Apologies for the Instagram but I really liked this photo. I got these Dura Ace 7402 cranks NOS a few years ago. They didn’t come with chainrings, so I put on some modern Shimano rings, hoping they’d last longer than the DA race rings.

Yesterday, when I pulled these off my Merckx road bike, I was amazed at how much wear and tear I had put on them. There are thousands of miles on them and while they’re all chewed up, there’s something beautiful about them. For some reason, I doubt my new carbon cranks would wear so well.