What crank size are you using?
11-28-15, 12:53 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Long Beach
Posts: 765
Bikes: Fitz randonneuse, Trek Superfly/AL, Tsunami SS, Bacchetta, HPV Speed Machine, Rans Screamer
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 100 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Same height and inseam here. I rode 180s for 30 years and recently have been switching to 175, and feel I do better on long rides. The longer cranks feel torquey at first, but make me feel like I am never in the correct gear, so I poop out quickly.
So currently I have a rando with 175, MTB WITH 180, Speed Machine, Bacchetta and Screamer with 175 (never tried anything else on a bent), a SS built with spare parts with 180, and a folder with 170. The 170s feel like duds, as does the whole bike of course.
My current bents are at their adjustment limits, so even trying a shorter crank isn't very easy to do. My biggest complaint, however, is that the seats are all too short for my back.
So currently I have a rando with 175, MTB WITH 180, Speed Machine, Bacchetta and Screamer with 175 (never tried anything else on a bent), a SS built with spare parts with 180, and a folder with 170. The 170s feel like duds, as does the whole bike of course.
My current bents are at their adjustment limits, so even trying a shorter crank isn't very easy to do. My biggest complaint, however, is that the seats are all too short for my back.
11-28-15, 06:30 PM
#5
Senior Member
6'3", 37" inseam, 47" xseam, 180's on my 'bents, 175's on my (seldom ridden) df's.
SP
OC, OR
PS - on my New Year's Day 100k, the 180's and biopace rings worked great - typical cadence 90-110 rpms.
SP
OC, OR
PS - on my New Year's Day 100k, the 180's and biopace rings worked great - typical cadence 90-110 rpms.
Last edited by rando_couche; 01-02-16 at 07:51 PM.
11-28-15, 07:42 PM
#6
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
170 crankarms on my singles and 172.5 on the tandem. Can't feel the difference, probably because riding the Screamer is so not like riding the others.
6'1", 32" inseam, 44" xseam.
6'1", 32" inseam, 44" xseam.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
11-28-15, 08:34 PM
#7
Senior Member
I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam/44" X-Seam, and ride 170s. 175s reduced my cadence, and going short did nothing but make me walk a few hills that I normally pedaled.
Last edited by BlazingPedals; 11-29-15 at 02:53 PM.
11-28-15, 10:53 PM
#8
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks this is good info.
Running 200mm for me on tandem to slow my cadence to match my wife on the back (175mm)
Catgita, i built my bent and made my seat 2" taller then normal seats.
Running 200mm for me on tandem to slow my cadence to match my wife on the back (175mm)
Catgita, i built my bent and made my seat 2" taller then normal seats.
12-11-15, 10:34 PM
#12
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lee County, IA
Posts: 61
Bikes: Trek 5600 Carbon road bike, Giant Anyroad Comax gravel bike, Cruzbike QX100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
Used 170 mm for years, finally got used to 172.5 mm, on the upright bikes. My new Cruzbike QX100 came with 160 mm cranks. Going to see how that works out. I have a set of 175 mm cranks I could use.
12-15-15, 07:15 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Posts: 661
Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 224 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
106 Posts
My legs a bit short. My x-seam is 38 inches. I went to 145mm cranks, and I love them. Very quick to spool up speed. My knees love it too.
01-02-16, 05:39 PM
#14
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lee County, IA
Posts: 61
Bikes: Trek 5600 Carbon road bike, Giant Anyroad Comax gravel bike, Cruzbike QX100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
Just put on 175 mm Shimano Tiagra cranks on the QX100. Though I don't have a long X-seam (54 cm road bike I would ride), I think I am going to stick with the longer size based on my experience today.
01-03-16, 07:14 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
I'm 5'10" and have had my left femur pinned which limits my range of motion a bit.
My Enduro Sport has a 165 mm compact double and feels perfect.
My Rocket has a 148 mm triple which feels "OK" but I think that a little longer would be better. I have a 170 mm Dotek crank that would probably be functional but I think that it's ugly so I'm not very excited about trying it. Does anybody have a 165 mm crankset with a 130 mm BCD for sale or trade?
My Enduro Sport has a 165 mm compact double and feels perfect.
My Rocket has a 148 mm triple which feels "OK" but I think that a little longer would be better. I have a 170 mm Dotek crank that would probably be functional but I think that it's ugly so I'm not very excited about trying it. Does anybody have a 165 mm crankset with a 130 mm BCD for sale or trade?
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
01-03-16, 05:03 PM
#16
Senior Member
I'm 5'10" and have had my left femur pinned which limits my range of motion a bit.
My Enduro Sport has a 165 mm compact double and feels perfect.
My Rocket has a 148 mm triple which feels "OK" but I think that a little longer would be better. I have a 170 mm Dotek crank that would probably be functional but I think that it's ugly so I'm not very excited about trying it. Does anybody have a 165 mm crankset with a 130 mm BCD for sale or trade?
My Enduro Sport has a 165 mm compact double and feels perfect.
My Rocket has a 148 mm triple which feels "OK" but I think that a little longer would be better. I have a 170 mm Dotek crank that would probably be functional but I think that it's ugly so I'm not very excited about trying it. Does anybody have a 165 mm crankset with a 130 mm BCD for sale or trade?
SP
OC, OR
01-03-16, 11:12 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Central PA (USA)
Posts: 1,448
Bikes: 2014 Carbon Quest XS (Velomobile), 2014 Catrike Road (Trike), 2013 Easy Motion Max 700+ PCS (E-bike), 2011 Lynskey R340 (Road), 2011 Surly Moonlander (Fatty), 2010 Santa Cruise Tallboy (Full Suspension)
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Liked 15 Times
in
11 Posts
5'6", 30" inseam, 39" X-seam
155 mm both Velomobile & trike.
155 mm both Velomobile & trike.
03-08-16, 10:09 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
165 mm is the sweet spot for me. Longer than that makes my repaired hip joint bend funny, shorter than that feels "choppy" when I pedal.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
03-12-16, 05:56 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Maryville, IL
Posts: 52
Bikes: RANS Stratus 700, Bacchetta Corsa, HPV Gekko FX 20, Rover Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
5'11", 32" inseam, 43.75" X-seam. 170's on all the two wheelers, and 165 on the trike.
04-26-16, 07:14 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Posts: 661
Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 224 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
106 Posts
Since my last reply, I've gone from 145mm to 155mm cranks. No issues, and seem to be just a tad faster
04-30-16, 03:36 PM
#22
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lee County, IA
Posts: 61
Bikes: Trek 5600 Carbon road bike, Giant Anyroad Comax gravel bike, Cruzbike QX100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
Recently switched the 175 cranks for 165 cranks. Much better. Now I can ride the Cruzbike hands free much easier. 165 is the shortest Tiagra crank I could find.
05-08-16, 07:36 AM
#24
Ride more, eat less
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Philla PA, Hoboken NJ, Brooklyn NY
Posts: 2,070
Bikes: Too many but never enough.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 713 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times
in
450 Posts
I'm 5'9", 32" inseam. Ridden diamond framed bicycles for over 2 decades.
Road bikes I use 172.5 to 175mm crankarms, depending on terrain of the ride.
MTBs, 175mm.
I have been riding recumbents since 2006, started with 170, but changed to 165mm shortly and stayed.
Smaller pedalling circle means I can be smoother, can't use my bodyweight as leverage for pedal power, might as well spinit out smoothly.
Road bikes I use 172.5 to 175mm crankarms, depending on terrain of the ride.
MTBs, 175mm.
I have been riding recumbents since 2006, started with 170, but changed to 165mm shortly and stayed.
Smaller pedalling circle means I can be smoother, can't use my bodyweight as leverage for pedal power, might as well spinit out smoothly.
08-03-16, 06:40 AM
#25
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Like so much cycling minutiae I dont worry about it. I ride by bent and trike with the crank arms that came with them.