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Mid School BMX (>87) 1989 to 2003 (<05) => Mid School ( Keep the faith ) => Topic started by: midschooljon on August 21, 2014, 10:36 PM

Title: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: midschooljon on August 21, 2014, 10:36 PM
I have noticed a few people chiming in in various threads about the twin pinch flight crank debate and what is / isn't acceptable on a mid school bike. ***I would like to make it clear that this thread is in now way a stab at the judging at MK*** I think MK was a fantastic event and I am personally very pleased with the awards my bikes received. What I am hoping to do here is clear up any confusion that may be floating around, as it seems a lot of people are unsure about when twin pinch flights arrived, and what a mid school version looks like.

The reality is that it is very simple to spot a set of real mid school flights as there was only ever one type of mid school twin pinch flight crank. Here are a few pointers.

1) Twin pinch flights were released in 1997.
2) They were USA made.
3) They were Non Wrap (all of them). For those who aren't clear on what non wrap means, it refers to the fact that the crank arm does not wrap around the pedal boss.
4) They came with conical US standard hardware (flush mount spindle bolts do not fit into the spindles as an upgrade).
5) They stopped making non wrap in 2002, and switched to a full wrap version (USA MADE).
6) in 2003 production moved to Taiwan and continued to be full wrap until today.

So if you spot a set of twin pinch flights look at the pedal boss. If it is a non wrap set of cranks they are mid school. If they are full wrap then they are in fact 2002 or newer (most often a lot newer). A 2002 USA made set of full wrap twin pinch flights will have conical US standard spindle bolts. A Taiwanese made post 2003 set will have flush mount spindle bolts.

Below is an ad for the Mid School cranks showing the non wrap pedal boss and the correct hardware. Hope this is helpful to those who were unsure. :daumenhoch:

(http://www.sirmerlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/flight-cranks-v2.jpg)
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: ron burgundy on August 21, 2014, 10:48 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v512/cython3/bikes/flights.jpg)

Happy Xmas :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: Christhejob on August 23, 2014, 07:58 AM
If they are early 90s they are likely to be in the ground in many many pieces. Pure cheese!
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: midschooljon on August 23, 2014, 10:38 AM
If they are early 90s they are likely to be in the ground in many many pieces. Pure cheese!

I think that goes for all Flight Cranks.  :LolLolLolLol:

Reason early 90's are so thin on the ground is that by then Profile / GT Profiles had been proven to be far better, and as a result by the 90's Flight sales went off a cliff.  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: ED209 on August 28, 2014, 10:36 AM
 :)

(http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq343/mr_coasterbrake/cjrflightsweb.jpg)
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: dordymush on August 29, 2014, 11:52 AM
I think there fookin orrible new or old lol.
I hateeeeeeeeeee twin pinch flites  :2gunsfiring_v1:
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: midschooljon on August 31, 2014, 03:25 PM
I hateeeeeeeeeee twin pinch flites  :2gunsfiring_v1:

I dont hate them, but I hate it when people use them on midschool bikes. Full wrap twin pinch are all post 2003, and seeing them on 90's bikes is disappointing.
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: Dannywhac on August 31, 2014, 05:09 PM
Nice micro-guide Jon :)

This is a joke, so no-one sh1t yer britches at it:

[attachment=1]
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: Dannywhac on August 31, 2014, 05:10 PM
*edit* Maybe I should have renamed the bottom two to 'on eBay as New Old School'

And they were cack tbh - either snapped or went loose as buggery. Had one pair back then, soon as I saved up the pennies for some Profiles never looked back (unless I was doing a look back).

Saying that, S&M Prince Alberts were just as cakka  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: midschooljon on August 31, 2014, 08:04 PM
*edit* Maybe I should have renamed the bottom two to 'on eBay as New Old School'

And they were cack tbh - either snapped or went loose as buggery. Had one pair back then, soon as I saved up the pennies for some Profiles never looked back (unless I was doing a look back).

Saying that, S&M Prince Alberts were just as cakka  :daumenhoch:

Haha. Profile definitely brought the Flight Crank dream (and a lot of other brands) to an abrupt end. It wasn't until Powerbites came along, and much later Saint / DX cranks in racing that they started to fade.
Title: Re: Mid School Twin Pinch Flights (how to spot them vs 2000 models)
Post by: OrgasmDonor on September 01, 2014, 05:44 PM
the early 90s single pinch look awesome on early 90s race bike IMO, always liked em but never owned any as preferred the confidence of GT profiles and still ride em on my ns  :daumenhoch:
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