Shorter cranks?

[Jolt]

I was just wondering how to tell if one should change to shorter cranks--from what I've heard, this makes it easier to spin efficiently which I sometimes have trouble with on some of the hills (and yes, my bike has a triple chainring and I use it). Is there any correlation with height? I'm 5'2", approx. 30" inseam (in stocking feet).

[Kitsune06]

30" inseam at 5'2"? Good Lord, woman, you're all legs!


...but alas, no helpful suggestions... just peanut-gallery type commentary.

[mimitabby]

that's what i was thinking too. Leave it to you to say it out loud!

[Eden]

30" inseam at 5'2"? Good Lord, woman, you're all legs!


...but alas, no helpful suggestions... just peanut-gallery type commentary.

Seriously??? - says 29" inseam (cyling inseam that is.... crotch to floor) at 5'0"

but to the question.. if you cannot get proper knee/pedal alignment with your current cranks you may need shorter ones. I would leave it to an experienced bike fitter to tell you if you need/can use shorter ones, but I can tell you as another smaller rider I have 165's on all of my bikes.

[eofelis]

I have 165s on 3 of my bikes.

I have 165mm Ultegra triple, 105 triple (not on a bike yet), Sugino trekking triple, and XT cranksets.

My mtn bike does not yet have 165s, but I'm keeping an eye out on ebay for a set. I don't mtn bike too much anyway.

[kelownagirl]

I have 165's too. I can't compare them to aything else, my bike just came with them and the LBS guy seemed to think that would be good someone my size (smallish).

And FTR, I am 5'3", and not "all legs" by any stretch of the imagination. I just measured my inseam - crotch to floor - it was 29.5" (hard to measure yrouself efficiently though).

barb

[stacie]

Funny, I'm 5'1.75 with a 29.6 inseam. Pretty close and certainly not leggy. I was nervous when I built a new bike and my fitter urged me to go to the standard crank length. I had only ridden my tiny wsd with 165 cranks. I can actually spin much faster now. I think it has more to do with my position on the bike and lighter wheels. I was pushed really far back on my old bike and forced to use my hamstrings more. My custom bike allows me to use my quads more which can fire much quicker. My understanding is that it's more about femural length in relation to your overall height. I trusted my fitter and I'm happy is all I know now. s