Will I'm thinking about retiring the Middleburns. Right now I'm running 165mm's but thinking of trying 170mm's. I'm wondering though if the 170's will be too long. What are you using?
What crank length?
- Thread starter Brian HCM#1
- Start date
I use 165mm Saint Cranks. I've tried the longer cranks, and it "seems" at least in my mind that I hang my pedals on more stuff. With the 165mm it "seems" like I get more clearance. It's only 5mm but...it "Seems" better. ?? 
I run 170's, but never pedal. I'm a lazy downhiller. But i don't hang up pedals. :0)
One of my buddies had to run a 165 and a 170 for a weekend at big sky. He twisted his when he hit a rock. Had to borrow one crankarm from a buddy that got injured. Swears he didn't notice much difference between the two at all.
One of my buddies had to run a 165 and a 170 for a weekend at big sky. He twisted his when he hit a rock. Had to borrow one crankarm from a buddy that got injured. Swears he didn't notice much difference between the two at all.
Depends on a number of factors:
-your leg length
-bb height
-terrain you ride the most
I'm 6'1" and run 165mm cranks because the BB height on my dh bike is 12.75". If it was higher, I'd be running 170's.
Its a balance. Longer cranks you'll get more power, shorter cranks are better for sprinting.
-your leg length
-bb height
-terrain you ride the most
I'm 6'1" and run 165mm cranks because the BB height on my dh bike is 12.75". If it was higher, I'd be running 170's.
Its a balance. Longer cranks you'll get more power, shorter cranks are better for sprinting.
Maybe I'll stick with 165's. How are the Saints holding up, I'm torn between those and some Gravity lites.
I regularly clip stuff on my 165 saints. They are holding up fine after just over 2 years of riding.
I love them, however I'm having problems with setting them up with the new LG1+. The frame is ISCG old and when I get it lined up perfect, the back of the spider is rubbing on the backplate of the guide. I messed around with different shim combinations for almost 2 hours last night. I may try to file down the back of the spider a bit. That's the other option.
Bench grinder! Dremel!
That's what I ment.
Hulk SMASH!
That may work.
Do you have a 50mm chainline spider, or a 48mm chainline spider?
I have a fixture I made to face down Middleburn spiders for chainguide applications. I'd be more than happy to just send you a faced down model for your un-cut one.
Ricky
I run 170's on all my bikes. 170's for life!
I like to hit, smash, and crack things with them.
I like to hit, smash, and crack things with them.
All fixed, I took a little material from the back of the spider and we're sitting pretty
Missed a golden opportunity, J.
Moar Shimzzzzzz!!!1
But seriously folks, how do you ride such short cranks. I feel like I'm on a baby bike with anything less than 175s.
I still tag rocks with 165's,but way better for DH than 175's.
Cos Im short!
Actually I have short legs for my width.:biggrin:
Anyway I have 170 cranks on everything, except the dirtbike of course, Ive just changed my ASX over from 175's and have noticed I dont smash them on stuff as often.
I am running 175's now because they were $75 new with BB for HONES do I don't care. 170 is what I would have chose. Pumping through rocks works too. And I used to run 175's a long time ago and never had a big problem clipping rocks but always kept my eyes open for them.
170 to 165 length difference of 5mm "clearance" is more in the rider's mind than an actual phenomenon that matters.
you guys mean to say you're always so close to clipping a pedal that 5mm shorter crankarms matters?
you don't think your bike's suspension has 5mm inaccuracy when being dynamic?
come on.
you guys mean to say you're always so close to clipping a pedal that 5mm shorter crankarms matters?
you don't think your bike's suspension has 5mm inaccuracy when being dynamic?
come on.
Crank lenght (although shorter helps sometimes) isn't always the problem with smashing rocks. Some may avoid this by focusing on their pedal position in the trickier areas. Same goes to the lower bb found on some bikes. I ran 170mm Diabolus on my 7point and things were pretty much ok.
$75 is a good thing
My session10 has a 13.9bb static height and a way friggin low bb height at sag. I run 170s on it as well as my Foes, Niner and Chase. I'm 5'11" with a 35" inseam I feel like I'm spinning a clown bike with 165s. I actually hit my bashguard/sprocket on the ground/rocks more than I clip pedals on stuff. I'm usually pretty good about my pedal placement in rock gardens.
I do have a set of 165's that I'll be tossing on my Faith here in the next week or so just because I have them.
-Kevin
I do have a set of 165's that I'll be tossing on my Faith here in the next week or so just because I have them.
-Kevin