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General: Can I install my crankset in reverse?

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    • CommentAuthorsharkdream
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009
     
    Hey Gang,

    I am building a new bike and want to know if its possible to install my crankset and chain on the left side of the bike?
    I am goofy footed, so it would help greatly with trackstops.

    I have never seen this before, so It seems as though it wasnt possible.

    Does anyone know?
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009 edited
     
    No. You would have to flip your rear wheel around, This would mean that you were cranking the cog in the direction that makes it want to unthread thus constantly putting pressure on your lockring which could result in lockring failure sooner or later. Maybe if you had a bolt on cog this would work. It would still be pointless though because the side your chain ring is on has nothing to do with track standing.

    Also, you would have to run your pedals on the wrong side. This could cause your pedals to unthread more easily, thats up for debate though.

    Let me clarify my point... You could, but you shouldnt.
  3.  
    why dont you learn how to track stand with both legs it would benefit you better
    • CommentAuthorcloud
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009
     
    +1, do that^

    it's been done but i don't think for any functional benefit.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009
     
    Posted By: sharkdreamI am goofy footed, so it would help greatly with trackstops.
    this doesn't make sense. how does which side your drivetrain is on have anything to do with "trackstops"? trackstands?
    • CommentAuthorbigedmiami
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009
     
    Posted By: the rabbi
    Posted By: sharkdreamI am goofy footed, so it would help greatly with trackstops.
    this doesn't make sense. how does which side your drivetrain is on have anything to do with "trackstops"? trackstands?

    +1
    having said that i personally have a left hand drive setup, in my case i am running an ISO cog that bolts on so there are no issues with unscrewing, the only issue i have is on occasion if i am riding hard my pedals will come loose but if i check tham with my tires there is no problem. i have a picture but i have no idea how to drop it in for you to see it
    good luck
  8.  
    Old Sheldon Brown again beat us all to the punch...

    http://sheldonbrown.org/gunnar/
    • CommentAuthoriron jaiden
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009 edited
     
    bigedmiami I wouldn't put that photo up, it'll just get laughed at.

    No reason, and I mean NO REASON in the world for putting your drivetrain on the wrong side. It's a jackass move no matter what you do. Everything on your bike is threaded to have the drivetrain on the right side.
    As far as trackstands go the side in which your drivetrain is on has nothing to do with it in the least.

    Haha, you kids sometimes.

    Edit: Just because Sheldon did it don't make it any less jackass.
  10.  
    I have seen some bikes with the left side drive, they said it worked, but wouldnt you be afraid of it threading off like iron jaiden said(everything on your bike is threaded)?
  11.  
    you could use a bolt on cog and jerryrig the pedals to stay on, then it would be safe and it would stand out
  12.  
    Posted By: carbon fiber15you could use a bolt on cog and jerryrig the pedals to stay on, then it would be safe and it would stand out


    Standing out because you've got a unique paint job or because you've got a hard to find vintage frame = good
    Standing out because you're doing it wrong = bad :)
  13.  
    the reasoning for this sounds entirely idiotic (nothing against the OP), but the side your drivetrain is on has nothing to do with trackstands nor skids/skips. if you know something we dont though, please enlighten us...

    (the only somewhat logical reasoning i've heard for switching sides is if you're doing sprocket grinds btw)
    • CommentAuthorbigedmiami
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009
     
    Posted By: iron jaidenbigedmiami I wouldn't put that photo up, it'll just get laughed at.

    No reason, and I mean NO REASON in the world for putting your drivetrain on the wrong side. It's a jackass move no matter what you do. Everything on your bike is threaded to have the drivetrain on the right side.
    As far as trackstands go the side in which your drivetrain is on has nothing to do with it in the least.

    Haha, you kids sometimes.

    Edit: Just because Sheldon did it don't make it any less jackass.


    well then i guess you have spoken and what you say goes. i am currently building a new fix. i guess i should list my parts & color combo to make sure it does not break any rules? let me know your e-mail Iron Jaiden so i can send you my list to be sure i am doing it correctly
    douche!!
  15.  
    This trend started on BMX bikes for BMX'ers that did grinds on the right side, and would hit their chain and sprocket while griding and snap their chains/mess up their gears.

    NO REASON TO DO IT ON A TRACK BIKE.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009
     
    there really is no reason to have a lhd fixed gear. bmx did it for a reason: the sprocket/chain got in the way of people who grind on the right side. all the hassle of switching the spindles and checking your pedals before/during each ride just isn't worth it.
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009
     
    Keep in mind that sheldons bike had a sturmey archer hub, not a cog/lockring hub and he believes that not having reverse threading on pedals will lead to the pedal unscrewing.

    Posted By: bigedmiami
    Posted By: iron jaidenbigedmiami I wouldn't put that photo up, it'll just get laughed at.

    No reason, and I mean NO REASON in the world for putting your drivetrain on the wrong side. It's a jackass move no matter what you do. Everything on your bike is threaded to have the drivetrain on the right side.
    As far as trackstands go the side in which your drivetrain is on has nothing to do with it in the least.

    Haha, you kids sometimes.

    Edit: Just because Sheldon did it don't make it any less jackass.


    well then i guess you have spoken and what you say goes. i am currently building a new fix. i guess i should list my parts & color combo to make sure it does not break any rules? let me know your e-mail Iron Jaiden so i can send you my list to be sure i am doing it correctly
    douche!!


    No one cares about your parts or their color but you should probably put them on the right way for your own sake.
    • CommentAuthorgelpicorp
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2009
     
    personally, i would send my list to iron jaiden and get him to check off, because it he gets chicks with his whips. my next build is going to him for approval. he knows what is up. :)
    • CommentAuthorbigedmiami
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    so let me get this straight because i "Shouldn't" do something that makes it WRONG!! so if this is the case let me run a few things by you for approval
    Riser Bars on a track frame?
    BMX/Road Stem on a Track Frame?
    Front/Rear Brake on a track frame?
    Riding a track frame on the roads?
    BMX Pedals on a track frame
    Oury grips on a track frame
    Carbon Tri Spoke TT Wheels on a track frame on the road?
    Doing tricks on a track frame?
    wearing cut off shorts & sneakers while riding a track frame?
    these are just a few,
    i think we should go through all the members here and tell them all about their infractions and tell them they are "Jackasses" for making these modifications and put their bikes back the way they are "Supposed" to be. i am happy to put up pictures of mu whips, i worked really hard on all of them, they are each unique and have a lot of time, energy, thought, and money in each one. you don't have to like how i build my bikes but to tell me i am doing it wrong is just ignorant
    • CommentAuthortyler215
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    your not skateboarding you not going to have to worry about the side that the cranks is on , and sheldon brown is not god of the bike world , ironjaiden you give great advice but i falls on deaf ears alot of the time , if you wanna put your shit on wrong do it and then see for yourself why it wont work idiot
    • CommentAuthortyler215
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Posted By: bigedmiamiso let me get this straight because i "Shouldn't" do something that makes it WRONG!! so if this is the case let me run a few things by you for approval
    Riser Bars on a track frame?
    BMX/Road Stem on a Track Frame?
    Front/Rear Brake on a track frame?
    Riding a track frame on the roads?
    BMX Pedals on a track frame
    Oury grips on a track frame
    Carbon Tri Spoke TT Wheels on a track frame on the road?
    Doing tricks on a track frame?
    wearing cut off shorts & sneakers while riding a track frame?
    these are just a few,
    i think we should go through all the members here and tell them all about their infractions and tell them they are "Jackasses" for making these modifications and put their bikes back the way they are "Supposed" to be. i am happy to put up pictures of mu whips, i worked really hard on all of them, they are each unique and have a lot of time, energy, thought, and money in each one. you don't have to like how i build my bikes but to tell me i am doing it wrong is just ignorant



    dude shut the fuck up
    • CommentAuthorgelpicorp
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    just to clarify, ed, if that was directed at me ... i am only making tongue-in-cheek joke in reference to some past bikes owned by someone involved in this thread and the appearance and discussion of females therein. i don't mean to say what you or anyone else does is right or wrong. everyone has their own schtick, and so be it.

    i appreciate good biek pr0n as much as the next person, whether it be tarck or vintage bottecchias.

    that said, if you were directing any comment to me, yes, i'd like to see your rides. i'm sure i'll find something to appreciate in each one and/or makes me jealous.

    can't we all just get along. don't tase me bro.
  23.  
    bigedmiami you seem like a sensitive kid. Sorry if anything struck a nerve the wrong way.
    Anyways. The reason you aren't supposed to put the drivetrain on backwards is because it reverses threads that are meant to be going in the direction they are to prevent catastrophic failure of the component if anything were to come loose.
    You'd be surprised how many people read these forums without posting and often take the advice here as "well informed".
    The last thing I want is for some kid to read a thread like this and only see responses like "well it ain't right but then again neither is ROCK N ROLL MAAAN... wooohooo! Left Side Drive Train is my new favorite band!!!"
    Same reason you shouldn't be rollin around on a suicide hub, it's fucking dangerous.
    I couldn't care less what you do, it's totally up to you. Truly, makes no difference in the world. The OP did ask the question though so I think the idea here is that we we're answering it.

    Was there some reason you wanted him to put his shit on backwards? No? Because I'm really not sure what you're in here arguing about and with whom but uhh yeah... good luck with your "whips".
    • CommentAuthorbigedmiami
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    IJ this was mainly directed at your "Jackass" comment. as far as right & wrong / safe & dangerous i agree about the safety aspect, however if you read what i wrote above, on my personal bike i have an XT disc hub converted to a rear with a longer axle, my cog bolts on to the 6 disc holes, there are no threads to worry about on the cog so it can't come off in either direction, this is the ONLY reason i made my drive left hand, because it did not matter. also i said i have had a pedal come loose but if i keep them tight and check them when i pump my tires there are no issues with this. i hate to tell you i have a front disc brake on my fix as well AND it can bar spin but that is dangerous so i don't do it. finally i am not i kid i am a grown adult that enjoys my fixed gear bikes immensely and have passed that down to my son who also rides fixed (with a front brake) i have to say it is pretty sad to get flamed like this just over the fact i am running a left drive. i guess this is how you guys welcome new posters to your forums
    and Gelpi YOU shut the fuck up!!
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Posted By: bigedmiamii guess this is how you guys welcome new posters to your forums


    did you honestly think you weren't going to be hazed?
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009 edited
     
    Posted By: bigedmiamiIJ this was mainly directed at your "Jackass" comment. as far as right & wrong / safe & dangerous i agree about the safety aspect, however if you read what i wrote above, on my personal bike i have an XT disc hub converted to a rear with a longer axle, my cog bolts on to the 6 disc holes, there are no threads to worry about on the cog so it can't come off in either direction, this is the ONLY reason i made my drive left hand, because it did not matter. also i said i have had a pedal come loose but if i keep them tight and check them when i pump my tires there are no issues with this. i hate to tell you i have a front disc brake on my fix as well AND it can bar spin but that is dangerous so i don't do it. finally i am not i kid i am a grown adult that enjoys my fixed gear bikes immensely and have passed that down to my son who also rides fixed (with a front brake) i have to say it is pretty sad to get flamed like this just over the fact i am running a left drive. i guess this is how you guys welcome new posters to your forums
    and Gelpi YOU shut the fuck up!!


    Dude, stop acting like youre a martyr or something. No one here is trying to sacrifice you because you ride an eccentric bike.
    • CommentAuthormmediaman
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    if you do left drive cranks you need tandem specific cranks, then your peddles won't come out. and if you doing that why don't you just copy the bmxers and do a 39t to 14t ISO cog so you can do all your flippy spin tricks
    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009 edited
     
    Posted By: mmediamanif you do left drive cranks you need tandem specific cranks, then your peddles won't come out. and if you doing that why don't you just copy the bmxers and do a 39t to 14t ISO cog so you can do all your flippy spin tricks


    +1 on the front crank from a tandem solving the pedal unscrewing problem, so would a BMX crank for left-side-drive. They make threaded bottom brackets for BMX cranks.

    39 x 14 , wow you're behind the times, try 24 x 8. Did you know that is the same gear inches as 44 x 16? Do you know that with 700c wheels a gear combo used on a BMX is going to be a good deal taller, you know cuz the wheels are bigger?

    The only reason for left-side-drive on a track bike is because it's different and will make people look twice at your bike. Nothing wrong with that. I think it would be asking for it to do it with a regular hub, but a bolt-on cog is not going to care what side it's on.
    • CommentAuthorgelpicorp
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Posted By: bigedmiami
    and Gelpi YOU shut the fuck up!!


    Posted By: gelpicorpjust to clarify, ed, if that was directed at me ... i am only making tongue-in-cheek joke in reference to some past bikes owned by someone involved in this thread and the appearance and discussion of females therein. i don't mean to say what you or anyone else does is right or wrong. everyone has their own schtick, and so be it.

    i appreciate good biek pr0n as much as the next person, whether it be tarck or vintage bottecchias.

    that said, if you were directing any comment to me, yes, i'd like to see your rides. i'm sure i'll find something to appreciate in each one and/or makes me jealous.

    can't we all just get along. don't tase me bro.





    hold up, why should i STFU? what was derisive or hate-inspiring about what i said?
    • CommentAuthorbigedmiami
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    apologies i meant Tyler
    my bad
    love not hate :)
    • CommentAuthorohand
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    i have a friend who got bored one day and did this. he hasn't had any problems with the cog/lockring. he had problems right away with his pedals unthreading; but he solved that by taking his pedals apart and putting them back together so they wouldn't unthread. there's no reason to do it though. it doesn't have any advantages. he's had his bike like that for 6months with no problems though.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Posted By: ohandi have a friend who got bored one day and did this. he hasn't had any problems with the cog/lockring. he had problems right away with his pedals unthreading; but he solved that by taking his pedals apart and putting them back together so they wouldn't unthread. there's no reason to do it though. it doesn't have any advantages. he's had his bike like that for 6months with no problems though.
    there isn no way to take them apart so they won't unthread. the forward pedaling motion will always loosen the spindles.
  33.  
    You know, there was a technical question asked. You could have given a technical answer. Now you all look like jackasses.
  34.  
    Nicely put Joshua.
    • CommentAuthorsharkdream
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    thank you joshua.

    the rest of you, the point of these forums is to help people right? and i dont think the question was too ridiculous... but instead of helping, you all managed pick at a language error rather than explaining why it wouldnt work. forgive me, i wrote a post in 30secs and miss labeled track stand with track stop.

    why i was asking is because my buddies who track stand with their right foot back, can stand on their left crank arm. adding a lil more ease. since i am goofy footed, i can not do this.

    as it seems, this is nearly impossible, and a waste of time.
    so there! thread ended. yall can go boast ur blogger ego on some other poor chum now.

    ps thank u for all those who posted something helpful
  36.  
    Posted By: Joshua A.C. NewmanYou know, there was a technical question asked. Youcouldhave given a technical answer. Now youalllook like jackasses.


    Dude when do we not look like jackasses?



    Posted By: sharkdreamthank you joshua.

    the rest of you, the point of these forums is to help people right? and i dont think the question was too ridiculous... but instead of helping, you all managed pick at a language error rather than explaining why it wouldnt work. forgive me, i wrote a post in 30secs and miss labeled track stand with track stop.

    why i was asking is because my buddies who track stand with their right foot back, can stand on their left crank arm. adding a lil more ease. since i am goofy footed, i can not do this.

    as it seems, this is nearly impossible, and a waste of time.
    so there! thread ended. yall can go boast ur blogger ego on some other poor chum now.

    ps thank u for all those who posted something helpful


    I think the point of these forums is to talk bikes. Sometimes help people, sometimes drool over component sets none of us can afford, sometimes make fun of each other, and sometimes just cuddle.
    Stick around, you'll find the fun soon enough. :)
  37.  
    OK, so, the technical answer is largely covered, but to summarize:

    Pedals and sprockets are threaded so that their use makes them tighter rather than looser. If you do a lefty, you have to use cranks that are made to go that way or your pedals will come off.

    There are sprockets that are made to bolt on, too. I don't know about freewheels.

    Freehubs won't work at all that way. The palls face the wrong direction so you'll only be able to ride backwards.

    There are a few lefties on Velospace. Ask the people who made them how they did it.
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    sharkdream, if that was too rough for you maybe you should go to your lbs and test your luck with this question.
    • CommentAuthorgelpicorp
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    my local bike shop won't even talk to me when i try to ask questions since i'm not buying a $1K road bike. at least a lively, angry, locker room towel popping fight breaks out here for pretty much anything. i'll take this any day. you wouldn't belive what it does for my work day. this place has class and personality. and bike pr0n.
    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Posted By: Joshua A.C. Newman
    There are sprockets that are made to bolt on, too. I don't know about freewheels.

    Freehubs won't work at all that way. The palls face the wrong direction so you'll only be able to ride backwards.



    Obviously they make left-side-drive freewheels and drivers (freehubs) for BMX.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Posted By: gelpicorpmy local bike shop won't even talk to me when i try to ask questions since i'm not buying a $1K road bike. at least a lively, angry, locker room towel popping fight breaks out here for pretty much anything. i'll take this any day. you wouldn't belive what it does for my work day. this place has class and personality. and bike pr0n.
    it's called being a grommet: a shop rat. grow some skin, take you lashings, and then they'll fill you with more knowledge than you can handle.
    • CommentAuthordanzap209
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Sharkdream, Have a sense of humor.... would your friends be any different? Have they gave you any shit about being goofy footed?!!!
    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Normal trackstands are goofy-foot (left foot in back) WTF.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    it all depends on what feels natural to you. there is no goofy-footed in riding bikes (bmx goofy footed is when you ride pegs on the same side as your back foot or naturally turn into you're front foot).
    • CommentAuthoreaglerock
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009 edited
     
    a-HEM.

    Would it be out of place to ask the OP:

    What exactly do you mean by
    goofy footed
    ?

    Everybody's talking as if they know what problem you're having. But I sure as hell don't know; and I'll bet the problem you think you have isn't the problem a lot of the folks here think you have. Let's start with a detailed description of what's actually happening when you attempt a trackstand and why you think it's bad, instead of some phrase you just made up.
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Goofy footed is when you skateboard/surf with your right foot in front and left foot in back. He is trying to say that he likes to track stand with his right foot in front. For some reason that he explained above he thinks this is a disadvantage because the chain ring gets in the way of him resting his foot on the crank.
  47.  
    Im the same way, but just learned to track stand both ways
    • CommentAuthordanzap209
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2009
     
    Teach sharkdream.....
  49.  
    I would be delighted to, only we live thousands of miles away... haha
    • CommentAuthorcloud
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2009
     
    i'm lefty at everything in life and trackstand primarily "goofy footed" or right foot in front, left foot in rear every single day without issue. when clipped in or (only polo bike) in cages my feet are securely where they should be while standing (or pedaling). what is this about resting my right foot on the crank? never heard of it.
    • CommentAuthorbigedmiami
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2009
     
    Posted By: wes m.Goofy footed is when you skateboard/surf with your right foot in front and left foot in back. He is trying to say that he likes to track stand with his right foot in front. For some reason that he explained above he thinks this is a disadvantage because the chain ring gets in the way of him resting his foot on the crank.


    actually you are pretty close BUT "Goofy Footed" is when you use your opposite power foot in back, i think it originated in water skiing. for instance i am a lefty and when i skateboard or water ski i use my right foot in back this makes me "Goofy Footed" similar to you righty's using your left foot back to track stand, etc

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