170 to 160 - bad idea?

Ive been looking for some cranks for the new bike im building. Ive been struggling to find anything decent quality in 165mm that I can afford.

Tranferring parts from my old bike is not an option, because it had integrated 52t. on 170mm cranks.

For this bike I want slightly lower geared, and more "spinny" ride.

I found some good cranks on sale, but they are 160mm!

Ive always ridden 170 or even 175 cranks on bikes, but theyve been BMX's and mtbs etc.

Ive got 29" inseam, so not very big. Reckon 160 would suit?

You will notice a difference but you'll get used to it with time. Why so hard to find cheap 165mm cranks? They're everywhere!

it'll increase your GI, i believe, so whatever you currently ride will feel harder.
in terms of length, just raise your saddle a bit!

You will notice a difference but you'll get used to it with time. Why so hard to find cheap 165mm cranks? They're everywhere!

find me some pleaase.

Your cheap is probably different to my cheap.

Got £20 posted at my disposal. If it doesnt come with chainrings, 110bcd is good as I have some spare.

I don't know in reality how big issue it is, but if the bike is fixed, you probably need to watch out during cornering just that little bit more?

He's putting SHORTER cranks on.. so cornering will be even less of an issue.

RPM cranks. Dunno cost but they're cheap
Older Campag cranks (as I had on the Soma) £40 with ring and bb
Shimano 600 road cranks (as I had on the Raleigh) probably even cheaper
Sugino XD's from hubjub are sub-£50

Just save your money. Don't they teach that in school these days?

FSA 40 quid http://www.kiwicycles.com/partsce.htm

or from pearsons. gotta love them nasty FSA sets - cheap as chips. well, in the old days, before biofuel pushed up the price of potatoes.

I remember when you could take a girl out to dinner, go to 'he pictures, have a bag of chips on way home and still have change for a pint all from 5 bob. Try and tell kid that these days and they won't believe you.

He's putting SHORTER cranks on.. so cornering will be even less of an issue.

RPM cranks. Dunno cost but they're cheap
Older Campag cranks (as I had on the Soma) £40 with ring and bb
Shimano 600 road cranks (as I had on the Raleigh) probably even cheaper
Sugino XD's from hubjub are sub-£50

Just save your money. Don't they teach that in school these days?

all of those options, bar the RPM would be great.

But there seems to be fixie/fixed conversion fever in the air. All the aforementioned rather ordinary cranks are fetching well above what I would expect them to be worth.

Anything Campag is like gold!

Iv had a try with them FSA, was rather dissapointed. They seem a little flexy, and not so well made. The new set on a bike in the shop, already had rusty bolts.

RPM bb did not feel great either.

Iv had a try with them FSA, was rather dissapointed. They seem a little flexy, and not so well made. The new set on a bike in the shop, already had rusty bolts.

RPM bb did not feel great either.

Skint and picky.

Not a great combination.

Skint and picky.

Not a great combination.

yes I know.

Skint & picky to the max!

£40

£100

£40ish I suppose?

£66 + £13(bb)

£62

How tight are you?

How tight are you?

I would be willing to fork out the £40 for a chainset like those campagnolo or shimano. As they would really suit the bike.

But for some reason I am finding impossible to find any (in any size) within those prices. Finding 165mm seems impossible.

And valuewise, the readily available choices seem scandalous in comparison to what I could get for a BMX or MTB.

This isn't MTB or BMX though.. their markets are bigger. Road and track parts are generally more expensive and especially so with the 'fixed are the new skateboards' thing. Still, if you are prepared to 1. Save your money, 2. Wait and 3. Observe ebay, etc.. you will find what you are looking for at a good price. It's all about patience grasshopper. Those 600s on the Raleigh might go soon as I'm selling that bike.