Re: [[CR]Drivetrain weights and Sampson Stratics Crank]

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Falck)

Date: 10 Jan 2001 11:29:17 EST
From: "William H.Canilang" <whcanilang@usa.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [[CR]Drivetrain weights and Sampson Stratics Crank]


"KCTOMMY" <KCTOMMY@email.msn.com> wrote:
> 1st question: Has anyone done any weight comparisons of different drive
> train set ups?

I was perusing my collection of old Winning magazines this past weekend and I came across a crankset test where they measured weight and deflection for a number of racing doubles. I'll try to post a few results when I get home this weekend.
> 2nd question: Another impulse buy: a Sampson Stratics crankset is coming
> my way. Does anyone have any road experience with these? In particular,
> what type and length of bottom bracket do they take? When were they made,
> how many were produced, and did they have any particular idiosycracies (that
> is, do I dare ride it or will it kill me)?

I've had a Sampson Stratics road crank on my Trek2300 for about five years. Their reputation was that they were flexy and the test results bore this out. I never noticed, but I weigh ~150lbs and try to spin rather than mash. They are CNC cut from aluminum block, though I don't remember which alloy. They were designed for the standard DuraAce bb of the time (112?). I believe there were also some reports (confirm on deja?) of failure at the pedal and spindle holes?

If I had it to do again, I'd have gone with an American Classic crankset which tested lighter and stiffer. However, watch out for early production models as these also had failures. I talked to someone at AmClassic about these when I saw one for sale at Rivendell. They were also kind enough to send me some new redesigned bottom plates for some AmClassic seatposts I have.

One nice feature of both of these cranksets was that they had a removable spider. I have one friend who swapped out the 130bcd spider on his AmClassics and put in a 110bcd spider so he could go to lower gears. BTW, AmClassics still has these in stock.

In general, I would think that riders who are heavy or pedal heavily may be best to stay with quality forged cranks rather than older CNC'ed cranks.

Bill Canilang
Ridgewood, NJ