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What crank length does STW think I should put on a 27.5 hardtail running 2.6 to 2.8 tires?
BB = 55mm drop 305mm height
How long are your legs?
What do you normally run?
6’2”
175mm
them's hella long legs
Sorry, normal to short length legs for my height
170 or 165. I'm 5'11 with long legs for my height and have two bikes on 165 and one on 170. 175 was unnecessarily long, despite my 33.5" leg measurement.
175 was unnecessarily long, despite my 33.5″ leg measurement.
I'm used to 175 and my legs are 31". Thought about going shorter but it's not usually on offer. Bird Zero TR, quite long, fairly low, fairly slack, (sorry not a geo nerd).
"I’m used to 175 and my legs are 31″. Thought about going shorter but it’s not usually on offer. Bird Zero TR, quite long, fairly low, fairly slack, (sorry not a geo nerd)."
I used to have 175 on everything because that's the default. I changed to 165 on my Zero AM when I was running a -2 deg headset and 130mm fork, which gave it a 55mm BB drop and it was constantly smacking pedals with 175mm cranks. After that I've gone for shorter cranks on everything because they simply work better unless you have VERY long legs.
Anyone short with short legs for their height is completely biomechanically screwed by the lack of sub 165mm options.
305mm isn't low
shorter spin faster FACT
otherwise get what you like
Anyone short with short legs for their height is completely biomechanically screwed by the lack of sub 165mm options.
#DRAMAmuch ?
If its normal riding then just get 175s, if its DH'y type stuff then 170s or 165s for a little bit of extra clearance?
Does 5 or 10mm actually make that much difference to pedal strikes or is it more in the mind? You know you've fitted shorter cranks to "eliminate" pedal strikes, so subconsciously you concentrate more on not hitting your pedals as you've already convinced yourself that it's the massively long 175mm that are causing the strikes and not your lack of composure / concentration etc?
Do you hit your pedals more when your rear tyre wears, effectively lowering the BB even further or is it eliminated by those shorter cranks irrespective of that?
shorter spin faster FACT
Not doubt there
"Does 5 or 10mm actually make that much difference to pedal strikes or is it more in the mind?"
I'm sure there's a psychological thing, there usually is. But my hardtail has a 305mm BB height, so that's 250mm with the fork fully compressed. Deduct a 175mm crank from that and you have 75mm clearance, rising to 85mm with a 165 crank. My full-sus has a 340mm BB height, so that's 200m with the suspension fully compressed. Deduct a 175mm crank from that and you have 25mm clearance, rising to 35mm with a 165 crank. That seems significant to me? Actually, when the suspension is compressed all the way, the tyres are fairly squished too, so the clearance will be even less.
Whenever I've had a bad pedal strike it's been coming out of a corner and against the clock - pedalling too early and/or catching something unexpected whilst the bike is still partially compressed and leant over.
173cm with 30" inseam- run 175mm for the last few years.
Most recently on the SolarisMax LS- it's been fine at trail centers. Haven't hit them, even on some nasty rocky bits.
Does 5 or 10mm actually make that much difference to pedal strikes
No. Not really. looking ahead and not pedalling into things does.
HTH
what ever is comfortable to ride with. I find 165 mm too spinny, 170 is a lot better.
What crank length does STW think I should put on a 27.5 hardtail running 2.6 to 2.8 tires?
I'm 6'2" my Whyte 901 has 27.5 x 2.8 tyres, a BB height of 297.5 and 170 mm cranks. It leaves chunks of pedal and crank behind on every kind of step/rut