Comments on: Origin 8 2X9 Crank Set: On Test

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:42:47 +0000

@john: The chain stays on that bike are pretty wide, so a mtb crank set should clear it.

By: john

john — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 03:03:11 +0000

i just purchased a orgin 8 cyclo cross frame and can’t find a crank that fits it. the two i trying both hit the chain stays with the ring or the crank on the left side. Does this one fit the bike? any ideas? thanks

By: Jimmythefly

Jimmythefly — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:10:34 +0000

Count me as another who likes Octalink over external. I picked up a Coda crankset a few weeks ago that’s a dedicated 5x94BCD double, on an Octalink V1(road) 109.5mm bottom bracket. It came with 44/29 rings, which suit my commuter bike just fine.

For mountain rides, I’ll stick with a good ‘ol 22/34/bashguard. I need the hillclimbing ability and I rarely need to go faster than the 34/11 allows, at least when I’m actually in the mountains.

There are a couple of other options for compact doubles(that aren’t a square-taper BB), but I’m trying to find stuff on eBay and don’t need you lot bidding against me!

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:46:45 +0000

dan: I am very curious whether the 29T will become available as well as a triple with the 20T granny. I have been putting my two cents in to Origin 8 on this for several months now.

Alex: The external BB set ups have certainly simplified things for manufacturers and consumers. However, it has caused issues with seal drag, and bearings that spin poorly, (thus the very lucrative and hot ceramic after market bearing sales by several companies.) I think the concept is fine, but the execution of the concept is poor. There is no accounting for adjustment in regards to side loading the bearings and frame tolerances being slightly off on outboard bearings with a few notable, very expensive exceptions.

My inclination would be to utilize a few of the past bottom bracket features in a new package. The simplicity of a cartridge, which eliminates frame facing issues, a larger diameter shell, ala BB-30, and the ISIS interface, which makes for fool proof crank arm installation and removals. If all of this could be accomplished in one simplified, easy to install cartridge in a bigger bottom bracket shell which would allow for bigger internal bearings, then I think we’d have a BB that would last years and years under severe duty.

I just think that current manufacturer philosophies and culture doesn’t support this sort of product longevity and ease of use.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:07:51 +0000

Interesting about the external BB’s. I’ve had zero issues with mine but there’s very little mud out here in Utah – mostly dust. You do have to give the manufacturers credit though for simplifying matters related to BB options – 68/73 width is dealt with easily. Also, aren’t there too many damn standards for bottom brackets anyways? I dunno, I see this as a move in the right direction.