Ted Ernst wrote:
>I was taught to have the round heavy part of the pin facing forward
>so that the heavy thrust of force would be against the strongest
>cross section of the pin lessening the possibility of loosening.
This is an old, oft repeated fallacy. If one pin is loaded on the
wide end the other pin will be loaded on the narrow end. Since the
loading is essentially equal on the two sides, it really doesn't
matter which way you do it.
>What I learned: The English have it correct, when the crank facing
>you is at 12:00 the nut is facing to the rear of the bike, or if at
>9:00 the nut is facing up.
That's contradictory assuming you're looking at the right crank.
As I said, it really doesn't matter, but I have a slight preference for the nut being down when the crank is horizontal and facing forward, because you're less liable to snag your trouser cuff on it.
Sheldon "http://sheldonbrown.com/cotters" Brown
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