Would you ride 150mm cranks?

[minor_LEGEND]

I always had 175's as a youth on my mtb's bitd, most of my bikes are now 172.5mm but I have had some 170's for a few years now on my 'best bike'. I do actually notice a slight difference when riding it (in a good way) & when I hop on some of my retro mtb's to commute or whatever, I really feel the 175mm length, in my hips mostly. It just feels like my feet have to travel an awful long way forwards & backwards with each revolution. I'm certainly a convert to 170's & want to try some 165's on my road bike.
Surely the argument for extra leverage is marginal at 5mm diff, but I can imagine the angle change at the knee is probably a couple of degrees, which is not insignificant esp if chasing comfort due to a niggle.

 

[ferrus]

Not a lot of experience to have much of an opinion, but I recently fitted 175’s to a road bike and find the extra extension quite uncomfortable when on the drops. It feels noticeably more cramped especially at the top of the pedal stroke (but I’m not very flexible).

 

[Imlach]

Seems to me out of the saddle climbing is the biggest down side then? So living in one of the less mountainous parts of Norfolk should help with that considerably.

I do cadence ride, as my right knee especially is pretty shot.

I guess the main consensus is really they are not going to do any major harm, so suck it and see...

Majestic Norfolk

 

[paton]

https://www.hopetech.com/news/new-155mm-evo-cranks/

https://www.hopetech.com/_repository/1/documents/EVO_155_foot_position.pdf

 

[paton]

At about 11:50 in

https://road.shimano.com/stories/short-crank-curious

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/a-...mm-cranks-tadej-pogacars-2024-marginal-gains/

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/remco-evenepoels-bike/

 

[paton]

https://eitech.io/pod-episode-109-professor-jim-martin/

 

[Fat Tire Trader]

In 1994, I was hit by a truck while riding my Cunningham. Although I was immediately repaired, the Cunningham frame still needs a new top tube, down tube, and fork. It’s since been replaced by another complete Cunningham. My worst injury was to my knee, which required open surgery, a few part replacements, and five screws. When I was ready to ride again, I couldn’t bend my knee enough to use regular-length cranks. As a Bullseye dealer at the time, I had Roger build me a custom set with 151mm crank arms. The shorter arms allowed me to pedal, and I used them until my knee healed—then I eventually sold them.

 

[dirttorpedo]

There has been a lot of talk about traditional crank lengths being too long and there being benefits - even for taller riders - in going shorter. So, sure, i'd give it a try if a pair fell into my lap. I'd probably be hard pressed to go out and source a set of short ones deliberately though.

 

[bikeworkshop]

If it worked, we'd have done it already.