Technique
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Parent Category: Technique
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Category: Dedaelementi
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Published on Wednesday, 23 June 2010 08:22
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Written by Luca Salvatelli
A product that sets a new benchmark for the rigidity of the crank
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In the various Deda Elementi catalogue there is only one crankset available: Lokomotiv, with 34/50 rings, carbon and natural or white finish. The cranks are carbon fiber and can have a length of 170, 172.5 and 175 mm, the center, the classical measure is 24 mm in titanium, while the alloy crowns are compatible with all groups on the market, 11 speeds. The external shells are only available for English thread. The crank has a declared weight of 696 grams, which is added the 94 grams of central. We have 170 mm in size from a weight of 798 grams, complete with all bracket, screws and everything necessary for proper operation.
The road test
The new crankset Lokomotiv shows a good design features, with accurate machining of metal parts and a perfect coating of carbon fiber parts. The aesthetic is very special and is the opposite of the trend: while everyone is trying to achieve minimal toppings, this is heavy and massive. In fact the whole crankset is designed to be very rigid and have excellent power transmission, this was achieved by placing second in aesthetics and leaving only technical calculations define the shape better. This may, in part, removing those that link only look to purchase a product, and will please those who believe that a crank before pleasure must be valid from a technical standpoint. Deda engineers did not consider aesthetics as a key, but focused on the rigidity of the crank itself. Their goal was to make a crankset rigid and smooth, even giving up some aspects, like the look, no bearing on performance. The "cut" of the spider is particularly determined by mathematical calculations, which also quickly the optimum position of the screws of the crown was therefore abandoned the classical regular arrangement, judged after careful study and a series of tests, unsatisfiable for a crankset rigid and has therefore created a new provision, in pairs, more functional to obtain the maximum rigidity at the points where the most expresses the force of pedalling. With the same design philosophy has been called the conformation of the outer ring, the better to join the crawler. To find this, too, the cranks well sized, and the beautiful pin titanium, lighter points less stress, more than large spiders studied to join the best with a crown. Assembly is easy without the need to use special tools or treat the provision of various spacers. Even the subsequent development of the derailleur is extremely easy and fast and the crank is actually compatible with the various trade groups, with developing efficient and fast. Most critics have noticed a weight not its content and far from many competitors, but it was not going to produce a crankset Deda extreme weight. Moving you appreciate the technical choices made in particular so as regards rigidity and smoothness of the crank. The rigidity of the crank is perfect and able to ensure optimum power transmission to the rear wheel, even the most powerful athletes will not have a complaint about this. So is plain that the benefits are great in the sprints, as well as uphill, standing on the pedals, which surely does not rigidity. Positive that in every situation the steps of the chain between the two crowns are always accurate and fast enough. Also the smoothness of the cups is more than good, though lacking the ceramic bearings, there are close in performance, reflecting the high rigidity of the crank pin and its clearly not bend, even minimally, allowing the bearings to work the best. A crank is also very reliable, as demonstrated by several athletes who use it with satisfaction in cyclocross, where even in case of fall is not subject to break easily, even in side impacts, the weak point of the carbon crankset. Just in the cyclocross is used with satisfaction, because next to the smoothness and rigidity has a low weight in relation to its reliability. On the road your destination is ideal on a bike time trial or duathlon/triathlon, or cycling intended to compete in the street circuits, in tests of plain and be adopted by all those athletes who want a product before any weight very stiff and smooth. Lokomotiv is then perfect in all those trials where the weight has more rigidity, smooth and efficient transmission of power from pedal to rear wheel crank elements in which this is definitely a winner. Bikers can also find satisfaction in this product, especially for its ease of installation and reliability, in addition to the positive aspects already highlighted. Less convinced, however, those who still want a crank by the minimum weight, but at the expense of rigidity. To this end, we hope that in future Deda also try a better product for fans of weight. The list price is around 440 Euros and you can find on sale at about 300 Euro, prices in line with the competition and in line with the quality of the product and its benefits in terms of stiffness/smoothness/reliability.
Positive aspects
Rigidity
Fluency
Build quality
Reliability
Personal aesthetic
Easy installation and setup
Negative aspects
Weight
To learn more:
Deda Elementi
Website: www.dedaelementi.com
