Shorter cranks. Don't say it. I already know. The topic has been beaten to death on many of the cycling forums/soap operas, and the research??? Let's just say more is needed.
I have read lots of research on crank length and how it relates to power output, aerodynamic benefits, and miracle hair re-growth...(.with shorter cranks providing the most spectacular hair regrowth).The current research shows some small differences in performance with varying crank size but the results are far from definitive.
The most common argument against going smaller is that some believe you lose leverage. Although there may be a kernel of truth in that statement, in actual fact, a bicycle's crank arm is part of a complex system of levers of which the crank length, is only one piece of the puzzle. To say that you are going to gain or lose leverage as you increase or decrease the length of the cranks, is an oversimplification. Sorry.
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On the track I have always used 165mm crank arms, and on the road either 170's or 172.5mm. The only time I have used anything smaller than 165mm was when I was a midget rider (10-12 yrs) in the early 1970's. The rules for the midget racing category required that the bicycles be equipped with a 24 inch wheels, a fixed gear, and a 72 in. gear restriction. I never noticed any difference when I moved up to a regular sized bicycle with 165mm cranks, as an intermediate rider.
End of story? Marginal gains, maybe?
Not quite.
I am not looking for, nor do I want, marginal gains. I will take them, but I don't want them......well, maybe I do want them. My goal is to make riding slightly less painful, and perhaps a shorter crank radius may be helpful. I had a racing accident in 1979, where I suffered some extensive damage to my right leg... blah blah blah.....old news...blah, blah blah, nobody cares...., blah, blah,blah.
So..I am diving head first into the shorter crank length rabbit hole.
Over the next few weeks I am going to test a pair of shorter cranks which are 140mm in length. That is roughly 1 inch shorter than what I am currently using on the track. I am going to test power output, cadence, aero position, hair regrowth,..everything....well...almost everything. Feel free to ask questions along the way.
I have two track bikes with identical set-ups. One is set up with 165mm cranks and the other is now set with 140mm cranks. Seat height, set back, stack height/drop have all been accounted for, and matched.
I have a number of computrainers so each bike will be set up on it's own, and going between bikes will be fast & easy. The days that I do a trainer workout will be when I will use the 140mm cranks.
Those of you keeping track:
Track Bike 1: 140mm cranks*
Track Bike 2: 165mm cranks*
Track Bike 3: 165mm cranks
Track Bike 4: 170mm cranks
Track Tandem: 165mm cranks*
Road Bike: 1 170mm cranks*
Road Bike: 2 172.5 mm cranks
Road Bike: 3 170 mm cranks.
* The bikes I will be riding.
I am quite flexible in my upper body and I don't have much of a waist so I have a fairly extreme sprint position on my track bike. The shorter cranks have opened things up somewhat around my hip angle and it kind of feels slightly more upright.
I have read lots of research on crank length and how it relates to power output, aerodynamic benefits, and miracle hair re-growth...(.with shorter cranks providing the most spectacular hair regrowth).The current research shows some small differences in performance with varying crank size but the results are far from definitive.
The most common argument against going smaller is that some believe you lose leverage. Although there may be a kernel of truth in that statement, in actual fact, a bicycle's crank arm is part of a complex system of levers of which the crank length, is only one piece of the puzzle. To say that you are going to gain or lose leverage as you increase or decrease the length of the cranks, is an oversimplification. Sorry.
.
On the track I have always used 165mm crank arms, and on the road either 170's or 172.5mm. The only time I have used anything smaller than 165mm was when I was a midget rider (10-12 yrs) in the early 1970's. The rules for the midget racing category required that the bicycles be equipped with a 24 inch wheels, a fixed gear, and a 72 in. gear restriction. I never noticed any difference when I moved up to a regular sized bicycle with 165mm cranks, as an intermediate rider.
End of story? Marginal gains, maybe?
Not quite.
I am not looking for, nor do I want, marginal gains. I will take them, but I don't want them......well, maybe I do want them. My goal is to make riding slightly less painful, and perhaps a shorter crank radius may be helpful. I had a racing accident in 1979, where I suffered some extensive damage to my right leg... blah blah blah.....old news...blah, blah blah, nobody cares...., blah, blah,blah.
So..I am diving head first into the shorter crank length rabbit hole.
Over the next few weeks I am going to test a pair of shorter cranks which are 140mm in length. That is roughly 1 inch shorter than what I am currently using on the track. I am going to test power output, cadence, aero position, hair regrowth,..everything....well...almost everything. Feel free to ask questions along the way.
I have two track bikes with identical set-ups. One is set up with 165mm cranks and the other is now set with 140mm cranks. Seat height, set back, stack height/drop have all been accounted for, and matched.
I have a number of computrainers so each bike will be set up on it's own, and going between bikes will be fast & easy. The days that I do a trainer workout will be when I will use the 140mm cranks.
Those of you keeping track:
Track Bike 1: 140mm cranks*
Track Bike 2: 165mm cranks*
Track Bike 3: 165mm cranks
Track Bike 4: 170mm cranks
Track Tandem: 165mm cranks*
Road Bike: 1 170mm cranks*
Road Bike: 2 172.5 mm cranks
Road Bike: 3 170 mm cranks.
* The bikes I will be riding.
I am quite flexible in my upper body and I don't have much of a waist so I have a fairly extreme sprint position on my track bike. The shorter cranks have opened things up somewhat around my hip angle and it kind of feels slightly more upright.