Eyeing up a new purchase for 2015, Notice a lot of bike's I'm targeting (Canyon Strive, Spectral etc) seem to come with 170mm cranks, this is the new "norm"? Even on the Medium/large sizes.
Is this due to the 1x11 gearing, overall rollout of the bigger wheels?
Interesting. I thought choice of crank length was influenced by height and cadence. These in turn are influenced by genetics and the type or riding. I'm not sure where wheel size or fashion should come in to it.
Most road bikes have crept up from 170 to 172.5 as the norm which, if what you say takes hold, would make road cranks longer than mtb ones.
More to do with lower BBS I'd imagine
If it is to compensate for a low bb, that really feels like a bodge to me.
Ridden bikes with both and not really noticed any difference, once seat height was adjusted
I'll have to go test ride some, see whats what, I fitted 170mm's to my Guapo - that had BB height issues. Didnt like it..
Its because those bikes have a lower bottom bracket, so the crank is shorter to reduce the chance of pedal strikes.
I've just fitted 170mm cranks to my new frame for the same reason.
Most people don't notice a difference but if you're one of the people who do, then you really do. I spec 170 on all my bikes, road or off road, after going shorter seems to have solved a knee issue.