[CR] PMP "Bent Cranks"

Mick Butler wrote:

"In answer to Wayne's query regarding these unusual cranks. They appeared on the cycling scene in Italy there country of manufacture in 1979/80. They were imported into the UK by Saba in early 1980. At least one rider was equipped with these cranks in the 1980 North Road Hard-rider's time trial.This is normally a February event weather permitting. From March onwards they were readily available in the UK shops. They found favour with the big geared time triallist's as it was thought that they had an advantage when pedalling slower, rolling their huge gears. It was also said that they helped hill climbing when sitting back in the saddle. On the downside no advantage was recorded when revving fast in a low gear and they were very expensive £96.00 cranks only. As to what the initials stand for I have no idea."

Mick's response fills in some detail that I didn't have when I wrote a note about these for the not-so-lamented Bike Tech years ago. The cranks are portrayed at http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/PMP_main.htm.

That link gets you to http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/PMP_crk_ad.htm, where I tried to gently hint that these things were a pure fabrication (and triumph) of marketing avarice. Expensive trash. Suitable for April 1 and little else. Two things were striking about these: (1) none of the "articles" described any testing at all. (2) The length spec for the ones I saw (belong still to John Schubert) said "170". All the darned things do is use extra weight to build more flex, by using two sides of the triangle instead of the hypoteneuse (170 mm). I just am happy that Dale has his "rarest-of-the-rare" site at classicrendevous.com, and that it links his minor extrapolation to the original item.

Harvey "Haruuummmphhh" Sachs near Washington, DC "40 square miles, surrounded by reality"