Two left pedals [Re: Threads of unicycle pedals]

Doug Borngasser <db@ucsd.edu> wrote:

[color=blue]>Anyone have an opinion as to the dangers or difficulties if both cranks are[/color]
[color=blue]>left handed?[/color]

If tightened sufficiently, two left threaded pedals and cranks should pose no
problem whatsoever. By sufficiently, I mean as tight as possible with a 12 inch
pedal wrench without stripping the threads. (When the pedal absolutely refuses
to be tightened further, it is tight enough [to stay on forever].)

The risk of stripping threads by tightening too much with even a 12 inch is many
times less than ruining the threads by not tightening enough. However, body
builders may need to use some restraint while tightening pedals with a 12 inch
pedal wrench.

Stay on Top, with two left pedals,

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com

On Thu, 3 Aug 1995, Ken Fuchs wrote:

[color=blue]> If tightened sufficiently, two left threaded pedals and cranks should pose no[/color]
[color=blue]> problem whatsoever. By sufficiently, I mean as tight as[/color]

[color=blue]> The risk of stripping threads by tightening too much with even a 12[/color]

I rode -- very happily -- with a pair of 165mm left cranks on a Schwinn, but not
without problems. These were aluminum cranks, so striping did end up being a
problem, and their ultimate demise. They stripped because I tore out the threads
hopping down stairs while they were loose; they were loose despite my best
effort with a 30cm wrench.

Based on experience with these cranks and others on my mountain bike, it seems
that they vary in hardness -- with a soft aluminum alloy you may have problems.

Another problem -- the extra length puts more torque on the spindle (axel) when
jumping, such that I sheared a spindle jumping stairs.

eric.