Originally Posted by
Bill Kapaun
Beverly, aren't you more of a "casual" rider where you like to "enjoy the view" and speed ISN'T the issue? I can see where with trail type riding (slower speeds), the longer cranks might work better for you. The longer arms give a little better "torque" for accelerating from a stop or "crawl".
I stick to mostly flat pavement and ride a bike because I don't have a car. I pretty much want the fastest speed that I can
comfortably maintain. I'm NOT fast, so going from 10 MPH to 11 MPH is a 10% increase! The shorter cranks HAVE helped my speed slightly, but they have REALLY helped my
endurance. At this early time, it appears I can ride about 60-70% further with the same level of fatigue. On my shorter errands (1-2 miles), I can "crank it up" an extra 2-3 MPH. That doesn't help much when you speed up to a stop light, but maybe I'll catch a few when they are still green
Actually, there is one "timed" light I can now catch with a little "burst"! If only it was on my "usual" route
I think we need to recognize not to generalize too much. I've had experience similar to Beverly's, that I am faster on the road, more comfortable, and find it easier to go my distances (35-45 miles when I have enough time) after having switched 2 bikes from 170 to 172.5. One may argue I'm not fast, but I can argue I'm faster than last year. Speed is about power, and added torque implies added power (it's just physics). Longer arms imply greater torque for a given pedal force. Where the piper must be paid is in the body systems that stoke the boiler - more power requires more energy processing by the body, and there might be a challenge to the body to provide this added power. I'm in an acclimation period.
Climbing speed is also about power.
My cadence is often slower, but normally I don't get my regular cadence up into the 90s until around this time of year - no discernible difference as yet. I have taken some spins into the mid 90s. Last year I did some in August in the low 100s.
For me the key question was, do my hips "like" the increased closure angle? I've been relieved to find they are adapting well, if anything less pain and discomfort this year.
Having read Beverly's posts for over a year now, I think she has considerable distance capability, and has done much bigger rides than I have. If a longer crank is right for your body, it's right as a distance rider.