Would I notice a difference using 175mm crank length?

Stellite
Stellite Posts: 544
edited March 2010 in Road buying advice
Hi folks,
Would I notice any difference in using a 175mm crank length, when im using a 172.5mm at the mo?
To be honest, ive just checked my fixed wheel and its a 165mm!

Paul

Comments

  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    no
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    I doubt it.
    I had 3 different length cranks on 3 different bikes and couldn't tell from one to the other.
  • Stellite
    Stellite Posts: 544
    Nice one, as I said I never noticed the difference between the 165mm an the 172.5mm :D
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    wondering the same - new bike is 175 vs 172.5 and first couple of rides showed no difference.
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    Only difference that I can come up with is regarding toe clearance. Still not a big deal
  • Wheelspinner
    Wheelspinner Posts: 6,720
    Hmmm, call me weird perhaps, but I put some 170 mm cranks on one bike, when I usually ride 175's and it felt like I was spinning the pedals on a kiddies trike.

    OK, that might be just ever so slightly exaggerated, but there was a distinct difference.

    YMMV.
    Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Nope -I cant anyway.
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    I've read about people using different lengths on either side without noticing.
  • what brakes
    what brakes Posts: 328
    Wheelspinner wrote:
    Hmmm, call me weird perhaps, but I put some 170 mm cranks on one bike, when I usually ride 175's and it felt like I was spinning the pedals on a kiddies trike.

    OK, that might be just ever so slightly exaggerated, but there was a distinct difference.

    YMMV.

    I had a bike with 170 and i had that feeling.! so yes you can tell the difference!
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    what brakes wrote:
    Wheelspinner wrote:
    Hmmm, call me weird perhaps, but I put some 170 mm cranks on one bike, when I usually ride 175's and it felt like I was spinning the pedals on a kiddies trike.

    OK, that might be just ever so slightly exaggerated, but there was a distinct difference.

    YMMV.

    I had a bike with 170 and i had that feeling.! so yes you can tell the difference!

    I have 175 on one bike and 170 on another and feels same. So you can't tell the difference...
  • Wheelspinner
    Wheelspinner Posts: 6,720
    Garry H wrote:
    what brakes wrote:
    Wheelspinner wrote:
    Hmmm, call me weird perhaps, but I put some 170 mm cranks on one bike, when I usually ride 175's and it felt like I was spinning the pedals on a kiddies trike.

    OK, that might be just ever so slightly exaggerated, but there was a distinct difference.

    YMMV.

    I had a bike with 170 and i had that feeling.! so yes you can tell the difference!

    I have 175 on one bike and 170 on another and feels same. So you can't tell the difference...

    Er, correction. What you meant to say was "I have 175 on one bike and 170 on another and feels same. So I can't tell the difference."

    I am amazed that you think you know what my experience is with different crank lengths. Have we met? Have we, you know, done lunch or something but I've forgotten who the hell you are? :lol:
    Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS
  • ex-pat scot
    ex-pat scot Posts: 939
    Nope.
    Commute: Langster -Singlecross - Brompton S2-LX

    Road: 95 Trek 5500 -Look 695 Aerolight eTap - Boardman TTe eTap

    Offroad: Pace RC200 - Dawes Kickback 2 tandem - Tricross - Boardman CXR9.8 - Ridley x-fire
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    How would anyone know if you would feel the difference unless you told them you did or didn't. In which case you would know and wouldn't need to ask the question. Sorry,
    couldn't resist. :wink::wink:
  • antikythera
    antikythera Posts: 326
    edited March 2010
    At the risk of starting another pointless "she said, he said" internet debate.

    I suspect you may find a difference, and it will be more pronounced if you make a like-for-like comparison. i.e. change the cranks on the same bike and riding before and after. Making the comparison based on differences between three (or how ever many) bikes, all of which will have compounding differences wont help you reach a conclusion.

    To clarify, I've have 5 bikes all appropriately sized using the system de jour. So they should be pretty close to one another.. and they are. But all with their subtle differences.

    Anyhoo, I went through this debate on another forum some 10 years ago. The debate centered around the optimum crank length based on inseam (femur) length. As a consequence of that thread I changed my cranks from the 165's to the "recommended" 172.5's.

    Firstly, the "correct" femur/crank length size really works for me and I wont go back. But more relevant to the OP question; There was a marked difference in pedaling technique required and it took me several weeks for me to become comfortable enough to not notice the cranks.

    In short (no pun intended) the longer cranks gave me more leverage and IMO would benefit folks that grind. While the short encourage more spin. Of course eveyones unique physiology has its impact here.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    Wheelspinner wrote:
    Garry H wrote:
    what brakes wrote:
    Wheelspinner wrote:
    Hmmm, call me weird perhaps, but I put some 170 mm cranks on one bike, when I usually ride 175's and it felt like I was spinning the pedals on a kiddies trike.

    OK, that might be just ever so slightly exaggerated, but there was a distinct difference.

    YMMV.

    I had a bike with 170 and i had that feeling.! so yes you can tell the difference!

    I have 175 on one bike and 170 on another and feels same. So you can't tell the difference...

    Er, correction. What you meant to say was "I have 175 on one bike and 170 on another and feels same. So I can't tell the difference."

    I am amazed that you think you know what my experience is with different crank lengths. Have we met? Have we, you know, done lunch or something but I've forgotten who the hell you are? :lol:
    i can tell i think. get better range of motion and more torque.

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