the pedal causes more force for the axel to try and bend surly? because your standing further away from the centre of the axel.. if you was closer to the centre of the axel there will be less force for it try and bend? i dont understand how the length of pedals wouldnt make a diffrence, but 3mm of spacing would, i have aprox 3mm of spacing on mine because my crank doesnt go that far on..