Inexpensive tandem cranks in different lengths
 

I'm considering upgrades to the tandems we use for riding with the kids, and wondering about my crank length options. I might have to buy another pair of crank shorteners, but I'm not crazy about them as a solution because the space the pedals out so far for an already short rider. Who sells stoker cranks in short lengths? Are there any inexpensive options out there? Sometimes I think it might be cheaper to buy two inexpensive road cranks and go single side drive.

With a wide-range cassette and two well-chosen chainring sizes, this would probably be the best option for a cheap setup.

DaVinci makes cranks in different lengths, and also has an option with 3 holes in the crank arms to allow for growth or different stokers.

An option I just learned about that might work for your single-side drive idea is a 152mm crankset with 22/32/44 rings. Utah Trikes Catalog - Trikes, Upgrades & Accessories

This is a wild idea but I would look into Mini BMX cranks. They are made from 135mm maybe even shorter and some run on Square taper BBs. If you can find some with removable spiders then you can add a spyder to the sync side.

Also look at the recumbent forum because some of those guys like really short cranks.

Pedal blocks?

St John St Cycles/Thorn in the UK sometimes have a good range. I have seen short double-drilled stoker triple cranks for sale on their website over the last couple of years. The prices are not hideous but in my experience they do not normally choose the most cost-effective postage options available.

Actually, I'm already using BMX cranks on the rear of my Bike Friday tandem, and they are a great solution. In particular, there's a crank made by Sinz that comes in sizes from about 130 to 170mm for square taper and ISIS bottom brackets, they fit 110 mm BCD chainrings, and they can be found for $60 or less online. They are great for tandems on which you don't have a front derailleur (mine uses SRAM DualDrive). In the case of a bike with a front derailleur, I'm not sure whether the BMX cranks would work or not, but it looks like Origin8 makes a 155mm triple that's inexpensive. Unfortunately on many newer tandems, I probably also have to buy a bottom bracket to go with it, but it may be a good option until the kids' legs get a little longer.

Short Cranks
 

Hi,

We had a set of 130mm stoker cranks made for my wife here:

Short Triple Chainring Cranks

He did a great job and he has reasonably priced options.

Good luck!!

If you decide to go that route and need cranks to modify then look at Sugino tandem crank arms.

Universal Cycles -- Sugino XD600 Tandem Crankarms

http://www.universalcycles.com/image...dium/14693.jpg

If you're shortening cranks, you don't need to start with tandem cranks. You can start with 2 sets of single cranks (or 2 RH cranks, they're cheaper than the LH cranks).