[CR]re: left hand Pista cranks as a fixed

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

In-Reply-To: <20030917000557.1163.qmail@web40903.mail.yahoo.com>
References: <20030917000557.1163.qmail@web40903.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 21:05:27 -0400
To: classic list <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Roy H. Drinkwater" <roydrink@ptd.net>
Subject: [CR]re: left hand Pista cranks as a fixed

Derek asked:
>How about putting the drive side on the left for a
>track or fixed gear bike -anybody ever try it? I know,
>it just looks wrong but any reason it would not work?

It's been discussed this week on the fixed gear list, I pointed out <http://www.singlespeedoutlaw.com/issue2/centerfoldA.shtml>. Sheldon Brown replied:
>Running the chain on the left is possible, I did it for a while on
>my Raleigh International, but I hated the way the bike felt.
>
>Every bike you've ever ridden with the chain on the right has had a
>certain amount of asymmetrical frame and bottom bracket flex, so
>you've just gotten used to it and mostly don't notice it.
>
>When you put the chain on t'other side, the direction of flex is
>reversed, and suddenly becomes VERY noticeable indeed. My
>International felt really noodly with the backwards drivetrain.
>
>This would probably be less of an issue with a stiffer frame.
>Sometime maybe I'll swap around the drivetrain on my Cannondale
>ST500 fixer...

Roy "getting better, but still off the bike" Drinkwater Lititz, PA