this pic. Sure looks nice though.
Still kicking myself 11 years ago for selling the bike with the Viscount rings on it. Couldn't care less about the Trek, but that chainring has never left my mind.
-Kurt
What's more, they're a wonderful anecdote to Campagnolo Superfluous Record.
I honestly don't remember which crankarms I used, nor can I ID them from this pic. Sure looks nice though.
Still kicking myself 11 years ago for selling the bike with the Viscount rings on it. Couldn't care less about the Trek, but that chainring has never left my mind.
-Kurt
__________________
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
Likes For Murray Missile:
11-11-20, 11:28 AM
#77
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,514
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,396 Times
in
2,093 Posts
Traditionally, TA seemed to have catered to time trialling and other speed record attempts. Mike Barry always had a wild assortment of TA stuff, his son is currently selling much of it on ebay. (bicyclespecialties) They made some ridiculously big rings, probably more range than any other marque.
I've always found that TA rings are pretty tough as well. Back in my high mileage days, I seemed to go through Shimano rings in a couple of seasons, no so with TA.
I've always found that TA rings are pretty tough as well. Back in my high mileage days, I seemed to go through Shimano rings in a couple of seasons, no so with TA.
-Kurt
__________________
Likes For cudak888:
11-11-20, 12:10 PM
#78
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 4,478
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1829 Post(s)
Liked 3,377 Times
in
1,581 Posts
that reminds me of another big ring that also happens to use the 50.4mm bolt circle....
and is it just chance that the author of the Cyclist magazine article has the first initials of "T.A."??
I've seen this bike on display, since it used to be part of the Schwinn collection. Not sure if I could find the photos of it, though.
Steve in Peoria
and is it just chance that the author of the Cyclist magazine article has the first initials of "T.A."??
I've seen this bike on display, since it used to be part of the Schwinn collection. Not sure if I could find the photos of it, though.
Steve in Peoria
11-11-20, 12:48 PM
#79
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
Wow, I am impressed with the weird stuff that @bulgie showed us above... but there's more. From Hilary Stone's website:
"FB ROUND TAPER CHAINSET 170mm 50T 3/32in chainring Early 1950s complete with bottom bracket, has been quite well rechromed, small amount of pitting to BB axle, complete with axle keys. Exceptionally rare."
Can it be that no one mentioned that in England they used a very similar five pin design-- not exactly 50.4 mm but close enough that one can make the rings interchangeable with some fettling. This photo is also from Hilary Stone's site:
"FB ROUND TAPER CHAINSET 170mm 50T 3/32in chainring Early 1950s complete with bottom bracket, has been quite well rechromed, small amount of pitting to BB axle, complete with axle keys. Exceptionally rare."
Can it be that no one mentioned that in England they used a very similar five pin design-- not exactly 50.4 mm but close enough that one can make the rings interchangeable with some fettling. This photo is also from Hilary Stone's site:
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
11-11-20, 01:18 PM
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 4,129
Bikes: 1975 Motobecane Grand Jubile, 2020 Holdsworth Competition, 2022 Giant Trance 29 3
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3361 Post(s)
Liked 3,638 Times
in
1,244 Posts
As far as VO... does their customer base include a lot of folks using STI and Ergo? I've never used these, but I'm guessing that they benefit from the easier shifting??
In some ways, I think it is good for people to appreciate what shifting is like when using downtube levers and plain chainrings.. "it builds character".
On the other hand... it's sort of like expecting people to grow their own vegetables and raise and butcher their own livestock. It's probably good to know and understand, but it's never going to happen.
Steve in Peoria
In some ways, I think it is good for people to appreciate what shifting is like when using downtube levers and plain chainrings.. "it builds character".
On the other hand... it's sort of like expecting people to grow their own vegetables and raise and butcher their own livestock. It's probably good to know and understand, but it's never going to happen.
Steve in Peoria
VO certainly seems to expect that their customers who buy their framesets are using modern shifting and braking gear. I believe all of their current frame offerings are of the disc brake and threadless headset flavor, but they seem to be doing a great job of balancing the modern tech with a more vintage flavor. Lots of polished alloy parts in classic shapes, but with tech like pinned and ramped chainrings, thru axle disc brake hubs, etc. I think it's assumed that if you are using STI or Ergo shift levers that the drivetrain should be able to handle shifting out of the saddle under load.
I'm happy that I've had the experience of friction shifting a 10 speed with plain chainrings - I've really had no complaints about how well the chain moves across the drivetrain but I'm also not a competitive rider trying to keep up with someone else. Sometimes, though, you want dead simple operation, which is why my rando bike now has indexed shifting. During a long day in the saddle it's a luxury to not have to think about the mechanics of shifting all that much
Likes For abshipp:
11-11-20, 04:42 PM
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
Goodness, I really love this thread and all its bike obscura!! 
The only trouble I have with 5V cranks is how expensive they are. Thus, playing to my strengths, I have been toying with an idea lately, to take a cheap five-arm in my favorite 165 length and try machining a 50.4 spider out of the existing arms and web. This would be child's play on a CNC mill. Just a few lines of code for the arc-shaped "step" that the chainring sits on, and a few more for the bolt circle. I'd have to file a bit behind the crank arm, where the mill cannot reach. Think I should try? There's a grungy orphaned drive-side Silstar on Ebay I could pick up for $32ish, but it seems a little much to be throwing at an idea that may or may not work depending on the crank's geometry, which I cannot just go and measure.
The only trouble I have with 5V cranks is how expensive they are. Thus, playing to my strengths, I have been toying with an idea lately, to take a cheap five-arm in my favorite 165 length and try machining a 50.4 spider out of the existing arms and web. This would be child's play on a CNC mill. Just a few lines of code for the arc-shaped "step" that the chainring sits on, and a few more for the bolt circle. I'd have to file a bit behind the crank arm, where the mill cannot reach. Think I should try? There's a grungy orphaned drive-side Silstar on Ebay I could pick up for $32ish, but it seems a little much to be throwing at an idea that may or may not work depending on the crank's geometry, which I cannot just go and measure.
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
11-11-20, 04:53 PM
#82
Shifting is fun!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,007
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 280 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2198 Post(s)
Liked 4,611 Times
in
1,765 Posts
Goodness, I really love this thread and all its bike obscura!!
The only trouble I have with 5V cranks is how expensive they are. Thus, playing to my strengths, I have been toying with an idea lately, to take a cheap five-arm in my favorite 165 length and try machining a 50.4 spider out of the existing arms and web. This would be child's play on a CNC mill. Just a few lines of code for the arc-shaped "step" that the chainring sits on, and a few more for the bolt circle. I'd have to file a bit behind the crank arm, where the mill cannot reach. Think I should try? There's a grungy orphaned drive-side Silstar on Ebay I could pick up for $32ish, but it seems a little much to be throwing at an idea that may or may not work depending on the crank's geometry, which I cannot just go and measure.
The only trouble I have with 5V cranks is how expensive they are. Thus, playing to my strengths, I have been toying with an idea lately, to take a cheap five-arm in my favorite 165 length and try machining a 50.4 spider out of the existing arms and web. This would be child's play on a CNC mill. Just a few lines of code for the arc-shaped "step" that the chainring sits on, and a few more for the bolt circle. I'd have to file a bit behind the crank arm, where the mill cannot reach. Think I should try? There's a grungy orphaned drive-side Silstar on Ebay I could pick up for $32ish, but it seems a little much to be throwing at an idea that may or may not work depending on the crank's geometry, which I cannot just go and measure.
Likes For non-fixie:
11-11-20, 05:07 PM
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
I think that Silstar I was eyeing is a 118 BCD. It is listed as 120 but I recall some old SR cranks coming in 118 and they are close.
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
11-11-20, 05:28 PM
#84
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,159
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3811 Post(s)
Liked 6,716 Times
in
2,613 Posts
@scarlson, I have a couple of orphan drive-side cranks hanging in my basement, but should it be a particular bcd so that you have material to work with?
11-11-20, 06:10 PM
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
@scarlson, I have a couple of orphan drive-side cranks hanging in my basement, but should it be a particular bcd so that you have material to work with?
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
11-11-20, 11:29 PM
#86
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,843
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 809 Post(s)
Liked 712 Times
in
380 Posts
A relevant piece of artwork:
__________________
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Likes For Jeff Wills:
11-12-20, 06:57 AM
#87
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
Hey, thanks for thinking of me! I would have to see 'em to be sure. I mean, the bigger the "web" between the arms is, the better chance this has of working. But there are other factors at play as well. I'll have to measure the hole in the middle of a 5-Vis chainring to see what the minimum "step" diameter is. Big nono would be any arms with holes in them, or cranks that aren't 5-arm. But what I really like for myself is 165 length.
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
11-12-20, 07:47 AM
#88
2-Wheeled Fool
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 2,346
Bikes: Surly Ogre, Brompton
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1385 Post(s)
Liked 677 Times
in
457 Posts
This thread has taught me a lot of stuff I thought I already knew. The amount of knowledge in here never ceases to humble me. Thanks to all contributors.
Last edited by J.Higgins; 11-12-20 at 07:58 AM.
11-12-20, 08:01 AM
#89
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,790
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3590 Post(s)
Liked 3,401 Times
in
1,935 Posts
Likes For JohnDThompson:
11-12-20, 05:53 PM
#90
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,159
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3811 Post(s)
Liked 6,716 Times
in
2,613 Posts
Hey, thanks for thinking of me! I would have to see 'em to be sure. I mean, the bigger the "web" between the arms is, the better chance this has of working. But there are other factors at play as well. I'll have to measure the hole in the middle of a 5-Vis chainring to see what the minimum "step" diameter is. Big nono would be any arms with holes in them, or cranks that aren't 5-arm. But what I really like for myself is 165 length.
11-12-20, 05:56 PM
#91
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,159
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3811 Post(s)
Liked 6,716 Times
in
2,613 Posts
Find this 50.4 steel cottered crank in my stash. Nicklin?
11-12-20, 07:47 PM
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 4,478
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1829 Post(s)
Liked 3,377 Times
in
1,581 Posts
11-13-20, 08:25 AM
#93
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 480
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1643 Post(s)
Liked 2,240 Times
in
1,052 Posts
Here are some pics from "The Complete Handbook Of Cycling", which is a catalog of Big Wheel, Ltd, Denver Colorado. Year unknown, but presuming early 1970's.
11-13-20, 08:26 AM
#94
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 480
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1643 Post(s)
Liked 2,240 Times
in
1,052 Posts
11-13-20, 08:28 AM
#95
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 480
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1643 Post(s)
Liked 2,240 Times
in
1,052 Posts
Last edited by hazetguy; 11-13-20 at 09:01 AM.
11-13-20, 08:29 AM
#96
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 480
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1643 Post(s)
Liked 2,240 Times
in
1,052 Posts
11-13-20, 08:30 AM
#97
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 480
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1643 Post(s)
Liked 2,240 Times
in
1,052 Posts
11-13-20, 08:33 AM
#98
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 480
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1643 Post(s)
Liked 2,240 Times
in
1,052 Posts
11-13-20, 08:34 AM
#99
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 480
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1643 Post(s)
Liked 2,240 Times
in
1,052 Posts
11-17-20, 06:05 PM
#100
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 480
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1643 Post(s)
Liked 2,240 Times
in
1,052 Posts
Saw these on eBay France. Rosa brand?
