How tall are you and what size cranks do you ride?
#1
ɹǝqɯǝɯ ɹoıuǝs
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 378
Bikes: Huffy and Pacific
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How tall are you and what size cranks do you ride?
I'm 5'8" with a 31" cycling inseam.
I ride 165mm on my 54cm (CT) single speed
I ride 170mm on my 51cm (CC) road bike
I ride 175mm on my 17" hardtail
Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I can't tell the difference.
The reason I'm asking.....I'm going to upgrade the road bike. Thinking about 165s. But not sure what other folks my height ride.
I ride 165mm on my 54cm (CT) single speed
I ride 170mm on my 51cm (CC) road bike
I ride 175mm on my 17" hardtail
Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I can't tell the difference.
The reason I'm asking.....I'm going to upgrade the road bike. Thinking about 165s. But not sure what other folks my height ride.
Last edited by wheeldeal; 10-28-09 at 01:24 AM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Been cycling a long time. Started on my first serious road bike having 165s, the bike was a 21" (54cm). Got an additional bike a 56cm with 170s, I could tell gthe difference, the 165s felt short when I used the bike ocassionally. other bikes aquired used happen to have 170s (some shorter) My last bike, a brand new special order has 172.5s and I can't really sense the difference. Mountain bikes have longer arms in each respective frame size.
I'd wrestled with the decission whether to go with 172.5s or 175s. One seller I'd asked, right-off rec. the 170s, given my 5'10" ht.. 82.? inseam and rel. short legs (short femurs). The place I ordered the bike from told me "your choice", no recs. One member here in the forums had said one thing, very casually , " my knees go up too high" with my new 175s. That answered that.
Trends have changed; M.bikes have influenced ideas in longer lengths.
30 yrs ago bikes your size and mine; med. to med-lg., 54cm to 56cm as a matter of course came with 165s, 23" or 58cm or so with 170s etc..
20 years ago, they went-up-a -notch. Now it's over the top... trends.
Stay with what you know, besides, spinning is better (I suck at spinning)
I'd wrestled with the decission whether to go with 172.5s or 175s. One seller I'd asked, right-off rec. the 170s, given my 5'10" ht.. 82.? inseam and rel. short legs (short femurs). The place I ordered the bike from told me "your choice", no recs. One member here in the forums had said one thing, very casually , " my knees go up too high" with my new 175s. That answered that.
Trends have changed; M.bikes have influenced ideas in longer lengths.
30 yrs ago bikes your size and mine; med. to med-lg., 54cm to 56cm as a matter of course came with 165s, 23" or 58cm or so with 170s etc..
20 years ago, they went-up-a -notch. Now it's over the top... trends.
Stay with what you know, besides, spinning is better (I suck at spinning)
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: My family and I -- wife and two young children -- live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 723
Bikes: TST ti 'cross bike (commuter); Guru ti road bike; recumbent; Airnimal Chameleon folding racing bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Six foot one (and a quarter inch). 33 inch inseam.
I ride a:
- 19" mtb with 175 crank arms
- 58 CC 'cross bike with 172.5 arms*
- 58 CC road bike with 175 arms
* That just happened to be the length of the crank arms on a 105 crankset I picked up used
I ride a:
- 19" mtb with 175 crank arms
- 58 CC 'cross bike with 172.5 arms*
- 58 CC road bike with 175 arms
* That just happened to be the length of the crank arms on a 105 crankset I picked up used
Last edited by tkehler; 10-28-09 at 12:59 AM.
#5
ɹǝqɯǝɯ ɹoıuǝs
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 378
Bikes: Huffy and Pacific
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I did a search & felt two weeks is too long for a thread like this. Most "I'm a n00b, what bike should I get" threads appear once a week, so here's my attempt to make this a weekly topic of discussion as well.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I saw some just now; one was a silly "let's take a poll" type which always ends weird. others were in tandom and touring. Others are just plain TOO old. Besides, it sure beats "what's the best chain lube"
#8
Banned.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,548
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
5'5"
165's on all my bikes. I can ride 167.5 or 170 with little to know problem. But when I turn crankarms longer than 170, my knees begin to hurt after long or hard efforts. As far as performance (speed, watts, cadence), little to no difference with respect to crankarm length.
165's on all my bikes. I can ride 167.5 or 170 with little to know problem. But when I turn crankarms longer than 170, my knees begin to hurt after long or hard efforts. As far as performance (speed, watts, cadence), little to no difference with respect to crankarm length.
#9
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lima, Ohio
Posts: 31
Bikes: Specialized
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
But when I turn crankarms longer than 170, my knees begin to hurt after long or hard efforts.
#11
Former grouch, now happy
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 988
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
6'5"
180
180
__________________
Spectrum Ti Super | Landshark Roadshark | Serotta Colorado | Gunnar Crosshairs | Trek 9800 | Santana fillet brazed tandem | K2 Easy Roller | Dawes (BD) Bullseye 1x1
Spectrum Ti Super | Landshark Roadshark | Serotta Colorado | Gunnar Crosshairs | Trek 9800 | Santana fillet brazed tandem | K2 Easy Roller | Dawes (BD) Bullseye 1x1
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Central CA
Posts: 1,414
Bikes: A little of everything
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm about the same size as you (the OP), and my bikes are set up very similarly to yours. 175s on the MTB, 170 road, and 165 FG. I find 175 uncomfortable on road bikes.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Houston,TX
Posts: 358
Bikes: Giant Defy2, Soul Faith
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
6'0 and recently switched from 175 to 170 and can tell a huge difference. The whole fit of the bike changed for me and I'm looking to go back. Anyone that says there's no difference doesn't spend enough time in the saddle.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern Ontario
Posts: 3,659
Bikes: Colnago Master XL, Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Marinoni Fango
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm 5'7 and use
165 SS is easy to a get a high cadence,
175 is on a MTB for extra leverage on steep climbs.
170 and 172.5 are on road bikes.
Different tools for different jobs.
#19
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,311
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1457 Post(s)
Liked 734 Times
in
376 Posts
6'1" 34" inseam, and I ride 175mm, 172.5mm, and 170mm on different bikes.
Can't honestly say I see a whole lot of difference particularly between the 175mm, and 172.5mm
Can't honestly say I see a whole lot of difference particularly between the 175mm, and 172.5mm
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#20
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Northeast Mississippi
Posts: 18
Bikes: Dean El Vado Titanium, Trek 4300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm nearly 5' 11" with a 32+ inseam. Just switched from 175 to 170. (175 was what came on my used road bike when I got it.) The 170s are definitely what I need. The 175s were contributing to some minor knee pain. And it is harder to spin with longer crankarms.
If one thinks about it, the longer the crankarm, the bigger the pedaling circle. The bigger the pedaling circle, the more possible stress on knees. And the harder it is to pedal at a high cadence.
My LBS guy is 6' 2" or so. He uses 172.5 crankarms. He used to race back in the day, so he has lots of experience. He's tried everything up to 180, and prefers 172.5. He says it's all about pedaling at a cadence of 100-120. Too long a crankarm tends to prevent this.
If one thinks about it, the longer the crankarm, the bigger the pedaling circle. The bigger the pedaling circle, the more possible stress on knees. And the harder it is to pedal at a high cadence.
My LBS guy is 6' 2" or so. He uses 172.5 crankarms. He used to race back in the day, so he has lots of experience. He's tried everything up to 180, and prefers 172.5. He says it's all about pedaling at a cadence of 100-120. Too long a crankarm tends to prevent this.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,392
Bikes: Surly LHT, Specialized Rockhopper, Nashbar Touring (old), Specialized Stumpjumper (older), Nishiki Tourer (model unknown)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
6'4"
175
175
#22
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,816
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3599 Post(s)
Liked 3,424 Times
in
1,947 Posts
I'm 5'8" with a 31" cycling inseam.
I ride 165mm on my 54cm (CT) single speed
I ride 170mm on my 51cm (CC) road bike
I ride 175mm on my 17" hardtail
Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I can't tell the difference.
The reason I'm asking.....I'm going to upgrade the road bike. Thinking about 165s. But not sure what other folks my height ride.
I ride 165mm on my 54cm (CT) single speed
I ride 170mm on my 51cm (CC) road bike
I ride 175mm on my 17" hardtail
Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I can't tell the difference.
The reason I'm asking.....I'm going to upgrade the road bike. Thinking about 165s. But not sure what other folks my height ride.
#23
stole your bike
5'8" 31.5" inseam
170mm cranks on my BMC
172.5mm cranks on my Orbea
170mm cranks on my BMC
172.5mm cranks on my Orbea
__________________
I like pie
I like pie
#25
No matches
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 11,647
Bikes: two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times
in
250 Posts
And I've noticed a TON of difference between the 175 and the 172.5. My comfortable cadence goes up about 10 rpm, and my power goes up with it. Part of that's probably the completely different bike, but I think part of it is the crank length as well.
I didn't expect to see a difference, but my feelings led me to believe otherwise.