170mm Vs 175mm Cranks
When I first built up my Red Rocket Single Speed, I used 170mm cranks. I emailed a few guys and they all seem to give me some scientific and mechanical input as to why the 175 would be better. But I didn’t listen.
During my first ride, I didn’t feel any difference at all. So I stuck with it until my next ride, a 12 miler. Man, by mile 4 I was already worn out from spinning too much with the 170. I was completely miserable the whole ride.
So yesterday I finally swapped out the cranks for a 175mm set and boy I can feel a HUGE difference in the power, cadence and my energy. I can REALLY tell that the 175mm makes a big impact on my riding.
Now I’m wondering if 180mm would be better…as Jeremy likes to say, “Bigger is always better.” Kinda makes me wonder if that goes the same for crank arms…
Popularity: 9% [?]
07/25/2008
you have Strong knees!! 180mm cranksI can’t ride cranks longer than 170mm on any bike.
07/25/2008
crank length is usually more for proportioned to your leg and what you’re used to. smaller cranks are better suited for spinning (i.e. road)
going between bikes with different crankarm lengths a lot can feel wierd.
you might be better off with 172.5
07/25/2008
180mm cranks and you might start hitting the pedals more on rocks.
07/25/2008
Don’t believe the hype (or the “placebo effect”). 180mm cranks are only for really tall folks or folks with unusually long legs (neither of which you possess).
While theoretically you can get more leverage from a 175mm crankarm, 5mm of length difference doesn’t amount to a whole lot. And by “whole lot”, I’m talking fractions of a percent.
Check out this brief article:
http://boulderreport.bicycling.com/2008/01/blinded-by-scie.html
07/25/2008
Wait…are you saying I’m short?
07/25/2008
Well…I wasn’t as diplomatic as I usually am, but yes — you aren’t LeBron James or anything…
07/25/2008
I don’t know about that…I’ve yet to be told that I’m short…any one else in with Jack about this?
07/25/2008
The important thing is that you don’t have long legs…and I’ve seen photos. If you were endowed with walking sticks like Gabriella Reece or a pro NBA player, I’d say go with 180s. Otherwise, stick to 170/175. Believe me, all the differences you felt were in your head.
07/25/2008
I beg to differ that it was in my head…it was in my legs.