Keep in mind that using longer cranks also will cause your knees to come up higher as the crank arm passes through the 12 o'clock position, given that you have the spindle-to-saddle height set the same as when you had shorter cranks (measured with the crank arm aligned with the seat tube). That could potentially cause issues with knee pain or other injuries.

I'm 5'11 and run 175 cranks on my MTB and 172.5 on my road bike and that works just fine, and I have longer legs compared to other folks the same height as me (33 to 34 inch actual inseam).

Just over a month.....very happy with it.

Uff, 185 isn't a bit longer, it's pretty big difference, at least how it feels. I am not sure I would go for longer cranks if I wouldn't be that tall (200cm, 94cm inseam). It will probably also make your position more upright given that other settings are the same. H.S.Clydesdale has described it very well, when using 175mm cranks i feel like I am sitting on the fence, and with longer ones it's definitely more stable.

It takes a little time to get used to small clearance and cornering, but now i feel i've mastered it pretty well, not loosing much momentum in turns. Also low profile single sided spd pedals help (i use A520).

PS. That how it feels with shorter cranks:

http://cs11076.vk.me/u21722182/145911287/y_e552c773.jpg

Very nice. Your Nishiki gives somewhat spring-like feeling, great colors combination, very fresh.

My touring bike (the steel one i've posted earlier) is now 100% reserved for transporting the kids. And i've installed my old JK cranks (from Zinns) there as well, 175mm-free for the moment :D

Right, looks 100% identical.

It's even longer, 625mm ETT +120mm stem. Seems just right, every morning I get on the bike I am astonished how well that worked out. And this frame was sitting in the cellar like for two years.. :)

It's the cheapest carbon fork i could get (in the right size), it's quite sturdy, weights over 700 gramms and it has alloy steerer. Just what i needed. I am really not concerned with it's durability but ask me again in few months... :)

Cornering clearance? I don't understand how the bike doesn't lift up on each side as the cranks go down!

Photo of my commuter at work.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=318695

huh? I have scraped the ground before with my KHS, which has 175mm crank arms and pinned platform pedals, and a higher than usual BB height (higher than road bikes anyway). After that happened I almost always coast thru corners with the inside arm pointing up, but sometimes if the corner is very gentle I still might pedal carefully.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=318841
Long time lurker and finilly decided to post my commuter and soon to be touring bike that will lead me down from Portland to Santa Cruz in June.

Today's short commutes were handled by my newly minted, vintage Kabuki Diamond track bike... was nice to be running lighter than usual and felt like I could have ridden all day.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...bukisepia2.JPG

ευχαριστώ ... μερικές φορές είναι ωραίο να ρίξει σε ένα ελαφρύ πακέτο και βόμβα με ποδήλατο εννέα κιλό.

:)

Goodness, what's your ratio there?

52:19 - 72 gear inches... looks bigger than it is.

Always like running big chain wheels and big cogs for a smoother, longer lasting drive.

Hmmm.... dangerous words my friend! :p

Loosely (re)translated you just said:
"thanks... sometimes it's nice to throw in a lite package and bomb with a 9kb bike!"

Google translator seems to work pretty well then... that is pretty close.

Looking at three days of rain and cooler temps now... I don't really have any place I need to go but if I do, fenders are a man's best friend.

Will be a good time to get caught up in the shop and that commute is only 32 steps from my door... there is a lack of good looking babes in bikinis on that route. :)

http://i.imgur.com/KwfUy29.jpg

Finished building this bike up today. Planning on using it as a commuter and weekend bike.

Here is a good one of my Fargo in bike packing configuration on my morning commute. I have been riding it fully loaded with all of my gear to get used to the weight. Which isn't bad at all really.


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...ps1c3cd5e5.jpg

The new one

Had an awesome commute on the fixie ... Been riding the LHT - aka - TANK all winter, needed a different set of wheels this morning . What a BLAST !!:thumb:

I was thinking about getting a new IGH bike but decided to stick with my Diamondback for the summer. Perhaps this winter when the weather gets bad, the IGH will be awesome then. Thanks to everyone that replied to my question about IGH bikes.

I bought the Topeak Explorer Rack and Trunk Bag at the recommendation of several forum members and they work great. I really like the how easy the trunk bag slides on and off the rack.

Here are a couple of pics.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=319306http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=319307

Here is my bike behind the local watering hole that I stopped at on the way home from work the other day.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=319325

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=319331http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=319332

The Vaya. She's getting a San Marco seat and new rubber the first week in June.

CAADX 105 set up for commute!
 

Hi. First post to Bike Forums. Have been happily commuting, road riding, what have you on my new CAADX 105 this spring. It's been great. First 'road' bike since I was a kid (plenty of MTB'ing in between).

I upgraded to an SRAM RED 50/34 crank for road use, and added Planet Bike Hardcore fenders, and a Topeak rack with MTX trunk bag. I run a Planet Bike flashing tail light, and single LED NightRider light in front. The fenders took some modifying to get them to fit the CAADX - specifically, I had to take a Dremel to the rear fender's chainstay mounting clip to make it narrow enough to fit, and I had to fashion an extender to the front fender's mounting clip due to the CAADX's large cyclocross front fork clearance. See attached pictures.

Thanks for viewing. Happy commuting.

Beginning next month I will be starting a new job. Its not much closer only a half mile less far than my current job, but the nice thing is the route has basically no hills. I considered switching to a single speed, but its really nice to have more than 1 gear. Mostly I was looking forward to not having to climb the bridge at the end of my commute that goes over a number of rail tracks. If you are in shape its not a big deal, but it will be nice to just cruise along without any slopes. I've also wished I could move toward an IGH but its never really worked out for me. After some family graduation festivities today I got on CL and I see something that looks pretty good and I picked it up for dirt cheap including a set of cheap studded tires and the original tires that were taken off. Here is the 3-speed Breezer Freedom as I brought it home. Its in solid shape can use some freshening up and I'll make some changes as time goes on, but at worst I got a sweet winter bike.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaef2e1dd.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps11e4c723.jpg

After a quick little ride around the neighborhood I am pretty pleased with it. Its not fast, but my commute is going to be made up of alot of stop and starts so having the IGH is going to be handy for that and the gearing works for me. Like I said at worst it will be a great winter bike or what I take when I ride downtown and I don't care much if someone messes with it or tries to steal it. Its a nice looking bike I thought it was going to be a dark green which is fine, but the charcoal grey I like alot. Its nice it has a rack and fenders all I need to do is add some lights and throw on panniers and I am ready to go.

Nice :thumb:

Sweet find there, Monsterpile. :)

Looking forward to riding the newly minted Moulton Mk1 (1966)... it has everything you would want in a commuter as it has an IGH, fenders, generator light, and it is fast, nimble, and rides like an absolute dream.

May have to increase the gearing as I found myself spinning it out at the top end quite a few times today... the steps on the Nexus 7 are very well spaced (much better than the 8 speed) and if I find myself riding in the dark the halogen headlamp is spectacular (and automatic).

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...13moulton2.JPG

Excellent score... I have quite an affection for Breezers, my wife rides an Uptown 8 that I have been known to borrow from time to time.

Sweet ride
 

Lovin' that Breezer. What'd ya pay, if you don't mind my asking?