Originally Posted by
mihlbach
If you want to increase your leverage, you should change your gear ratio, not your crank length. Adding or subtracting even 1 tooth from your chainring will have a much larger effect on your overall gearing than changing your cranklength by 5mm. You should choose a cranklength that is suitable for your height and it most comfortable to you. Never change your crank length to compensate for the wrong gear ratio. Change your gear ratio instead.
http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/
Yeah, that makes sense.
To be honest, I hadn't thought too much about this except to note that the shorter cranks felt harder to push and this happened at a time when I'd started climbing big hills. I might still whack the 170's back on for a test, but only because I might have another use for the 165's (for my bike polo bike) and in the meantime, I'll continue to work on my strength. My gearing's about right at the moment - I still have to walk up the steepest part of the worst hill I face, but seeing that's a 10% gradient, I don't really mind (and it's only 200m).
Richard