What is the correct stance width?
 

What do you think is the optimal stance width and can you calculate it from your own body dimensions?

By stance width I mean this:

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3669/stancewidth.jpg

Stance width consists of bottom bracket axle width, crank q-factor, pedals and cleat position.

I would suppose that at least some people could get some relief for knee pain if they had the correct stance width. For example extremely wide stance width could put some unwanted pressure to knees, as well as way too narrow. Wrong stance width could also lead to some loss of power.

You have to look at how everything fits, you can't calculate it.

If your feet are in a 2:50 PM position, and your knees are going to the inside i doubt you will get an instance very low. Listen to dscott.

experiment...

generally, I would recommend that your feet be pointing in the same direction, parallel to each other through the entire stroke.
unless you are extremely duck or pigeon footed.

if it's too narrow, your toes will point at each other
if it's too wide, your toes will point away from each other.


now, having all said that, there are MTBs that have some super wide cranks due to clearance issues, and I haven't really heard of anyone complaining about how wide these cranks are.

Sorry. I couldn't help it.

http://images.chron.com/blogs/beltwa...pcraigbook.jpg