Author Topic: Crank arm length?  (Read 4355 times)

Offline jamjam88

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Crank arm length?
« on: December 22, 2013, 07:54:57 AM »
I've not ridden in 20 years, but I'm currently building a new bike, and I'm getting really varied advice about what the correct crank arm length is for me. I'm 6'1" if that means anything. I have a 20" S&M Intrikat frame and I've been told to go as high as 180mm, then that that was way too long for flatland, and that I should do a 160mm. Confused.com. Any words of wisdom out there?
 

Offline metalbmxer

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Re: Crank arm length?
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2013, 08:04:07 AM »
Go with the shorter version. The street guys are dabbling down into 170-165 so I'd say for yours a 160-165 would be perfect.
Dax (now in LAS VEGAS as of July 2022)

Offline out~riding

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Re: Crank arm length?
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2013, 03:45:18 PM »
The crank arm length for flatland depends mostly on the size of the frame (chainstays and toptube).

You don't wan't your feet hitting your rear pegs or front tire, so the smaller the frame goes, the cranks should follow.

In your particular case, 20" Intrikat with 13" CS, the TT is long enough to go with standard 175mm but with the short rear you probably will be best off with 165 flatland cranks or 170 street cranks. No need to go smaller than that.


Offline metalbmxer

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Re: Crank arm length?
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2013, 04:05:45 PM »
The crank arm length for flatland depends mostly on the size of the frame (chainstays and toptube).

You don't wan't your feet hitting your rear pegs or front tire, so the smaller the frame goes, the cranks should follow.

In your particular case, 20" Intrikat with 13" CS, the TT is long enough to go with standard 175mm but with the short rear you probably will be best off with 165 flatland cranks or 170 street cranks. No need to go smaller than that.



Yeah good points. I would say the 160mm size of the Flatware cranks is perfect. Which just so happens to be what I am running on my 19" intrikat...
Dax (now in LAS VEGAS as of July 2022)

Offline ground2air

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Re: Crank arm length?
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2013, 12:30:30 AM »
I agree, I am 6'3" tall and ran 175mm cranks for ever on my old school bikes. Since switching to new school with the shorter rear chainstays, I run 160mm cranks. They didn't take any time getting used to them.  I really dont like a chainstay where I cant get 13.5 min of length for my size 13 feet.  :P
 

Offline jamjam88

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Re: Crank arm length?
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2013, 02:44:40 AM »
Thanks guys. Very helpful. Going to do the 165mm.