Crank lengths for the shorter person?

[FluffyChicken]

Crank length is a bit of a red herring.
As long as they aren't too long (leading to you bending your knee too much at tdc) any length will work fine.
So saying that a 6 footer "needs" 180s is bullocks.
They might be able to use them, but there's no advantage to longer. Except in your head.

I was asking as for some reason at 5'4" very short cranks was suddenly important.
If you use frame size sites for modern bikes and out in 34" inside leg (this is real length not trouser length) it will come up with recommending 180mm cranks.

But like many, just use what you can get hold of ;-)
I mentioned leg length also as that's the important measurement, next would be femur length etc.
Of course seat position can alter comfort down there.

Did I mention there was an advantage? I can't see any, other than a more comfortable revolution.

 

[mattr]

Re: Re:

At 6ft you should be using 180mm cranks, has it bothered you not ?
At least if you have a 34"+ proper leg length.

Could would be a far better word.

And comfort is completely personal. And very individual.

 

[mattr]

And most of the sites are using very simple scaling to come up with sizing. Actual research shows crank length having a barely measurable effect once you've adapted.

 

[FluffyChicken]

And most of the sites are using very simple scaling to come up with sizing. Actual research shows crank length having a barely measurable effect once you've adapted.

Have you tried using a kids bike?

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: Re:

At 6ft you should be using 180mm cranks, has it bothered you not ?
At least if you have a 34"+ proper leg length.

Could would be a far better word.

And comfort is completely personal. And very individual.

Should is not the same as must, look at the highway code ;-)

 

[mattr]

Re: Re:

Have you tried using a kids bike?

Nope, but i have read much of the research. And done some (but not much) experimentation.

Should is not the same as must, look at the highway code ;-)

This is English, not gibberish written to cover civil servants arses.