poll: what length cranks do you use?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mr. President on October 18, 2008 at 8:45am

I am just shy of 6 feet and use 175 on mtbs. I have gone back and forth from 172.5 and 175. But to be honest my contributing factors are deals I can get on a crank.

I am not sponsored, nor am i any good, so cost is how I sort it out. Not terribly pc or proper, but hey a bro just wants to race you know. If cost was no object, I think 175. They just feel better atmo

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Permalink Reply by FTM on October 18, 2008 at 3:32pm

5'11" - 172.5 on road and SS CX, 175 on SS MBT.
Much of a difference? Probably not but I usually try to gear for the more spinning side of things in a CX race so a little shorter crank length can't hurt.

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Permalink Reply by morgan on October 19, 2008 at 7:40am

175s here, same as my road bike, I'm 6'2" and dunno my inseam, ride a 59cm cx bike, 60cm road bike, XL mtn bike. I have 180s on a couple of my mtn bikes. My optimal cadence for road racing is around 85-90rpm, but I climb a lot slower than that. Have no idea what my cx cadence is.

Crank length is tied to leg length, so you should mention that.

Morgan

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Permalink Reply by Albino on October 19, 2008 at 6:18pm

I had 172.5 on the cross bike last year. I've always had 175 on the mtb. I wanted to try 175's this year. Only draw backs are the toe overlap and I stab the ground in corners when I'm not thinking very well during a race, or leaning too far.

I'm 5'7" and ride a 50cm CX bike.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Mayhew on October 19, 2008 at 6:48pm

170mm on one bike, 175mm on the other bike. (that's what it came with). Crank length more or less makes no difference from a physiological standpoint.

5'5", 50cm bike. 27" jean inseam.

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Permalink Reply by GeWilli on October 20, 2008 at 9:02am

6'6"-6'5" (as a kid i was easily 6'6" now I fear i'm headed closer to 6'5")
180s...

on everything

totally kicks ass

makes a huge difference. I don't feel like i can do much when I try to get on a short crank bike...

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Permalink Reply by bradyja on October 20, 2008 at 11:36am

5'9", 54cm C'dale. 172.5 on rd, 175 on mtb (what they both came with) So 172.5 on the cx bike. I remember reading somewhere awhile ago that the standard 172.5(rd.) and 175 (mtb) were standard b/c they fit the majority of riders, say between 5'6" and 6 ft.

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Permalink Reply by andrew on October 20, 2008 at 5:19pm

anybody know what trebon and wicks use? just curious.

gewilli, can you dunk?

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Permalink Reply by erikv on October 20, 2008 at 11:28pm

Whenever I've snuck a peak, it was 175mm. Haven't done it lately though.

I'm 6'5" and ride 180s on everything. I think I like 175s better, at least on the road.

Gewilli can TOTALLY dunk.

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Permalink Reply by andrew on October 21, 2008 at 12:02am

if you like 175s better...why not switch? or is it just a recent revelation?

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Permalink Reply by erikv on October 23, 2008 at 11:38pm

Because I'm not sure. Still pondering.

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Permalink Reply by GeWilli on October 21, 2008 at 7:40am

dunk? yeah sort of, not a high flying slam but if I can get a good grip on the ball i can sometimes make it in, more a problem of just sucking at Basketball than anything else...

I heard that Treefarm was trying out 177.5s at Gloucester this year. And he was complaining about the cranks hitting in the turns.

My second day at G-ster was a first on some nice Grifos and, well, It was the first time I felt like I wanted a higher bottom bracket.

Logic as far as proportions go is that freaks like erikv, me, treefarm and wicks - we should be able to spin 180s far easier than say an average height person on 165-170s. I can hit 150-160 rpm with 180s on the road (not fixed gear). So i don't usually have a problem spinning but spinning in cross still seems pretty unnatural for me. After spending the summer doing TTs with a 40t front ring my spin is as smooth and strong as it has ever been. But if i try it in a cross race I go backwards fast. Gotta use torque (well for me - i dunno about anyone else).

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