A friend with one short leg...

Block of wood bolted to the pedals as a starter.........it's what we did as kids to ride a proper bile :)

Shaun
 
Midlife":1onp8n3i said:
Block of wood bolted to the pedals as a starter.........it's what we did as kids to ride a proper bile :)

Shaun


indeed

as his le is shoter a shorter crank will make it worse (imho) in the 12 o'clock position as it will be lower down - meaning the rider will have to lean over to reach it.

Spd's are wonder and i cant ride a bike without them (afyter loosing about half my right leg via acreless driver when i was 16) I would say that a specialist pair of shoes to compensate for the shorter length and spds would be better on (and off the bike)
 
...or leave the bike well alone and look into modifying a shoe with some sort of platform.
 
Thanks for all the comments guys.

His right knee is quite weak - he reckons he'd prefer to bend it less if possible; a pedal block/tall shoe is just going to make that worse.

I spoke to him about SPDs (well, one, on the NDS) today, and he was actually very receptive to the idea. He said that when he's tried exercise bikes, his short leg doesn't really do anything other than go round, so he's just looking at getting it comfortable, not using it for power.

So.... Anyone got an old SPD shoe for him to try? left foot, size 10/11? :facepalm:
 
Wasn't there recently in here a mountain bike where the pedals simply went up and down rather than in the conventional way?
 
The chap who is reworking my road frame for me has recently made a complete bike for a gent who has a leg that is very much weaker(and as a result shorter i think) than his other leg.
The gent in question markets, i believe, hinged crank arms and shortened cranksets.
I can get some proper details and pics when i go to pick the frame up next week if you like?
 
Grannygrinder":2ns13wbf said:
The chap who is reworking my road frame for me has recently made a complete bike for a gent who has a leg that is very much weaker(and as a result shorter i think) than his other leg.
The gent in question markets, i believe, hinged crank arms and shortened cranksets.
I can get some proper details and pics when i go to pick the frame up next week if you like?

That, Sir, would be mighty fine of you. :D
 
a paltofrm shoe on the shorter leg or easier a built up pedal instead of crank length. not sure that SPD for the weaker leg is a good idea as it will be harder to unclip.
 
02gf74":9ieymx14 said:
a paltofrm shoe on the shorter leg or easier a built up pedal instead of crank length. not sure that SPD for the weaker leg is a good idea as it will be harder to unclip.

SPD would only be for the good leg.

Platform shoe would actually increase the movement in his knee, so he wants to avoid it if possible.
 
"His right knee is quite weak - he reckons he'd prefer to bend it less if possible; a pedal block/tall shoe is just going to make that worse."

A pedal block / tall shoe would compensate for a shorter leg, and a shorter crank would compensate for less bending - so isn't the answer a bit of both through experimentation with a bike on a Turbo trainer at home? Just a practical suggestion that may reach a "sweet spot".

Otherwise, it may sound silly but another bottom bracket welded further up the seat-post and some sort of timing chain similar to say a tandam set-up? Probably a bit too exotic initially until more research is done. EDIT: Or two eccentric BB shells to offer more adjustment?
 
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