Originally Posted by
noglider
165mm is 5mm shorter than the standard of 170mm, right? 5mm is about a fifth of an inch. How much extra clearance does that give you around the corner?
I think fixies get 165mm cranks because of tradition more than any other reason.
Shorter is better for spinning, but how much better? I really don't know.
Pedal strike in a turn can lift the rear wheel and put you down hard. That's why fixies run shorter cranks and track pedals.