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Crank Arm Length


Dave Anscombe

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I've no idea how short cranks help balance. Power is torque multiplied by speed, so whether you get more power from your drivetrain or not depends whether your legs like to move quickly or like to produce a lot of force. Generally if you run gears on the high side of the average you run longer cranks or on the low side you run shorter cranks. There's not a lot of difference to the feel of different lenght cranks on bike though. A lot of people run 160mm cranks for ground clearance as much as for any other reason...

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yeah, but torque is the turning moment that is applied to the BB axle, and is the product of the force and the perpendicular distance away from the pivot. So longer cranks make it easier to pedal, but require more foot movement to make the rear wheel travel the distance. Its up to you really, 170s, seem too long for mod as they get in the way, but say your sidehopping, you dont need the rear wheel to rotate a lot, but you need the power, so a slightly longer crank is better. Thats why i went for 165 cranks last time i bought some, but not many companies make them that length.

But if you want some cranks, buy my 165 Try-alls! :D

Andrew

Edited by walker
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If you have been riding with 160mm carry on riding with 160mm, my friend went down just 5mm and took him a week to get used to his new cranks, this is quite a long time as some things take about 5 mins to get used to. My advice is if your comfortable with something don't change. I was speakin to wayne mahomet about this the other day

Nick

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fair enough, but ive just moved from 158 to 165, the difference is only just noticable, and its definitely for the better, didnt take any getting used to. Leeson vid1 was filmed on the first ride after changing.

Andrew

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Thanks for clearing that all up for me :)

walker thank you verry much for the offer.....but my confidence in try all components now is non existant .....everything try all ive had has died pretty quickly to be fair....

il probs stick with 160 cranks....as i like my ground clearance on the old natural

cheers people

Dave x

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...providing your legs are strong enough, but then the same applies to your gear ratio.

And MrKoxx, fair enough, but i'd trust theses cranks so much more than the Monty ones that i had before, they're a lot beefier, you must just be a basher :P

Edited by walker
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In my eyes, short cranks f.t.w.!

When you have short cranks, you are able to bend the knees WAY more when you are pedaling.... And then youre pedalups get higher...! :)

I run 165mm on STOCK...

and 158 on mod....

170- 175 is WAY to long.... atleast for me...

Edited by t33zr
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In my eyes, short cranks f.t.w.!

When you have short cranks, you are able to bend the knees WAY more when you are pedaling.... And then youre pedalups get higher...! :)

I run 165mm on STOCK...

and 158 on mod....

170- 175 is WAY to long.... atleast for me...

I use 165s on stock, Im still wank though :D

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...providing your legs are strong enough, but then the same applies to your gear ratio.

And MrKoxx, fair enough, but i'd trust theses cranks so much more than the Monty ones that i had before, they're a lot beefier, you must just be a basher :P

IM NO BASHER....yeah i did trust my tryallcranks untill the other day

i may invest in some trial tec ones :)

I THINK A JUMP FROM 160 TO 165 CAN ONLY DO ME GOOD

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All I know is 160mm cranks with a ratio of 18:13 and a light chain, will make the drive train feel soo nice for gaps, sidehops, static backwheeling and pinching which really helps when riding natural and rocks!

Longer cranks like 170/5mm are good for leverage power, but are not too good on a mod for anything except sidehops, sidehops and sidehops and the odd gap. Also I think that longer cranks on a mod make you roll more when on backwheel. Meaning you have to take off further back when gapping(IMO). Just think, manufactors don't just shove 160mm cranks on mods for no reason, they have tested to find the best length.

I would stick with the 160mm and get a 13T rear sprocket. Also I would get some nice Trialtech cranks! (Y)

Nathan

Edited by Nathan Coward
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All I know is 160mm cranks with a ratio of 18:13 and a light chain, will make the drive train feel soo nice for gaps, sidehops, static backwheeling and pinching which really helps when riding natural and rocks!

My vote also... sexual! Gives loads of acceleration for bunnyhops and is good for sidehops (the same 'feel' as running long cranks and a 12T rear). It's also lighter (cos the cranks are shorter), puts less strain on the chain and gives better ground clearance (Y)

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My vote also... sexual! Gives loads of acceleration for bunnyhops and is good for sidehops (the same 'feel' as running long cranks and a 12T rear). It's also lighter (cos the cranks are shorter), puts less strain on the chain and gives better ground clearance (Y)

Trust you. :rolleyes:

The way I see it - Longer cranks, more leverage.

I have 165mm Tensiles on my Zona, and they're fine. :)

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