shortest cranks?

[sundial]

Eden, perhaps I may need to think of changing cranks on my mtb (Specialized Epic with 172.5mm shimano cranks) instead of the road bike? Maybe more options that way? Sadie, I will check with my LBS and see if we can form a game plan. The reason I'm looking at changing stuff on my road bike is that it is the lightest bike I do have and I will probably be riding it initially when my knee gets more flexible. I have several other bikes though that I can tinker with instead of the road bike. I just thought it might be easier for me physically to ride the lighter bike with shorter cranks.

[SadieKate]

I get you! I got into roadbiking following 4 knee ops and used 165 cranks (I'm about 5'3.5" but with long legs). I now use 170s on everything.

[Sylvia]

As previously said most road bike cranks go down to 165mm. If you need to go shorter, then there will likely be a balance between the how short you need to go, the quality of the crank and the price you are willing to pay. Here is a post I made a while back on short cranks.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...917#post532917

[sundial]

As previously said most road bike cranks go down to 165mm. If you need to go shorter, then there will likely be a balance between the how short you need to go, the quality of the crank and the price you are willing to pay.

Sylvia, thanks and I do agree with you. If I go shorter I will have to consider the quality of the part and the price I am willing to pay. Eden got me to thinking about my mtb so I tossed the idea around with my better half and he talked with my favorite mechanic at the LBS. They are ordering in Shimano 165mm cranks for my mtb. I am really interested to know if I can actually turn the pedals with these cranks. It will be much easier to work up to 165's than the 172.5 in my opinion. Right now I can only crank the pedals forward to 9/10 o'clock and backward to 3/4 o'clock. SadieKate, my knees will probably thank me for the smaller cranks. Thanks for the tips everyone. I appreciate your help.

[Sylvia]

If the 165mm don't work, you might consider crank shorteners until you can work up to the 165mm, or just to get an idea how short you may need to go.

I'm fairly short, 5' with a 25" inseam and have flexibility issues. I hadn't ridden a bike in 30 years and needed to get an idea how short I needed to go, so I tried crank shorteners initially.

BTW, I am now riding with Ultegras shortened to 144mm

[TsPoet]

Shorter cranks are common on recumbents. So, they can be purchased. Stonich shortens cranks to order and is very knowledgable about the topic.
http://bikesmithdesign.com/Short_Cranks/dotek.html

[Triskeliongirl]

I think you will be fine with 165s (that is what I ride with). But if you need shorter Lenard Zinn makes custom cranks in any size to order.