Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - 170 -> 165 -> 160mm crank

is there a very noticable difference in how hard it is to pedal between the sizes. I'm thinking of moving from a 170 to a 160 because my feet are huge and hit the front wheel.

No, you'll be fine. Do it. Also, stop trolling. You've had at least 3 stupid posts today. Search function, Sheldon Brown, blah blah blah blah blah.

yea, the search keeps freezing on me. maybe it doesn't liker linux

Admittedly, the BF database has issues. I get db errors weekly, and it's not prepared to handle the kind of traffic that it actually gets.

Still, even google will answer all of the stuff you've asked. It's as if you just found out about cycling today and don't know where to look for information.

is there a very noticable difference in how hard it is to pedal between the sizes. I'm thinking of moving from a 170 to a 160 because my feet are huge and hit the front wheel.

When going from 175 to lower crank lengths - you'll be able to raise your seat height accordingly. Vice versa for the other way around.

160 is just absurd.

i hope you like feeling like a clown, cause if you're spinning that fast that's what it's gonna be like.

all this " just search" **** needs to stop

yea, the search keeps freezing on me. maybe it doesn't liker linux

Nope, search likes Linux fine.

is there a very noticable difference in how hard it is to pedal between the sizes. I'm thinking of moving from a 170 to a 160 because my feet are huge and hit the front wheel.

That will only buy you an extra 5 mm of clearance. This will probably not solve your toe overlap issues, and it will probably mess up your bike's ergonomics. You should just learn to live with toe overlap like most peoople who ride a track bike; it doesn't cost any money. :)

5mm IS noticeable, but you'll get used to it pretty quickly

I would personally not agree that 160 seems a bit short, i feel like a clown on my 165's sometimes i think if you could try 160s before you buy em that would be wise 160 is bloody short

Google search prefixed with site:www.bikeforums.net works much better than BF search

That will only buy you an extra 5 mm of clearance. This will probably not solve your toe overlap issues, and it will probably mess up your bike's ergonomics. You should just learn to live with toe overlap like most peoople who ride a track bike; it doesn't cost any money. :)

Or if it really bothers you, get a frame that wasn't desinged for riding on the track.

+1 except I might add that my road conversion gets a teeny tiny bit of overlap with fenders.

yeah, I'm riding a steel lemond zurich -- its not a track bike.
http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee124/datalnx/?action=view&current=1006071316.jpg

dude that's such a tiny amount of overlap. just deal with it.

ah. ok

Nope, search likes Linux fine.

Yep and my java script handling is pretty ****ed yet this disaster of a board doesn't kill it.

My Serotta road bike has more toe overlap than my track bike but neither one presents much of a problem as overlap only occurs at extremely slow speeds and sharp steering angles.
Are you doing slow speed sloloms? Trackstands?
Changing to such short cranks, presumably for street riding, will affect every pedal stroke but the overlap is only an occaisional problem so it seems you will hamper your riding for 99% of the time you ride to help 1% of the time turning.

These cranks are 165's.
http://robertobicicletas.co.uk/ebay/pmplshape-1191538432-2598.jpg


LINKY (http://cgi.ebay.com/PMP-L-shaped-track-pista-cranks-165mm-NOS-144BCD-rare_W0QQitemZ220157301384QQihZ012QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

what the hell are those??

Admittedly, the BF database has issues. I get db errors weekly, and it's not prepared to handle the kind of traffic that it actually gets.

Still, even google will answer all of the stuff you've asked. It's as if you just found out about cycling today and don't know where to look for information.


So what if he did? Isnt that how most people end up here.

Jesus. If you're gonna just post all day telling people to search. why post at all??


to the OP:

Yes, you will feel a bit of a difference, but nothing huge. You should go for it.

yeah, I'm riding a steel lemond zurich -- its not a track bike.
http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee124/datalnx/?action=view&current=1006071316.jpg

well, first off, learrn to strap yer pedals correctly :)

These cranks are 165's.
http://robertobicicletas.co.uk/ebay/pmplshape-1191538432-2598.jpg


LINKY (http://cgi.ebay.com/PMP-L-shaped-track-pista-cranks-165mm-NOS-144BCD-rare_W0QQitemZ220157301384QQihZ012QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Okay, seriously, WTF?

I don't understand this search stuff.

If you don't want to talk about it, go somewhere else.

I like talking about these kinds of things and I wouldn't get to talk about them if someone didn't ask.

And, how did the stuff get in search, anyway?

By people talking about it.

=====

I recently built up a fixed gear mountain bike.

I had to use 175 cranks for a lot of reasons.

I resisted it.

I worried about pedal strikes, but the extremely high bottom bracket of the mountain bike frame resolved the pedal strike issue.

Anyway, it feels great.

This length of crank actually fits me better, and I find I spin as well or better than at 165 or 170.

u will have lesss overlap with the 160s than the 170s
u will have less leverage with each pedal stroke with the 160 than the 170s

And, how did the stuff get in search, anyway?

By people talking about it.


genius

I thought the search engine just simulated inane and bitter discussion between hundreds of people for us to...you know...search through.

Or if it really bothers you, get a frame that wasn't desinged for riding on the track.

+1

+1

rtft :)

Get 165 cranks and medium sized clips and you should be fine

have you tried different clip sizes? i know you said you have huge feet, but if you could go with smaller clips you could compromise and not have to jump all the way down to 160. or maybe not have to change at all, unless you just want a reason for new cranks.

yea I was thinking about getting smaller clips. I'm not sure what makes them smaller tho. Are they narrower or not as long? Will my foot be in a weird position respective of my size 13 feet?

yea I was thinking about getting smaller clips. I'm not sure what makes them smaller tho. Are they narrower or not as long? Will my foot be in a weird position respective of my size 13 feet?

They'll be shorter. With size 13's, they might put your feet too far back on the pedals. Most people do best with the ball of the foot over the pedal spindle or close to it.

I don't understand this search stuff.

I recently built up a fixed gear mountain bike.

I had to use 175 cranks for a lot of reasons.

I resisted it.

I worried about pedal strikes, but the extremely high bottom bracket of the mountain bike frame resolved the pedal strike issue.

Anyway, it feels great.

This length of crank actually fits me better, and I find I spin as well or better than at 165 or 170.On my single speed mountain bike I run 180mm for out of the seat climbing leverage and it feels great. On my track bikes I run 165 for better spin. I don't really understand all this clown talk. If you have a spinny gear you'll be able to spin better with shorter cranks, there's nothing really to it. With fixed gears I feel a little more secure in the turns with short cranks, but 5mm really isn't that much of a difference.

Also how tall are you? That has more to do with optimum crank length for spinning than anything else really.

Fun fact: Miguel Indurain used to run 190mm in the mountains.

6' 175lb
long torso shorter legs

A thought,
If you are just going to say "search function" why not make the logical choice in the first place. DON'T REPLY if a post irks you that much. Well, that would make too much sense I suppose.