Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Anyone go to shorter cranks and like them?

About 9 months ago I built a fixed gear conversion. For more cornering clearance, I put 165s on even though my "nice bike" has 170s. I thought it was going to be a compromise and I was going to have to live with it, but wouldn't like it. I have a 30" inseam.

Now I've found that I like the short cranks. I like the feeling of spinning with them. Part of that might be the differences in pedaling a fixed gear, but even when I flip my hub to the ss side, spinning feels great. In fact, when my two bikes are at approximately the same gear ratio, it seems easier to cruise with the shorter cranks.

So now I'm considering swapping out my cranks on my other bike to 165s and I'm just curious, anyone go to shorter cranks and then realize they prefer them?

Nick

I just installed a 165s yesterday, and the difference was immediately noticable and spinning was much easier than on my stupidlong 175s

i put 140 bulletproofs on my iro last week and i think theyre great. At first i felt a huge difference, but its all ive been riding for a week and it just feels natural now. Its much better for the knees and i can corner like a madman (no pedal strike).

140s, jebus. ...

I noticed that shorter cranks are easier on my knees, too. If my knee trouble keeps up, maybe I'll give crazy short cranks a shot.

as long as you keep your gain ratio the same the switch could be quite beneficial

I love the 165's on my fix, but I went down to 170's on my MTB, and it's not much fun. I lost a lot of leverage.

I went to 165s on my road bike and went compact - shorter cranks and lower gears are a great combination. I think my knees will thank me for it in 30 years.

Also, short cranks are stiffer, give quicker acceleration, tighter cornering.


On the track former world champion Claudio Gollinelli (see YouTube) rode 150mm cranks. Never stopped him winning races.

Ride what feels good.

140? damn.

i'm real tall (6'6") so i don't like going with 165s cause i feel like a clown spinning that fast.

140? damn.

i'm real tall (6'6") so i don't like going with 165s cause i feel like a clown spinning that fast.

im 5'11"

Ditto on the 140's.
I'm 6' tall and I know it's odd. But it works!

after riding a bike with 170mm cranks on it exclusively, i put 165mm cranks on a nicer bike. the difference was astounding, especially when i'm all hunkered down in the drops. it really helped my comfort and fit on the bike, and since i ride a lower gear on that bike, having the shorter cranks helps my spin. also i'm short.

Well its nice to know that I'm not the only one who wonders about the length of the cranks the the bike industry chooses to put on stock bikes.

Some 165s sure sound nice... as a bonus, Nashbar is having a 20% off sale right now.....

I'm not really sure how I feel about my 165's. There's a smaller circle you have to spin, so there's less arc on each of your joints. I think the short arms might give you incentive to sit and spin rather than stand and mash like you're on a stairmaster, but on a SS/FG you don't really have a choice uphills.

I've got 165 sugino's an I like em'.....

I rode 170s all my life, then got a Bianchi San Jose with 172.5 cranks. I swapped them for 165s and really like it. I usually ride it SS, not FG. I'm (almost) 5'11" with long legs/short torso, if that matters. For my group buy IRO I'm going to use some old Shimano 600 cranks that I have in my spares bin, but they're 170. I wonder how long it'll be before I'm looking for 165s to replace them.

hello did you purchase the mirella bike???I am seeking to buy a mirella bike or frame please advise Peter

Peter. Whatever you do, don't buy the mirella bike. Buy a Kilo TT.

Also, don't google Mirella at work.

170 to 165, couldn't be happier.....

Also, don't google Mirella at work.

nice

I've noticed the 175's help to build power and I like stretching out the stroke for an all day ride, but the 172.5 is quicker on race day and more responsive. I still can't believe 2 1/2 cents could make that big of difference but it does.

165's on everything except my MTB's, which are 170's. Of course, I'm short with a 28" inseam, so it's like someone a foot taller running 175's. It's all relative to your leg length. If I could find some 160's with a 144mm bcd for the track, I'd get them.

165's on everything except my MTB's, which are 170's. Of course, I'm short with a 28" inseam, so it's like someone a foot taller running 175's. It's all relative to your leg length. If I could find some 160's with a 144mm bcd for the track, I'd get them.

yeah, 175s to me are like 160s to you. I used to ride 165s and currently have 170s on my fg, mainly because that's what I have. I had 170s on the touring bike for a while and it felt weird, I switched to 175 in heartbeat when I found the exact triple I wanted for dirt cheap. I supposed I got used to it on FG but it just felt wrong on the geared bike. Not enough knee flexion

Anybody go to posting in a thread from 2007 and like it?

yeah boi

It's a relevant topic

I went to 165s on my road bike and went compact - shorter cranks and lower gears are a great combination. I think my knees will thank me for it in 30 years.

Also, short cranks are stiffer, give quicker acceleration, tighter cornering.


On the track former world champion Claudio Gollinelli (see YouTube) rode 150mm cranks. Never stopped him winning races.

Ride what feels good.

+1

I actually switched from 165 to 170 and I feel like I like 170 a little better

I did not know it, but the trike I take the dog in has 140s. I had to measure them. The trike is a single speed. I love the 140's.
I have hit 200 rpm and 195 rpm a couple of times. There is no way I can do that on my other bikes, they all have 170's. including my track bike. I'm going to look for shorter cranks next summer.
Loaded with the dog and water etc. It's about 100 lbs. 200 rpm = 20 mph.