Crank length and north west wheelbuilder

chortlon-sim

Can anyone tell me what length to go for, I'm fairly short (5'8")...
Also can anyone suggest a wheel builder with a good reputation in the north west, I assume because I'm light @60kg I'm better getting some well built wheels at 1350g rather than off the shelf (eg) RS80s at 1520g??
Ta in advance

Monty Dog

170mm should be fine for you.
As for NW wheel builders, either Paul Hewitt in Leyland or Pete Matthews in Liverpool have good reps and no doubt there are others folks will recommend. Whatever you do, don't go to Dave Hinde
Component choice makes it more critical to build something strong and reliable below 1500g, but Stans Alpha rims would be a good start unless going for carbon?

maddog 2

+1 what MD said.

170 and Paul Hewitt.

Light isn't everything. Stiff is good too.

smidsy

Do not go to Paul Hewitt........unless you want to re-mortgage your house and sell your children....the place is a positive Aladins cave of cycling goodness.

Damn, now you have got me thinking about going...aaarrrghhhh!!!!

chortlon-sim

Thanks chaps,
Based on what you've said, would it be better to go even shorter than 170mm for crank length?
In terms of stiffness, I assumed that due to my light weight this would be irrelevant as I would never experience flex on even very lightweight wheels?
Thanks,

Solis

I'm your height/weight, PH has built me a couple of bikes both with 170 cranks and light wheels.

Escher303

chortlon-sim wrote:

Thanks chaps,
Based on what you've said, would it be better to go even shorter than 170mm for crank length?
In terms of stiffness, I assumed that due to my light weight this would be irrelevant as I would never experience flex on even very lightweight wheels?
Thanks,

I weigh 63 kgs and I can make wheels flex when climbing, so yes stiffness is still important, I run my brakes a little wider so they don't rub when going hard uphill. Although I do climb out of the saddle mostly, if you are a sit down climber then it may be less of an issue for you.

drlodge

I'm 5' 9" and have moved from 170 to 172.5mm cranks. If anything they help going up hill and I prefer this slightly longer crank length.

I can recommend Harry Rowland for wheel building, he gives good honest advice and will probably recommend cheaper wheels than you originally had in mind.

chortlon-sim

Spoke to Wheelsmith this morning (we've got family in Dunbar and friends in Glasgow - so are up there a bit). He suggests keeping my cheepo Eastons for training and getting handbuilt 50mm Gigantex clinchers (which he could get in at 1400g). My thinking was that I was too slow to benefit from deep walls but it appears not (ultimately I want to time trial quicker and assumed off the peg RS80s at 1520g would be the way forward.
Thanks again for all the advice so far...

Danny87

Both Paul Hewitt and Peter Matthews have good reputations as do wheelsmith. For time trialing yes deep section wheels probably the way to go.

As for crank length I'm 5"8 and 30-31" inside leg measurement. I have a 170mm crank length on both bikes I have.

However recently bought Graham Obree's new book. It has a formua to help acheive the ideal crank length. I can't remember my exact ideal crank length but I know it was close to 165mm. But not many new model chainsets go smaller than 170mm anyway so suppose I have got the closest fit I could hope for.

chortlon-sim

Ultegra actually do a 165mm, so given that I'm the same inside leg as you, if not a little shorter, maybe I should go for that.

Danny87

Basically he says 9.5% of your total height. 5"8 = 172.5cm. 9.5% of that is 16.38cm or 163.8mm which means rounded up I'd say yeah 165mm is best fit for me and thee.

Danny87

p.s Buy his ebook, can't remember exact price. Not expensive though some great training/bike setup stuff in there!

chortlon-sim

Danny87 wrote:

p.s Buy his ebook, can't remember exact price. Not expensive though some great training/bike setup stuff in there!

Nice one Danny cheers

essjaydee

There is a good wheelbuilder in Lytham St Annes that I've used before

Built me a rear wheel, hope pro 3 hub, mavic open pro rim, sapim double butted spokes for sub £200, and it's done approx 2000 miles and is still as good as new 8)