crankey! don't get short with me

[flick]

OK here's the deal I ride 180mm cranks on all my bikes, 33 inch inseam, not real tall, 5'11" according to my wife, but I'm really 6'. My cadence is fast enough 72-85 or more depending on effort, but everybody is like wow man 170 or 175 would be better, It don't make sense to me 'splain someone pleez. Am I not generating greater torque at any given time, Or would my cadence increase with those stubby little cranks, enough to compensate. My 50 yr old knees have no trouble with extended +100 cadences even on my single speed. AND... wouldn't others benefit from longer cranks, Is wrong headed tradition like lactic acid holding some back, Bottom line, short cranks don't make sense to me

[GrantM]

why did you stop at 180's, wouldn't 190 or 200 be better?

[flick]

why did you stop at 180's, wouldn't 190 or 200 be better?

Can't find em round here, seriously 180 seemed reasonable enough, I imagine 190's would be really pushin it, but alot of people don't seem to even notice a 5mm difference so why not take advantage of a small but measureable improvement

[GrantM]

Can't find em round here, seriously 180 seemed reasonable enough, I imagine 190's would be really pushin it, but alot of people don't seem to even notice a 5mm difference so why not take advantage of a small but measureable improvement

maybe some people find that 175 is their 180.

i know my 180 is 170


g

[WadePatton]

I run 170's, 175's, and 180's. BikeCad calls for 190's.

Love the 180's on the offroadie. Like to try 'em onroadie.

[Fixed]

bro how is the snap with those long daddy's ?
cheers

[flick]

they accelerate like nothin else, long cranks are like a big block, longer stroke, I know its not the same by the way but its fun to live in my head

[doofus]

If you're happy with your long cranks, keep them. If you would like to try shorter cranks, borrow a 175 and ride it for a month.

I know that one of the purposes of our forum is to discuss riding tips and the like, but we can't tell you how the shorter cranks will feel, and the studies done on crank length are equivocal, in the end. No one has any "last word" research on what works best, so all the scientific minded types will just argue about it, and being the internet, it will get nasty and the thread will get locked. In the meantime, you won't have any more information about how different cranks will actually feel. That will only happen if you put them on your bike.

All that said, 75-85rpm is on the slow side for cadence, and 180s are on the long side for someone your height.

[Too Tall]

If it is working for you...do like you do and do it all day long!

[doofus]

If it is working for you...do like you do and do it all day long!

don't listen to this guy

he's a dangerous nut who rides a 64cm frame

everybody knows you're not supposed to ride anything bigger than a 60

[Sandy]

Consider Zinn's formula for crank length:

crank length = inseam (mm) x .216.

For you- 33 x 25.4 x .216 = 181.05 So per zinn, you are riding the correct size cranks.


Cranky Sandy

[Too Tall]

Sniff, I'm hurt Doof...you shorted me boss. That's a 66 if it's a day. Puny little 64 humph!!!!

There truly are many ways to an end. For instance one of the finest sprinters in our region is 6'8" tall JUST LIKE ME BUT IT'S NOT ME and he rides 175's. I use 180s and can not tell the difference between 177.5 cranks and 180s and I use 175's on the track where I don't notice the diff. until I ride on the road. For me the 175's feel like I've got more torque, they are more "punchy" if you will.

No sir, I do not think you do yourself a disservice. If anything I'd advise that change is bad esp. so when it comes to cranks. If it has been working than stick with it.