CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

165mm to 170mm crank - will I notice?

(10 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from Wilmington's Cow
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. My left crank on the fixed wheel needs replaced. It's a 165mm, but they're thin on the ground (cheaply and singly). Would I notice if the drive side were 165mm and the non-drive 170mm???

    Posted 13 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

    Probably

    you'd get used to it

    Then EVERY other bike would feel strange

    Posted 13 years ago #
  3. recombodna
    Member

    Also you may develop a sore knee.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  4. I wondered about that (got a dodgy left knee anyway, though riding doesn't really cause any issues), but then thought, well my geared bike has 170mm cranks, so why would there be a difference?

    Posted 13 years ago #
  5. Min
    Member

    Sounds like a good way to gain yourself an injury to me. Probably of the variety that just creeps up on you over time but then keeps you off the bike for months. If it were me I'd just fork out for two the same length.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  6. spytfyre
    Member

    I'm with Min on this one - get two

    Posted 13 years ago #
  7. Kim
    Member

    Go to the Tri Centre and get your self measured up, then you will know which is the correct size of crank for you.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  8. LaidBack
    Member

    Would I notice if the drive side were 165mm and the non-drive 170mm???

    Ask Madame Raven in CityCycling ;-)

    Seriously though you must have equal lengths of cranks.

    As far as length goes if you are taller then better with longer ones. So 175 / 172.5 / 170 etc
    Interested to know what Tri Centre would say as Kim suggests.

    I have supplied bikes with 155mm cranks which reduces heel to wheel overlap on LB bikes for smaller riders. It also has the effect of (virtually) 'raising' the gear as your feet travel slower to make a turn on the pedals. A debate on this could occupy a thread in itself something in Velo Vision a while back. Mike Burrows also has written about this.
    For children and shorter people smaller cranks work well - hence crank shorteners for children on tandems
    One BHPC race rider did have a bike with 75mm cranks (yes 75mm is shorter than the lines of type you are reading here). This is very difficult to cycle up hills so not recommended!

    Posted 13 years ago #
  9. Off to the Bike Station on the way home tonight to have a gander.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  10. Came up trumps. I rooted about for 5 minutes but found the ONLY 165mm in there (I also found a 152mm - eh?). Whacked it on the bike last night, stuck some new brake pads on, bit of a clean up and some oil on the chain, and this morning's commute was a joy.

    Posted 13 years ago #

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