crank length increase

Teshu

I've just managed to swap over my groupset for a much better 2nd hand one (all in fairly good condition dura ace and ultegra) on a reynolds 531 frame I had. Not a wealthy man so It's second hand stuff but looked after.

Any way the chain rings I've put on are ultegra 53/39 with 175mm cranks. So I'm pretty much bang on 6ft are these too long, the last ones were 172.5 ones.

I know my cadence will drop a bit but hopefully I can pick that up a bit over time but will I be putting alot more strain on my knees or back. I'm not too sure of the pro's and con's of longer cranks. As cadence seams so important would I be better getting shorter ones or is it more down to individual prefrence?

I've not been out much (only got it built 9 days ago) but over 30 miles including hills I had an avg cadence of only 67, avg speed of 14.5mph. Is this kinda right for starting out with my longer cranks?

I sorry it's a bit of a random splurge of questions :roll:

Cheers Alex

balthazar

Don't worry. Concern about crank length is something of a curate's egg. To most people it is inconsequential: I've inadavertently ridden hundreds of miles on mismatched cranks without noticing. I'm 6 ft and currently have 175 cranks. I think cadence is a generally personal matter, varying between people who aren't helped by the pressed advice to pedal faster. (Apologies for the terse comments— I'm writing from my phone)

Teshu

Cheers for that reply,
I'd been starting to tie myself in knots about crank length cadence and injury, think I'll try and forget about it and concentrate on just riding.

I suppose if it feels alrighty then it can't be too bad.

John.T

I have used cranks from 165 for track, 175 on road and MTB and used to use 180 for a while. I never had any bother. I notice the 165s for the first few laps but that is all. I am 5' 11" and my knees are 67 years old. 2.5mm is not going to blow yours out.

cougie

+1 on the comments above - if you didn't read the measurement on the crank you would never notice.

sandbag

Teshu wrote:

Cheers for that reply,
I'd been starting to tie myself in knots about crank length cadence and injury, think I'll try and forget about it and concentrate on just riding.

I suppose if it feels alrighty then it can't be too bad.

Yes you do right. Alot riders are constantly glancing down at there computers, and thinking about there performance. This in itself uses nervous energy. They would do better without there computer. There is now a culture of SOFTLAD that can't ride without there computers .

rake

you might get on better with 175. it likely put less stress on you not more. youl have a little more leverage to do the work on hills. i say its right for your height.