Do you guys/gals recommend running the same length crank on your cross bike as you do on your road bike? I am finalizing my build and probably have a tonne more of these perhaps daft questions.
Thanks in advance for your help!

Do you guys/gals recommend running the same length crank on your cross bike as you do on your road bike? I am finalizing my build and probably have a tonne more of these perhaps daft questions.
Thanks in advance for your help!

I keep the lengths the same but some people go with a longer crank arm. I think you understand the pros and cons ...

I don't have a mtb so I keep my crank arms the same length on all three of my bikes (two cross, one road). My rationale is that uniformity means no surprises when going from one bike to the other.

i am 6'2.5" and i run a 185 for my road bike, a 180 for my mtb, and a 175 for my cross bike. i think these lengths accurately address the type of riding and pace changes each require. cross requires lots of remounts where you have to get your leg speed up quickly, hence this is where i use the shortest cranks. on the other hand, my road racing style is 'early break away and time trial to victory' so i use the most efficient crank length for sustained effort.

Go short on your cross bike. No one has shown that crank length matters for power output, but it certainly matters for clearance on off-camber stuff, pedaling through corners, etc.

I have a 172.5 on my road, 170 on my cross, and 175 on my mtb. On my mtb I'm cranking the pedals alot, especially on the hills so it seems to help a bit. I've got the 170 on the cross for resons specified up above.

177.5's on the road, 175s for cx and MTB

I've never understood the rational of clearance issues on a cross bike. Side hill, smide hill. The BB's are higher on them for just that reason! That being said. I run 175's on my 35" inseam. Same on the road. My mtb's are all 180's though. I'm thinkin about a SS pit bike that would have 177.5's if I can find some for a reasonable price.

i am 6'2.5" and i run a 185 for my road bike, a 180 for my mtb, and a 175 for my cross bike. i think these lengths accurately address the type of riding and pace changes each require. cross requires lots of remounts where you have to get your leg speed up quickly, hence this is where i use the shortest cranks. on the other hand, my road racing style is 'early break away and time trial to victory' so i use the most efficient crank length for sustained effort.

I'm having trouble finding longer cranks. Where did you find your 185 and 180 cranks? I've done some preliminary searching but haven't found anything quite that length (I'm 6'9" and need to put to use my longer legs).

-Thanks, Todd

I'm having trouble finding longer cranks. Where did you find your 185 and 180 cranks? I've done some preliminary searching but haven't found anything quite that length (I'm 6'9" and need to put to use my longer legs).

-Thanks, Todd

hey todd. go to www.peterwhitecycles.com

he specializes in obscure stuff. i am using specialties TA Zephyr 185mm cranks. it's true, they have to be the most beautiful cranks ever made: beautiful shape, 5th chainring bolt integrated into crankarm (a la Record), beautiful polish, and very light. Specialties TA also makes the lightest and most attractive chainrings too, in a wild variety of sizes. I think he may be out of the Zephyr in lengths over 180mm-- TA now has a crank called Carmina that is anodized with a removable spider to accomodate all the different bolt hole diameters. My recommendation is to go compact too.

The new Deore XT cranks are also available in 180, other than that you have to go to alloy Record cranks.

zinncycles.com makes cranks in custom lengths, but they're kind of ugly.

make the change to longer cranks todd, it's like stretching your legs after a long drive, and makes a huge difference.

hope this helps.

Brennan

I'm having trouble finding longer cranks. Where did you find your 185 and 180 cranks? I've done some preliminary searching but haven't found anything quite that length (I'm 6'9" and need to put to use my longer legs).

-Thanks, Todd

http://www.zinncycles.com/cranks.aspx

These are pricey, but at 6'9", It's got to be hard to dind a cramk that isn't.