150mm crank

PostieJohn

Wifey is a touch on the short size, (just shy of 5 foot) and could really do with 150mm cranks.

Currently she rides with a 165mm shimano compact, on her Cannondale, but it's just not happening for her.

I've racked by internet knowledge and don't seem to be able to come up trumps, so it's over to you guys.

Any pointers in the direction of a supplier, or even a possible supplier, would be greatly appriciated.

Ta muchly.

geoff_ss

I think Highpath Engineering could perhaps modify some cranks for you but it wouldn't be a cheap solution.

http://www.highpath.co.uk/index.html

Geoff

vbc

Something from Stronglight perhaps?

secretsqirrel

You could try SJS Cycles, they can supply cranks down to 140mm.

synchronicity

http://www.zinncycles.com/cranks.aspx

They make cranks down to 130mm

maddog 2

Thorn do 110mm BCD cranks down to (at least) 155mm as my wife has one on her roadie

see SJS

I'll dig out the link

maddog 2

down to 140mm, and £70 is a fairish price. Obviously you'd need some rings

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Thor ... y-1672.htm

it's a triple but you may be able to run it as a double (I can check the wife's bike if you need me to)

acorn_user

I think the Sugino XD goes to that crank length.
http://www.suginoltd.co.jp/crank_e.html
I know that Miche Young cranks go to that length.
http://www.miche.it/home.html -> products -> groups -> Young
The classic choice for odd crank lengths is TA.
http://www.specialites-ta.com/

PostieJohn

Thanks everyone.
Wifey has now circled the globe with e-mails, as TA, through our LBS, are unable to supply us. And their alternative will double the cost of the change to over £400.
So she's now stuck, having been sold (rightly) on needing the change but now can't actually afford it.

acorn_user

Hill Brick in Australia have the Miche for 150 AU$ with bottom bracket. I bet you could get it here. Bill Nicholls is the Miche importer for the UK. Graham Weigh cycles used to sell them too.

acorn_user

Bingo Roseversand to the rescue! They carry the crank you are looking for, and for only 60euros.

http://www.roseversand.de/output/contro ... tail2=1429

synchronicity

THanks to whoever suggested the Miche cranks. I will fit a couple to my XS bikes!

Wooliferkins

TA do the Vega cranks down to 155mm. Distributor expecting delivery in 2-3 weeks but TA always say that dont they!

cpeachey

Highpath charge £39.50 to shorten a pair of cranks. Must be at least 20mm longer before shortening and with enough metal round the new hole. The treads can be reversed at no extra charge. (for a tandem cross-over set)
Dotek are another maker of short cranks. (I think Thorns may be Doteks) I have a pair of 155mm on our Bike Friday tandem.
Chris

graemetherunner

I'm sure you have done your homework but 150's just sound too short, unless you have some kind of hip mobility problems?

It will give a shorter range of movement & work the muscle through a shorter but theortically optimum phase... but I would have thought it would make your legs fatague faster?

Each to there own I suppose.

PostieJohn

Wooliferkins wrote:

TA do the Vega cranks down to 155mm. Distributor expecting delivery in 2-3 weeks but TA always say that dont they!

That sounds hopeful though. Which distributor was it expecting the delivery?

andrew_s

PostieJohn wrote:

Thanks everyone.
Wifey has now circled the globe with e-mails, as TA, through our LBS, are unable to supply us. And their alternative will double the cost of the change to over £400.
So she's now stuck, having been sold (rightly) on needing the change but now can't actually afford it.

TA used to do a good range of crank lengths but have cut back of recent years.

I'd go for the Thorn cranks maddog2 suggested. There's no problem running them as a double - you just don't put the 3rd chainring on. If you think you may want them as a triple in the future, it may be worth plugging the unused bolt holes with candlewax or something to make the threads easy to clean up.
They are easily available, which some of the alternatives aren't. Cost should be £70 for the cranks, £6 for a set of chainring bolts, and £14 outer/£10 middle Stronglight chainrings from Spa Cycles.

Normally recommended crank size is about 20% of leg length.

Ma coli

maddog 2 wrote:

and £70 is a fairish price

That's all a matter of opinion, especially if you're on a low wage or if you've got other things that you need to spend the money on, rather than as a luxury...

graemetherunner wrote:

I'm sure you have done your homework but 150's just sound too short, unless you have some kind of hip mobility problems?

It will give a shorter range of movement & work the muscle through a shorter but theortically optimum phase... but I would have thought it would make your legs fatague faster?

Each to there own I suppose.

I'm 5'6", male and use 150's on both my bikes, one set of which were intended for a kid's bike(!) and according to a Cycling Plus article from last century, are the correct length for my short stumps! Anything longer results in over-stressing of the knee joint as the calf comes up to squash against my thigh, which then tries to pop open.

Talking of cranks on children's bikes, how often do we see youngsters with their knees up round their chins because the bike's fitted with 170mm cranks?