175 cranks for a shortish arse road rider

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This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Ti29er.

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175 cranks for a shortish arse road rider
Gary_M
Free Member

Normally use 172.5mm cranks on my road and cx/commuter bike. Planet x are doing some lovely FSA K Force cranks for £150, should be almost £500 rrp, but no 172.5 left.

So I'm thinking of going for the 175mm cranks. Will I die a premature death/will my cadence be all over the shop if I switch from 172.5 to 175. I'm 5'9 on a tall day.

I do need a new chainset as the lh pedal is siezed solid on the crank and I cvould do with fitting new pedals.

Posted 14 years ago

oldgit
Free Member

Dunno.
I'm your height and use 170s. You mentioned cross, if it's for racing I'd stick with the correct size rather than making them fit.

Posted 14 years ago

holyhutzpa
Free Member

Go for it!
Sheldon says it effectively doesn't matter cos we all climb the same stairs…

Posted 14 years ago

FGF 701 The Hydrate Or Die Edition

Gary_M
Free Member

Never thought of going down the way to tiddly ickle 170's. I don't race cross and if I did start it wouldn't be in a serious way.

Just checked no 170's left either. Obvioulsy lots of 175's left cause no one buys them.

Posted 14 years ago

Ti29er
Free Member

The reverse is true on the On-One site.
Only 170mm cranks left. 🙁

Posted 14 years ago

njee20
Free Member

Gee from these parts, who's about 6'1" recently fitted some 170s to his bike and was extolling their virtues, I believe Matt Page has done the same (could've been someone else though).

Tim, you'll be fine.

Posted 14 years ago

Ro5ey
Free Member

I was looking at the 170 as well.

Does size really matter ?? I can't view that sheldon link (in work)

I mean the difference between 170 and 175 is only 1cm in total (right?)

Posted 14 years ago

traildog
Free Member

Is the difference not 31.4mm rather than 10mm?

Anyway, no you won't die. You may even not notice any difference. Then again, you may feel never quite right with them…
150quid is still a lot of money to spend on something that you don't feel quite right with.
Can you not borrow someones 175 cranks and see how you get on with them?

Posted 14 years ago

Gary_M
Free Member

mmm not sure now, the sheldon site talk about some knee pain with longer cranks and I do a lot of miles on the bike. Shame – nice crankset at a bargain price.

Posted 14 years ago

glenp
Free Member

I'd go shorter. 170 feels right for me – 5'8".

Posted 14 years ago

Gary_M
Free Member

I'd consider going shorter but 170mm is out of stock too.

Posted 14 years ago

Ti29er
Free Member

I've tried 170's and it is not quite "right".
Went straight back to 175.
Matt is about 5ft ( 😉 )so 170 might well work better for him.
There's a simple calculation somewhere which tells you the correct crank length relative your inside leg, the aspect of the moon and your hair colour that day – and I'm a 175.

Posted 14 years ago