POLL: crank length & height

[LED_now]

Hey all
I've noticed that many LBS have road-blocks put up when it comes to "ordering custom cranks" - re: length.
This is probably due to the factory shipments and the extra trouble it is ...
However -
Since we can get shortened brake levers, for smaller hands (so-called "women's" parts) why is it so difficult to get shorter cranks?

Maybe if more smaller women (generalising here, since women come in all shapes and sizes) made a point of asking for shorter cranks, they would become available without this "custom this/custom that/can't order it/they don't make it" speech I've heard way too often at LBS?

POLL:
How tall r u?
What length of cranks do u use?
Road or MTN ?

[SadieKate]

How short are you talking? And, by "custom" do you mean custom built for you? Or just a different crank than what is on the bike?

[DirtDiva]

1. I'm 160cm tall (five foot three).
2. I have 170mm cranks (what the bike came with - I think the bigger sizes came with 175s).
3. Mountain.

[juvel01]

I am 5'1", but have very long legs.
172.5mm for Road
170 for mountain

[skibum]

1. I'm 5'6"
2. I have 170mm cranks. As far as I know, this is the shortest stock size. Works fine for me but I can see where shorter individuals might want shorter cranks.
3. Road

[eofelis]

I'm 5'2"
I have 165mm cranks on my road bike (ultegra), touring bike (105) and touring/commuting bike (XT).

I have 170mm cranks on my mtn bike (until I find another XT 165mm crankset)

I also have the Ultegra quality short reach STIs on my road bike.

[Trek420]

I'm 5'1"
* 170mm cranks on road bike
* super teeny-tiny hands and no problems reaching Campy Record
* old bike had 165mm cranks, the longer ones were recomended by the builder when he custom fit the bike. Who am I to dissagree?

It's been fine so far though I sometimes debate going back to 165.

[jobob]

I'm 5'7"

My Riv Romulus and Saluki (both road/touring bikes) both have 170 mm cranks.

On the other hand, the Rivendell Road bike that I bought second-hand came with 175 mm crank arms - which according to the 'formulas' out there are a bit too long for me. I figured I'd replace them if I need to. But I've had no problems with them, and to be honest, I've never noticed a difference.

[carback]

I'm 4'11" (yes, I'm full-grown)

Road & mountain bikes have 165mm. My road bike also has smaller wheels (650 CC versus my touring bike which has 700 CC)
Touring bike has 170mm

The 165mm cranks were standard-issue with my Women's Specific Trek road bike.

[Saxa82]

I'm 5' 2"
165 mm cranks (came with my Fisher WSD bike)
mtn bike

[RebeccaAnn]

jobob--I am coveting your Rivendells. A Romulus AND a Saluki sounds wonderful.

I am 5'3" with 170mm cranks on both bikes, road (700cc) and hybrid (26" wheels).

Let me toss another question into this, if I may: For those of you using a non-standard crank (a crank other than the one your bike came with), what prompted the change?

If your bike is a custom job, what determined the crank size?

If your bikes have differing crank sizes, can you tell the difference? How do they compare?

[Pedal Wench]

5'4", and all three road bikes have 170's. My newest bike (my bella Bianchi!) was built from the frame up, but since I knew I loved the fit of my other bikes, I automatically ordered 170's for the new one.

[drplasma64]

I'm 5'2"

my centurion accordo road bike has 165 mm crank arms. I can't remember if it was standard or not (in 1989). I do remember that I got a shorter stem (90mm) than standard at the time. Maybe even narrower handlebars. It was not a "woman's bike" (aka, not a stepthrough, the only option at the time).

my new Trek7200FX hybrid for kid carting will have 170 mm (that's the standard for the 15" size, and it is a "womens", but not a WSD but not a "Ladies Stepthrough") and I hope they'll be OK.

I've actually been obsessing about whether the crank length is going to be a problem...I was looking at the LeMond website and saw their small size Etape bike come with 165mm and shorter stems and narrower handlebars. Sigh.

[newfsmith]

I once was 5' 0", but now I'm shrinking. I'll tell my age (58) a lot quicker than my current height. My Felt road bike, Terry touring bike, and Terry hybrid all have 165 cranks. My Specialized MTB, modified for winter commuting, has 170's.

[Tess851]

5 foot 3, 165mm cranks on both track and road bikes.

Had 170mm on old clumker, but wouldn't go back to them as the stretch is too long for my legs. Felt like a pygmy when I first got the 165s, but now spin my heart out in 42/12 pacing guys grinding away in 53/11

Have 36 ctc handlebars on both road and track bikes. Much comfier than what bikes usually come with. Haven't worried about any other adjustments than getting the right seat.

Stuff's available if you want it - and if your LBS isn't supplying, let them know you can spend your money elsewhere if they want to make it a hassle for you to get what you want.