[sriracha]

The point of 165mm cranks is not hitting rocks, it's not how tall you are....

Is that you can pedal with higher cadence as track cyclists do... they normally run 162.5mm.....

that was always my impression also.

road bikes don't have clearance issues, yet they come with cranks less than 170mm. torque is traded for horsepower and rpm's.

downhill racers don't really need the slow speed torque that you would on a steep XC climb...watch most DH pro's and you'll notice that they are spinning the cranks at a very fast cadence...horsepower!!!

 

[rigidhack]

I rode XC on 175mm cranks forever. When I switched to a fully (freeride) I went to 170mm cranks for the clearance issues (in part). I did not notice any appreciable difference. I'm 6'5" with a 36" inseam. I do tend to get more torque than shorter people, and I DO find that I notice a difference with 165mm cranks (they feel a bit clown-bike-ish to me). On a full on DH rig, I can't imagine that would matter since you are only ever really pedaling in short bursts with the goal of rapid acceleration.

 

[Bati]

Go 140. Everything you've stated for 165s would be moreso for 140s.

Haha, in fact, trials bikes uses 140s... for clearence, of course.

 

[caputo1989]

well then what do i do if i still clip ****. ohh and if length is such a mute point to you fellas then lets see you ride a sunday with 175mm cranks and see what your conclusion is after that.

:huh:

I do, and dont have a problem.Mabye I'm a freek of nature, bur I have learned my timing. And actually I had a set of 165's on there before and the total length was 3mm more than my 175's. I ride in colorado where the trails arent necessarilly smooth. Also when i come out of a corner id rather have the 10cm leverage advntage to accelerate faster. This internet hoopla about who rides what and that it is impossible to ride this is BS. Just because you clip your pedals means you havn't figure out your timing between rocks. Not to be knocking you.

 

[Bulldog]

10mm on the crank, 5mm on the pedal thickness and other 3mm on the pins and you can have a bike with 18mm lower center of gravity... Thats a lot for cornering and exactly what designers have to handle when thinking a downhill frame.

What are you talking about? The question was about 5mm in crank length. If you want to talk about other things that contribute to pedal smacks I'll counter your addition of pedals and pins with suspension sag and tire size. Lots of variables, but try to stick to the topic to make your point.

 

[gemini2k]

You moved out to California, right?

Maybe in California you can ride 170+ cranks on a bike with a sub 14" bb height and 8"+ of travel running 30% sag on a DH course and pedal anywhere and everywhere, but In the eastern US, Central US, Australia, Southamerica, Europe and Africa it just seems like a really freaking stupid idea of no merit whatsoever....

Lol, having just ridden some supposedley gnarly east coast stuff, Socal stuff is WAYYYYYY rougher. Not enough comparable. But that said, the east coast stuff was much more fun.

 

[kidwoo]

I just got back from a ride with my 170 cranks on my sub 14" bb bike with 7.7" of travel. I went fast. It was fun.



Something that no one has brought up is that pedaling in really rough sections is usually much less efficient than keeping your cranks level and pumping, unweighting, hopping etc. That's a general statement but I believe it's true in many cases. Pedaling though nutty rocks is not typically going to be that efficient anyway.....bouncing rear tire, trying to steer etc....... Discuss

 

[William42]

I just got back from a ride with my 170 cranks on my sub 14" bb bike with 7.7" of travel. I went fast. It was fun.



Something that no one has brought up is that pedaling in really rough sections is usually much less efficient than keeping your cranks level and pumping, unweighting, hopping etc. That's a general statement but I believe it's true in many cases. Pedaling though nutty rocks is not typically going to be that efficient anyway.....bouncing rear tire, trying to steer etc....... Discuss

crazy talk. pumping through rock gardens is stupid. just pedal faster

 

[PatBranch]

no rocks down here in SOCAL, either:

Yep... the trails are all smooth like Woo's jumps with the Turkey Pee Sheen.

 

[Bati]

What are you talking about? The question was about 5mm in crank length. If you want to talk about other things that contribute to pedal smacks I'll counter your addition of pedals and pins with suspension sag and tire size. Lots of variables, but try to stick to the topic to make your point.

We are talking about cranks length for a Sunday, a pure downhill bike. It means: high enough to avoid the rocks and as low as possible to turn fast... both things at the limit, inluding pedals, pins, sag, tires and cranks.

(downhill)

 

[kidwoo]

Bike with 13.8 bb, 8.2" travel and 170 cranks

(downhill)

 

[SuspectDevice]

I have determined that this thread may actually be about penis size?

For the millionth effing time, longer cranks have absolutely no positive effects on peak power output. Shorter cranks are clearly and advantage, as it takes less time to make a complete revolution.
Why the hell would you want to run the longest cranks possible for a dh bike?
For the same reason people restore vintage muscle cars?
For the same reason people get hair implants?

I also noticed, all the Americans are convinced bigger is better, and all the Canadians, Aussies and Euro's in this thread appear have the ability to conisder the length of a phallic object without a great deal of irrational anxiety.

I blame internet porn.

 

[Bulldog]

We are talking about cranks length for a Sunday, a pure downhill bike. It means: high enough to avoid the rocks and as low as possible to turn fast... both things at the limit, inluding pedals, pins, sag, tires and cranks.

(downhill)

Great. Glad we agree, even though we don't seem to speak the same language.

I rode a DHR (downhill) and everyone thought I was nuts for running 175's because it was too low and I survived and they worked really well. So many variables that contribute to BB height, and 5mm in crank length is just one piece and will not ruin the bike or the ride.

To the OP - just ride what works for you. Most of the people here giving "expert" advice could have their own setups nit-picked to death and we would find at least 1 thing (if not many things) that is "wrong", easily.

 

[DirtyMike]

.

To the OP - just ride what works for you. Most of the people here giving "expert" advice could have their own setups nit-picked to death and we would find at least 1 thing (if not many things) that is "wrong", easily.

 

[DirtyMike]

Well... Back to the original question... On a Sunday, as a very low BB downhill race bike, you will not get its full potential with cranks longer than 165mm.

MDJ, DirtyMike, Bulldog and Huck Banzai are not talking about cranks for a Sunday.

Actually, I am talking about cranks for ALL bikes. Everybike in existance. And again I will say this, Crank length isnt about clearnce, it isnt about Cadence, it isnt about power. Its about matching the crank length to your leg length vs bb to seat. That way they fit the rider. I know this isnt road, But all the same, this is where the difference is.

AGAIN, ride what you want, I will ride what I want, and what I ride will work for me, and what you ride will work for you.

P.S. Can anyone explain how I can run 170 cranks, and hit my bashguard WAY more than I ever hit my cranks???




EDIT...... When I said all bikes, I meant all MOUNTAIN bikes. We will leave BMX out of this discussion. Whole other can of worms there

 

[SuspectDevice]

DirtyMike,
I'm not going to listen to you until you spell "sponsor" correctly in your signature.

 

[kidwoo]

Why the hell would you want to run the longest cranks possible for a dh bike?

To make you squirm. And because the east coast is the only place where your pedals might hit something.


I just ordered some custom 190s.


I don't think anyone here ever said 'run the longest cranks possible'


I just like jumping on the bandwagon to give the guys that can't ride well enough to overcome their 5mm mental blocks a REALLY hard time. Because they sure as hell deserve it and need to get out and ride more.


I ride 170s because I have 3 bikes with them. Switching parts when something breaks is much easier. And climbing with 165s actually does hurt my knees. There. How's that?

 

[Bati]

Actually, I am talking about cranks for ALL bikes. Everybike in existance. And again I will say this, Crank length isnt about clearnce, it isnt about Cadence, it isnt about power. Its about matching the crank length to your leg length vs bb to seat. That way they fit the rider. I know this isnt road, But all the same, this is where the difference is.

AGAIN, ride what you want, I will ride what I want, and what I ride will work for me, and what you ride will work for you.

P.S. Can anyone explain how I can run 170 cranks, and hit my bashguard WAY more than I ever hit my cranks???




EDIT...... When I said all bikes, I meant all MOUNTAIN bikes. We will leave BMX out of this discussion. Whole other can of worms there

hhhhmmmm... all mountain bikes... i just imagined tsaps was askig for cranks for his Sunday.

 

[DirtyMike]

hhhhmmmm... all mountain bikes... i just imagined tsaps was askig for cranks for his Sunday.

He was, and I pointed out that 165's are not for everyone who ever rides a sunday just because thats how Sams bike is.

 

[tsamps]

For the people who do ride sundays, what length cranks do you use? (please continue on with normal discussion, its pretty funny).

 

[Acadian]

For the people who do ride sundays, what length cranks do you use? (please continue on with normal discussion, its pretty funny).

I run 165

and run 170 on all my other bikes....

 

[caputo1989]

175 on my sunday.

 

[William42]

i might just be a newbie on this, but heres a thought: ride style effects cranks/pedals hitting rocks way more then that 10 mm difference, to the point of making any questions of what other people run worthless.

I hear sam hill runs custom 210's. discuss

 

[kazlx]

I just bought some 170mm Saints, but now I'm worried they might not be the right length and I might have to cut 5mm out and weld them back together. I wouldn't want to have a crank faux pas...

 

[Bati]

I ride 165mm on my Sunday and 175 on my Enduro

 

[JamesDaniels]

I am building an Iron Horse sunday up and I am wondering what length cranks to use. Iron horse puts 165mm cranks on the stock sundays, but that seems really short. What do you guys think, would 165mm or 170mm work better? thanks for the help

I guess the 170mm would be the best choice!

 

[Huck Banzai]

162.5 = Dh

165 = Am

170 = Brb

175 = Wthiwwyp

180 = Ligdkityti

 

[tsamps]

huh?

 

[Huck Banzai]

huh?

Exactly!

Im going to swap on my 120's now...