STA & Cranks

[Miranda]

I'm 5'1, with a 29 or so inch inseam? I never thought I had long arms, but my top tube lengths are around 540, which seems to be longer than most of you guy's ... And I ride fairly upright...


Summary - I like 165 cranks, my knees hate 170 cranks, and I prefer 73 degree seat angles to 73.5 or 74... and I'm still usually using setback seatposts and my seats all the way back. If I don't put my seat all the way back with a 74 or 73.5 seat angle, my knee seems to have to go above the horizontal to pedal, and I end up sitting off the back end of my seat to try to get to a comfortable knee position.

I have 3 road bikes - the 43 cm surly pacer has a 74 degree seat angle... I currently have the seat all the way back with a set back seatpost & 170 mm cranks on it. I hate the 170's... I can ride them, but I definitely feel it in my knees when I'm geared to high. I just bought it 165 mm cranks. I think I have a 120 cm stem on that because it's got a short top tube.

I've got a carbon park pre frame that has about a 45 cm seatpost (it's supposed to be a virtual 53 cm, but I definitely don't ride it like that), with a 73 degree seat angle, that I love... I like having the 73, and I've got 165 mm cranks on it. I still have a setback on the seatpost, but I don't think I've got the seat all the way back.

I've got a marin vernoa that's about 49 cm frame (probably a 45 cm seatpost actually) with a 73.5 cm seat angle - again, 165 cm cranks & seatpost all the way back on a setback seatpost ... My bf has the same frame (he rides it with the seatpost way up, i have mine way down)... and 170 cm cranks. I definitely do not like the 170's... my knees feel it very quickly.

Thanks... that is really good to know. I kinda thought the higher gears might be the place to feel the crank length being good or bad. It gives me a good ref point to think about.

Hi Miranda -

You sound similiar to me. I have short femurs (short legs, actually) and had some issues with finding the right geometry bike. I would walk into bike shops and they would take one look at me and put me on a 52cm bike which was WAY too big for me. I've got short legs, a long torso BUT, short arms...so while the geometry of the men's bikes were probably close for me...they were all too big and I couldn't even find one to test ride.

Anyway, I did what you are doing - tons of research based on what I could learn here at TE, what the geometry of my first two bikes were (I tried two - a 49cm men's Fuji and a 44cm WSD Specialized), and what I was reading everywhere. I was determined to get the best possible bike for me because I was tired of 'almost' fititng bikes. I ended up ordering a 19" Terry Isis (the 2005 model that is TI) from the website. I figured I was 'safe' giving it a shot since she gives 30 days to try it out. My STA is 74 and I still need a zero set back seat post to get my short femurs over the crank correctly. My saddle is just forward of center on the seat post, too. BUT, my longer torso leaves me a bit too cramped in this position, so I needed a longer stem (110) AND a shallow reach handlebar (to accomodate the short arms). I had my fancy fitting about 6 months after I got the bike and I was just terrified that she was going to tell me that my bike was all wrong (and I'd fallen in love with it by then). Turns out, she gave me a gold star for getting the best possible stock frame for me.

My fitter did mention that while I clearly had the strength/power to kick it with 170mm cranks, my leg dimensions would not allow it. Thankfully actually, since my bike came stock with 165's. I've since set up my commuter bike to the exact same dimensions (it's also a Terry) and they both fit extremely well.

Of course, then I read Margo's site and now I cannot wait until I've got the cash to go full custom. I'll still keep my TI Isis until the end of time though - I love it so much.

Two dimensions I left out: I'm 5'4" and a 19" Terry is about a 48cm...

Yea... looking at Margo's web site made me want to take an airplane road trip... but I don't think that wold get a stamp of approval atm. Terry... we do not have any dealers close. I have not called yet, but I was planning a trip if they had something just to feel the ride of modern steele. I figure I'm limping along on my bike the way it is now, anything close should be ok for a test ride (for frame material feel). That is interesting what you say about the lbs guessing you at a 52cm. I'm only 1/2 taller at 5 4 1/2"... they usually spout off the same thing to me (except for the current fitter of course).

[Triskeliongirl]

I addressed STA in your other thread. I need 73 or shallower to get my KOP set up right with commercially available seatposts.

Regarding crank arm length, I am a 165 all the way. I tried a 170 at a previous fitters recommendation, and it made my knees come too high at the top of the pedal stroke, applying too much shear force across my knee cap and causing horrible pain. I am 5'4" tall, 30.5" cycling inseam.

[Miranda]

I addressed STA in your other thread. I need 73 or shallower to get my KOP set up right with commercially available seatposts.

Regarding crank arm length, I am a 165 all the way. I tried a 170 at a previous fitters recommendation, and it made my knees come too high at the top of the pedal stroke, applying too much shear force across my knee cap and causing horrible pain. I am 5'4" tall, 30.5" cycling inseam.

Thx... I remember that we are pretty close except my legs are a bit shorter in the inseam... and I seem to make up for it in the torso. I'm still thinking the RS would come pretty close to fitting me. I need just a wee bit steeper STA in the 74. I know you had to shorten your reach up by switching out the bars. That might be ok for me as is. The TT length of 51.5 is what the fitter suggested as well--same as the RS. I'm just thinking if I need my seat moved forward to get the knee over the spindle... then that puts my seat going up??? That part gets my brain confused. Maybe that's where he's thinking the 170 cranks could work. But, my legs just seem too short. Plus, I assume being a smaller 48cm bike it comes stock with 165s. Hmmm...

[Cataboo]

erm. If you're ever in the DC area, I have 3 bikes you can ride to see how they fit!

But definitely, it's getting started from high gears or going up a hill that I really feel it in my knees on 170's... I do have patellofemoral syndrome or whatever in my right knee - so it has a tendency to track wrong because the muscles on the inside of my thigh aren't as strong as the muscles on my outer thigh, so they pull my knee cap off track. On 165 cranks... I don't feel my knees till maybe 40 or more miles? Depending on how hilly it is... If I'm on 170's... I feel my knees fairly instantly.

And yes, I need to do my knee exercises more often.

[GLC1968]

Oh, I had no Terry dealership near by either. In fact, working with Terry - we had a hard time even finding a bike shop that would take delivery for me! (even the LBS where my H and I had already bought 3 bikes wouldn't do it ).

We eventually found one and because of all my research, the bike fit so I didn't need to send it back. I was taking a chance though - I did not have opportunity to ride one prior to ordering it. But, like I mentioned above, you have 30 days to send it back if it doesn't work for you. Not ideal - but when the only other way to get small bikes to try is to flat out order them from an LBS, it seemed like a good option for me.

[Miranda]

erm. If you're ever in the DC area, I have 3 bikes you can ride to see how they fit!

But definitely, it's getting started from high gears or going up a hill that I really feel it in my knees on 170's... I do have patellofemoral syndrome or whatever in my right knee - so it has a tendency to track wrong because the muscles on the inside of my thigh aren't as strong as the muscles on my outer thigh, so they pull my knee cap off track. On 165 cranks... I don't feel my knees till maybe 40 or more miles? Depending on how hilly it is... If I'm on 170's... I feel my knees fairly instantly.

And yes, I need to do my knee exercises more often.

lol... Awe, that's mighty kind of you in thought. I have one crazy knee as is. I'll keep that in mind.

Oh, I had no Terry dealership near by either. In fact, working with Terry - we had a hard time even finding a bike shop that would take delivery for me! (even the LBS where my H and I had already bought 3 bikes wouldn't do it ).

We eventually found one and because of all my research, the bike fit so I didn't need to send it back. I was taking a chance though - I did not have opportunity to ride one prior to ordering it. But, like I mentioned above, you have 30 days to send it back if it doesn't work for you. Not ideal - but when the only other way to get small bikes to try is to flat out order them from an LBS, it seemed like a good option for me.

I see what you mean. I called the Terry dealer and they have two models on hand. Not in the type of Terry I'd want to try out. And big. But, I think I can mount them. It needs to thaw a bit to test ride. I did see that on Terry's web site on how to get the bike now. Thanks.

[fidlfreek]

Ok I don't know about all this technical information but...

I was on 165 cranks (and a triple) and then moved to a 170 crank (double) and my knee pain is GONE. Totally gone, AND, I now have considerably more power and spinning is coming much more naturally.

Like I said, I don't know about all the technical gab but this bike fit stuff is all sort of mystical and at some point you just have to buy a bike (and at this price point its gonna be a nice one!). If its not perfect you switch out cranksets. Big deal. Thats a $200-500 change out if you buy the crankset on ebay, and even less if you then turn around and sell the old (almost new) one.

Miranda, I was in this same boat. Wanting my new bike to be JUST perfect. And you too will find at some point its a leap of faith. You're new ride is going to be SUCH an improvement over the current bike that you'll be amazed any way you go.

[Ana]

I was on 165 cranks (and a triple) and then moved to a 170 crank (double) and my knee pain is GONE. Totally gone, AND, I now have considerably more power and spinning is coming much more naturally.

Maybe the double reduced lateral distance between your pedals?

How do you like the double compared to the triple? Is it a compact double?

[Miranda]

Maybe the double reduced lateral distance between your pedals?

How do you like the double compared to the triple? Is it a compact double?

BLEEEEEP... this is Fidlfreek's answering service... see the bike specs in this link below:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=28898

[Miranda]

Ok I don't know about all this technical information but...

I was on 165 cranks (and a triple) and then moved to a 170 crank (double) and my knee pain is GONE. Totally gone, AND, I now have considerably more power and spinning is coming much more naturally.

Like I said, I don't know about all the technical gab but this bike fit stuff is all sort of mystical and at some point you just have to buy a bike (and at this price point its gonna be a nice one!). If its not perfect you switch out cranksets. Big deal. Thats a $200-500 change out if you buy the crankset on ebay, and even less if you then turn around and sell the old (almost new) one.

Miranda, I was in this same boat. Wanting my new bike to be JUST perfect. And you too will find at some point its a leap of faith. You're new ride is going to be SUCH an improvement over the current bike that you'll be amazed any way you go.

Oh, Fidlfreek... thx. Your post made me let out a BIG *sigh*. My buying experience with the shop was not so great with the bike I have now. It made me a tainted buyer. But, one would hope with each purchase you become a little wiser. Therefore, it's gotta be better than that last.