STers,
I have read all the articles Dan has published over the years, most of the articles on the web that I can find and still am at a dilemma of proper crank arm length, but not necessarily how it affects your cycling. I understand how crank arm directly correlates to gearing and hip angle and all that fun information. That's not my question. My question is how does it affect your running? Here's the background.
Like many of you probably, I started riding about 20 years ago on a standard road bike 53/39-172.5 configuration on a sized 54 road bike. Within a year, started triathlons and bought a tri bike shortly thereafter, again with standard 53/39-172.5 configuration and it was a QR Lucero size S/50.5. Fast forward through a number of bikes later, all same configuration, different bike brands(Scott, TREK, Felt, QR, etc), different sizes to modern day flexibility in bike configurations and I made the transition at the advisement of my bike fitters.
I still ride a 53/39 on ALL my road and tri bikes, but have transitioned to 170 cranks on my road bike (54 Felt) and it's very comfortable. I have also transitioned to 165 cranks on my tri bike (54 Felt IA). I really enjoy the flexibility it adds to my hip angle and have found that I needed to lower my saddle significantly to get proper fitting on the tri bike. I'm 5'8" tall and don't recall, but probably a 30"-32" inseam.
Here's the part I need help understanding the science behind it. Cycling wise - things are GREAT! I can't say whether I have lost/gained power, doubt it very seriously. My bike split for an Ironman that I did in 2011 and this year were within 1-2 minutes of each other on a course that was mostly left the exact same. Running is where I begin to question things. I have shifted the second part of this season to focus on my running and only cycle probably twice a week right now. What I am noticing after those bike efforts or even during a brick run, is that my hip flexors and my stride are really shortened. If you remember the running study they did on ST a few years ago after Kona, it showed video analysis of the pro men and women. It showed a clear difference between those with more of a high step and those with a long step. I don't recall their terminology, but it was the basic difference between runners like Rinny and Wellington. My point is, since I'm running much more at the moment, my stride has really gotten back to where it used to be, I tend to high step more and reach further with each step. My speed has returned on the run with numbers I haven't seen in probably 3-4 years. A brick workout today told me that coming off the bike, my stride and hip flexors sort of felt limited in their movement and it took awhile to find that power on the run again. I have been on this 165 setup on my TT bike for almost 3 years now.
So the question that I haven't read or heard ANYONE talk about is: How does a shorter crank affect different types of runners and their gait/stride? I'm starting to question if my 165s are limiting my run or if it is all superficial, weird feeling, and mental games I'm playing.
Thanks for your interest and feedback.
#PrayforTexas
I have read all the articles Dan has published over the years, most of the articles on the web that I can find and still am at a dilemma of proper crank arm length, but not necessarily how it affects your cycling. I understand how crank arm directly correlates to gearing and hip angle and all that fun information. That's not my question. My question is how does it affect your running? Here's the background.
Like many of you probably, I started riding about 20 years ago on a standard road bike 53/39-172.5 configuration on a sized 54 road bike. Within a year, started triathlons and bought a tri bike shortly thereafter, again with standard 53/39-172.5 configuration and it was a QR Lucero size S/50.5. Fast forward through a number of bikes later, all same configuration, different bike brands(Scott, TREK, Felt, QR, etc), different sizes to modern day flexibility in bike configurations and I made the transition at the advisement of my bike fitters.
I still ride a 53/39 on ALL my road and tri bikes, but have transitioned to 170 cranks on my road bike (54 Felt) and it's very comfortable. I have also transitioned to 165 cranks on my tri bike (54 Felt IA). I really enjoy the flexibility it adds to my hip angle and have found that I needed to lower my saddle significantly to get proper fitting on the tri bike. I'm 5'8" tall and don't recall, but probably a 30"-32" inseam.
Here's the part I need help understanding the science behind it. Cycling wise - things are GREAT! I can't say whether I have lost/gained power, doubt it very seriously. My bike split for an Ironman that I did in 2011 and this year were within 1-2 minutes of each other on a course that was mostly left the exact same. Running is where I begin to question things. I have shifted the second part of this season to focus on my running and only cycle probably twice a week right now. What I am noticing after those bike efforts or even during a brick run, is that my hip flexors and my stride are really shortened. If you remember the running study they did on ST a few years ago after Kona, it showed video analysis of the pro men and women. It showed a clear difference between those with more of a high step and those with a long step. I don't recall their terminology, but it was the basic difference between runners like Rinny and Wellington. My point is, since I'm running much more at the moment, my stride has really gotten back to where it used to be, I tend to high step more and reach further with each step. My speed has returned on the run with numbers I haven't seen in probably 3-4 years. A brick workout today told me that coming off the bike, my stride and hip flexors sort of felt limited in their movement and it took awhile to find that power on the run again. I have been on this 165 setup on my TT bike for almost 3 years now.
So the question that I haven't read or heard ANYONE talk about is: How does a shorter crank affect different types of runners and their gait/stride? I'm starting to question if my 165s are limiting my run or if it is all superficial, weird feeling, and mental games I'm playing.
Thanks for your interest and feedback.
#PrayforTexas