Crank length changes, your experiences?

wkkie

wkkie

It's Not Easy Being Green
I'm in the mood to grab some new blingy cranks for the dually shortly and conflicted on going 160mm or sticking with 165mm.

I felt the most difference going from 170mmn to 165 on the hardtail in the way it pedals, but didn't really notice the difference pedaling on the dually, just the benefit of more clearance.

Am I likely to feel the same going from 165mm to 160mm?

How have you all gone with crank length changes?
 
I tried 155mm cranks and loved how they felt descending, but I was definitely working harder on the climbs.

On 165mm now. Wouldn't mind trying 160mm
 
Also had a go on the 155s on my hardtail for a few months before transferring them onto my sons bike.
Was a noticeable change from 165s, but got used to it. Loved the extra clearance (hardtail has a low BB) could've kept them but had bought them specifically for the boys bike so went back to 165s when I built his up.
 
Smaller cranks you can spin better/faster. Top dead centre is not as high so the "dead zone" is shorter and there is less linear distance to cover, that is, the circumference is smaller. So while you need more force you get better leverage. I think everyone has some optimum length where they will be most efficient... now to convince the manufacturers to make crank lengths in 2mm incremenents.

170mm is the most efficient on average ;)
pink poodle said:
All this short crank fanboi action isn't helping me sell off my 170mm cranks.
Click to expand...
 
fjohn860 said:
I tried 155mm cranks and loved how they felt descending, but I was definitely working harder on the climbs.

On 165mm now. Wouldn't mind trying 160mm
Click to expand...
Did you notice your feet felt closer together during descending? If so was that why the 155s felt great?

I'm going to try some 165 ones soon.
 
I started with 165mm cranks with a 32t chain ring. Had a few pedal strikes so got even shorter crank curious and thought fuck it and bought some 155mm cranks. With the same 32t chain ring on the 155's all the hills were steeper, longer and were harder to get up so I dropped to a 28 tooth chain ring and everything equalized. Desending tbh I don't recall any massive change compared to the 165's. The reduced possibility of a pedal strike is the biggest positive for me. My mate is on the same bike and is running 170 cranks and reckons he rarely gets pedal strikes so read into that what you will.
 
I REMOVED my 165mm cranks from 1 of my bikes, as it was the only bike i had with short cranks.
It was the odd one out, and just felt weird compared to all my other bikes that have 175's.

10mm shorter (or more) and the pedalling circle, and loss in power transfer is definitely noticable

Just something to be aware of.
If you only have 1 bike, perfect.
Multiple bikes, you might be up for several new crank sets, to keep the pedalling feel consistent between your different bikes.
 
I'm the opposite, have 2 bikes with 165s, one with 170 for which i have a set of 165s to put on, and the commuter still has 175s. The 175s feel a little odd if I'm thinking about it.
I'm well and truly drunk on the kool-aid.
 
I'd like some 165mm cranks for my Ripmo, there doesn't seem to be much out there. Want Shimano but have only found SRAM DUB readily available.
What are youse using ?
 
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