There is a technique you can use to corner fast without leaning the bike as much as you might otherwise. When entering a turn, point your inside knee and leg into the turn (you can see some road cyclists do this part when decending hairpin turns in descents). While you do this, lean your body into the turn as well, but keep the bike more upright. It's easy, and IMO it works very well.

Changing your pedals will help more than you think. Track pedals have a smaller cage, kinda like a normal one that's been cut down, and it will make your scrape angle noticably lower. Clipless will do even more.

There's always at least one pair of black Sugino XD cranks up on Ebay. Otherwise check a BMX shop.

yeah from Ben's Bike.

48 by 15 seems a little tall for starting out. By all means, ride what feels comfortable, but I started out 42x15 and I still ride about the same ratio. Cheers.

I just measured my cranks. For some reason I always thought they were 170 - but it looks like they are 172.5. I just used the cranks that came with the Raleigh that I converted.

I use eggbeaters and I have never had a pedal strike... though sometimes I am very conscious of the possibility if I am making a tight corner; I suppose that is good.

I have been a little worried about a set of 172.5 cranks I was given that I plan to use on a newer/faster/better conversion that I am building. But it will have eggbeaters too and I have come across other posts where this type of question was raised and I found many people that ride this length and survive sans problems.

the combo of eggbeaters and that little voice in your head that says "slow down, turn coming" should be plenty.

or take spud's advice and just crash every once in awhile. chicks dig scars.

I always figured that the voices in my head had to be good for something - at least some of them...

And I ain't crashed in a while, but I will be sure to look on the bright side next time I do.

thx:D

i ride a converted fuji road bike with 170 cranks and have never had a problem. that being said though, i am pretty vigilant when cornering to avoid pedal strike for the most part. i also am in the habit of leaning more with my body than the bike.

i find eggbeaters to actually be a bit *wide* for a clipless pedal.
my old dead cheapo SPDs were at least 7mm narrower. I definetly noticed the decrease in cornering clearance when i switched over.
Though i've only ever clipped a pedal once.

I dunno I've been rocking 48x16 and it's not too bad. I also live a few blocks from the highest point in the city. I also just survived my uphill commute in 94degree weather.
It's doable for sure though I do recommend 42x16 if one is starting out in a hilly area.

especially because it sounds like you are using giant mtb platforms. Track pedals are designed to be used with cleats however so you may want to give up a small amount of cleareace and get some mtb cage pedals or fancy road platforms that are designed for soft soled shoes. The MTBs are better IMHO and you can grind them down for more clearance.

Since you already have clipless that is by far the best option though.

My nashbar SPDs are ground down from all the scraping. (172.5 600 cranks on a bianchi conversion)
They stop the dust caps from coming off =]