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Crank Lengths On Mods.


Dan6061

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Ok, first of all, I have fooked up the pedal thread in my dirve-side crank arm, along with the thread on the pedal.

Nice.

I've decided to get an ISIS BB while i'm at it, so ISIS cranks it is then (obviously :turned: )

Been having a look about, and all the cranks I've seen are 170mm length.

These cranks being Zoo, Echo, and then Tensiles in 165mm.

Just wondering how much of a difference longer cranks would make to the 'feel' of the gearing.

When I ha my old T-Bird with 170mm cranks, then went to some shorrrt Monty 219 cranks, it felt really different.

As i'm running 160mm now, would 165-170mm make a lot of differnce? Or would it be barely noticeable?

Also, which cranks would you lot recommend?

I was looking at the Zoo ISIS ones on Tartybikes, £75 ones..

They alright?

Also...Which length BB axle would I need?

My Sq Taper one is 127.5mm..would the ISIS need to be that long?

I'm using a front cog btw.

Cheers.

And sorry if i've rambled on poinlessly throughout the post, it's late, and i'm in a rather shitty mood...

Edited by Dan6061
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I've got 175mm Tensile Urban Legends on my bike, and it feels super nice. I changed from 158mm to 175mm, and it was a nice feeling. It's weird at first 'cos your legs are used to maknig 158mm radius circles, so when you get on the 175's for the first time it's a bit odd, but the extra power you get is really nice. Basically, it's easier to pedal, so you get the power more easily, so it makes it nicer for static power moves, or power moves in general, basically.

170 should be fine though. Bearing in mind that a lot of the main companies are doing 170-only cranks now, it should give you an idea (Y)

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I went from Onza Orbitas which are short? 160? it was short anyway...

Went from them to the new Echo ones which are 170, and yeah, feel reallly weird for the first few times you go on it, but also feels better at the same time :)

If your running a fixed cog on the front, I think any ISIS bb would be alright. I run a Echo external bb, with the cups outside. But if your going to run FFW i dont think you can run it with an External bb cos the cups will get in the way. If so, get internal bb from Echo :turned:

Hope that made sense :-

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It's helluva weird feeling going from short to long. My Base has 165 (I think, could even be 160, I forget), and my 2.zero has either 170 or 175, and the difference (despite it only being 10-20mm) is huge. Feels kinda like you're riding a bent/f**ked taper crank or pedal. I think I prefer the longer ones due to the fact that the power goes down a lot quicker - it feels like I can approach stuff slower and more controlled rather than blasting at it for ups (which is where I reckon this makes all the difference). Having said that, I hear people going on about how higher gearing makes you gap better (which makes sense), so going longer might have a negative effect in that area.

Ride a bike with short and a bike with long if you can, see which you prefer...

I think for me it's longs for the quick snappy acceleration. I'm a snappy, flicky guy...

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Word. However, about the "more power = more good"; you're still getting all the lovely power of 18:12, it's just that it's easier. All you have to do is just adapt your technique (Y) It's not like going down to 18:13 to get it spinnier, whereby you're capping your top speed/max power, so you aren't losing anything as such, it just means you can suddenly get a load of power out (Y)

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I went from 158 monty`s to 170 new echo cranks.It feels so much better.I was running

18:12 with both cranks.

A tad bit out of focus :- .. but how do you undo a front freewheel? Couldn't find the topic..

(... my pedal also ate into the crank's tread and made some aluminium puree)

I am talking ACS claws on a try-all crank... hyper tightened...

will just a big hammer do?? :ermm:

Edited by TrashZen
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Trashzen: If you can, attach the Freewheel tool onto a 24" breaker bar, and pull like mad!

worked for me at work. :)

On topic: Which axle length would I need for my BB?

Zoo ISIS cranks, Plaz front cog...

Any help?

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On topic: Which axle length would I need for my BB?

Zoo ISIS cranks, Plaz front cog...

Any help?

Um frame too perhaps? Basically all it is is you want the straightest chain line possible, usually it means the shortest axle possible (unless your dropouts are 8ft apart as will says ;) ) Im absolutly crap with bb lengths im afraid.

Will Arnold says that his 118mm gigapipe JUST about clears the shell of a zoo python when using the old tensiles + an eno. You should be fine with a 118mm for the clearance side if you're using a cog. But for the love of gerald, don't quote me on that.....

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are you sure the 'new feeling' that some of you are experiencing when changing cranks is not down to the crank itself? such as a better cranks being stiffer.

its down to your size really. ladies specific bikes come with shorter cranks and the like. also roadies get very pedantic over the lengths of various parts in minute increments.

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