Crank Length?

If overlap is restricting barspinz, the best option is to lop off your toes.

Because we ride on the left, left turns are usually taken tighter than right ones. Therefore you should have the left crank 5mm shorter than the right one.

If you're going to do what mitre_tester is suggesting, which is fantastically sound advice, you should get some Lemond Lespacers for your steerer column. They're an angled spacer, so you can have your bars slightly tilted to match the position afforded by different length cranks.

Because we ride on the left, left turns are usually taken tighter than right ones. Therefore you should have the left crank 5mm shorter than the right one.

Surely that would mean your right crank should be shorter? ;)

pwned

hippy feeling a little cranky....

Hah!

anyone notice a difference between using 170/ 165? Do you feel like you've got less leverage on 165's? Or that your legs are spinning more? I'm looking to replace my set which is 170.. thinking about 165's...but I'm afraid. very afraid.

anyone notice a difference between using 170/ 165? Do you feel like you've got less leverage on 165's? Or that your legs are spinning more? I'm looking to replace my set which is 170.. thinking about 165's...but I'm afraid. very afraid.

Your legs will actually be moving less (but spinning the same as that is down to gearing) That is why there is an argument for shorter cranks/lower gear/higher rpm to get same speed but with less movement of leg as a benefit.
To proove the point imagine trying to ride using a 300 length crank.

Anyway, not really what you asked! I can't say you would notice it after a couple of days, I don't anyway.

I use 175mm on my road bike... but for commuting have used 165,170 and 172.5, and can't feel much difference to be honest (well, on a commuter bike! :)

anyone notice a difference between using 170/ 165? Do you feel like you've got less leverage on 165's? Or that your legs are spinning more? I'm looking to replace my set which is 170.. thinking about 165's...but I'm afraid. very afraid.

I reckon you can tell the difference at the extremes of your cadence.
165s allow me to achieve a slightly higher cadence, which I like for fixed.
175s allow slightly more leverage, which I like for offroad.

(My commuter has 170s which seem to be my correct length for a geared bike)

get 165 and HTFU.

I would like to resurrect this puppy as I am in a slight conundrum...

I can get hold of some cranks in a 170mm size £50 cheaper than their 165mm equivalent.

I'm riding mainly on the road and maybe a bit of (shallow) velodrome work.

I had 170mm on my old Fuji track Pro, but I'm now rocking a Bob Jackson Vigorelli.

Shall I go for 165mm or 170mm?

I'm about 6'1"/6'2" with quite long legs.

Merci.

1. I'm 6'4" on a Bob Jackson and run 170's- they do high bottom bracket on purpose.
   

Since busting my ribs due to pedalstrike im an advocate of 165 cranks (although currently running 160) although most people seem to run 170's without a problem, personally id shell out the extra, but thats just me, i cant comment on BB height as i have no idea the difference between the two

Cheers guys. Okay, so the Vigorelli has a bb height of 28cm, whereas my Fuji had one of 29cm.

So... Running the same length cranks on the BJ will be like running ones 1cm longer than on the Fuji.

Right?

If so, I'm thinking 165s... But, General Lucifer said he's had no problems. Would you say you take corners quite aggressively?

To be fair, i busted my ribs playing polo on 175 cranks, but it was so unpleasant that im not gonna take any chances on my fixed bikes anymore!

Reminds me to replace mine as they are 182.5 ;o((

?!! Wow. That is considerable. I just looked at 5mm on a ruler and I'm hard pressed to see how it would make any discernible difference.

170s it is. Unless anyone convinces me otherwise...

with a 52 chainring, if I take a sharp bend I have to stop pedalling, need to finish the setup on my Air frame.

Cheers guys. Okay, so the Vigorelli has a bb height of 28cm, whereas my Fuji had one of 29cm.

So... Running the same length cranks on the BJ will be like running ones 1cm longer than on the Fuji.

Right?

If so, I'm thinking 165s... But, General Lucifer said he's had no problems. Would you say you take corners quite aggressively?

I corner pretty carefully, actually, but that's just me. Never had pedal strike in 3 years or so.

i too have done the three-weeks of agonising broken rib floundering due to 172.5 pedal strike. but to be fair i was drunk, leaning into a corner like valentino rossi and was unfortunate to clip a raised drain cover right on the apex of a 90 degree bend...

my new bike has 170s but a high-ish bb so i'm hoping i'll be safer.

i can't help thinking that pedal width or q factor or whatever it's called must play a significant role in pedal strike too no? surely with the same length cranks, wide platform or quill pedals with clips and straps are going to hit the ground before narrower clipless pedals?

Clipless pedals, higher bb, lower q-factor, shorter cranks will all allow more lean. I don't see why you'd be anywhere near clipping pedals in normal riding in London.

But if you get longer cranks or whatever you just adjust your cornering appropriately. Take a wider line or slow down a little more. It's not rocket brain science surgery.

[QUOTE=hippy;1258694]I don't see why you'd be anywhere near clipping pedals in normal riding in London. [QUOTE]

you are wise. it wasn't normal riding in my shame-faced case. i was stupidly pissed and doing increasingly reckless laps of a little square, taking uneven, bumpy, 90 degree bends flat out whilst full of scotch. not a good idea. i hit the ground like a sack of spuds and was all but immobile for weeks. won't be doing that again i can assure you.

[QUOTE=hippy;1258694]I don't see why you'd be anywhere near clipping pedals in normal riding in London. [QUOTE]

you are wise. it wasn't normal riding in my shame-faced case. i was stupidly pissed and doing increasingly reckless laps of a little square, taking uneven, bumpy, 90 degree bends flat out whilst full of scotch. not a good idea. i hit the ground like a sack of spuds and was all but immobile for weeks. won't be doing that again i can assure you.

haha. Sorry... I had to laugh at that image. I hope you're okay now though :)

[QUOTE=hippy;1258694]I don't see why you'd be anywhere near clipping pedals in normal riding in London. [QUOTE]

you are wise. it wasn't normal riding in my shame-faced case. i was stupidly pissed and doing increasingly reckless laps of a little square, taking uneven, bumpy, 90 degree bends flat out whilst full of scotch. not a good idea. i hit the ground like a sack of spuds and was all but immobile for weeks. won't be doing that again i can assure you.

you and Max should go out on the piss together, could be entertaining ;p