Is your seat height 73cm or 74cm?

jonehall

Is your seat height 73cm or 74cm? If so, what length cranks do you ride?

I understand that there is not a set rule and it varies person to person with cadence and riding style etc.

I'm thinking of buying 172.5 cranks to replace my 170 cranks. I ride 85-95rpm flat and 75 rpm climbs. I have long legs and short torso and ride a 51cm frame.

Just curious what other people are riding and whether people have seen an increase in power or efficiency with a slightly longer crank?

Thanks

redddraggon

My saddle height is 72cm, and I run 172.5 on my good bike and second bike, and other 3 have 170cm. I cannae tell the difference.

richa

73.5cm and I ride 172.5 & 175 cranks.

jonehall

Interesting RichA - can you feel the difference between the 172.5 and 175?

richa

jonehall wrote:

Interesting RichA - can you feel the difference between the 172.5 and 175?

Nope (It is only 2.5mm).

balthazar

I once accidentally fitted a 170 crank on the left side and 175 on the other, and only noticed months (many miles) later, when I took the cranks off.

ajb72

balthazar wrote:

I once accidentally fitted a 170 crank on the left side and 175 on the other, and only noticed months (many miles) later, when I took the cranks off.

That's hilarious! I take it you had no obvious knee or back pains as a result?

cougie

You'll never notice - look how small 2.5mm is and then compare it to the length of your leg.
I had to bung a spare crank on once before a long sportif and the only one was a different size. Fitted it and rode it for months before replacing it properly.

balthazar

ajb72 wrote:

balthazar wrote:

I once accidentally fitted a 170 crank on the left side and 175 on the other, and only noticed months (many miles) later, when I took the cranks off.

That's hilarious! I take it you had no obvious knee or back pains as a result?

Nope. In fact I put them back on for a couple more months – I didn't have any matching ones to hand (and they obviously weren't causing trouble). I was a poor London courier at the time, doing 50-70 miles a day (and effectively eating everything I earned..!)

neeb

73.5 saddle height and 172.5 cranks. When I went from 175 cranks to 170 a few years ago I did notice the difference and didn't like it. When I went from 170 to 172.5, I didn't really notice the difference but I stopped not liking it (if that makes sense; yes, I know it doesn't really...). So I reckon 172.5 is just right for me.

neilmacd

balthazar wrote:

I once accidentally fitted a 170 crank on the left side and 175 on the other, and only noticed months (many miles) later, when I took the cranks off.

I once stripped the threads on a chainset taking it off the night before a TTT. Got a replacement form a friend but one was 172.5 & the other was 175. quote - "you'll not notice the difference"

The minute I started pedalling it felt like someone had shot me in the back pain fired up my hamstring. got dropped after 1.5 miles as I couldn't cope with the pain in my back.