Choosing the right Bike Crank length can significantly impact your cycling experience. While shorter cranks are often recommended, especially in online forums, my personal experience as a taller rider with long legs has led me to a different conclusion. For over ten years, I’ve consistently used 180mm cranks on my road bikes and found them to be the optimal length for my physiology and riding style. This article delves into my experience and explains why longer cranks work best for me, and potentially for other riders with similar builds.
Initially, swayed by online discussions advocating for shorter cranks, I experimented with 175mm cranks on my road bike. However, after a few months, I realized that shorter cranks felt restrictive. My range of motion felt constrained, and I missed the natural feel and power I experienced with longer cranks. This realization prompted me to revert to 180mm cranks, reaffirming my preference for the longer option on road bikes.
The same principle applies to my time trial (TT) bike setup, although with a slight adjustment. While I use 175mm cranks on my Shiv TT, which is 5mm shorter than my road bike cranks, this adjustment is carefully considered. I utilize a Dash saddle that facilitates significant hip rotation, allowing me to achieve a hip angle comparable to my road bike position. With shorter 170mm cranks on the TT bike, I felt a noticeable lack of power, particularly when accelerating over short rollers in an aerodynamic tuck. The ability to maintain speed and effectively “bull rush” over small hills diminished. It felt akin to being in too high a gear on a climb, constantly needing to spin at a higher cadence, especially at the beginning of any incline on the TT course. Furthermore, on descents during TTs, I prefer to push a larger gear at around 80-85 rpm while maintaining my power target. Longer cranks consistently felt more efficient and comfortable in these scenarios.
Ultimately, for me, the best bike cranks are those that simply feel right. Shorter cranks, despite their popularity and perceived advantages for some, just don’t provide the same comfortable and powerful feel that I get from longer cranks.
To illustrate my point further, consider this analogy: do you skip steps when climbing stairs? I’ve always naturally skipped steps, as it feels more natural and efficient for my stride. Walking up stairs one step at a time feels slow and somewhat awkward. This instinctive preference for a longer stride on stairs mirrors my preference for longer cranks on my bikes. It’s about leveraging natural biomechanics and finding what feels most fluid and powerful for your individual body.
This is just my personal experience, but it highlights the importance of considering individual biomechanics and comfort when choosing bike crank length. Don’t blindly follow trends or forum advice; experiment and discover what crank length feels best and performs optimally for you. Good luck finding your ideal crank length!
