What is the cheapest way to try out shorter crank arms? I have Sram Quarq 900 crankset. I haven’t been able to find a way to use it with shorter crank arms.
Looking at cheap cranksets with shorter arms and can find 165s but nothing shorter. I can find Sora FC3450 in 165s for $78 but it is 9 speed and my bike is 10 speed Ultegra parts other than crankset. I found Sram Apex GXP which is 10 speed in 165s for $156. What is best way to know what kind of bottom bracket I have and what type of cranksets are compatible or if I’d need a new bottom bracket.
I’d like to find a way to try different crank arm lengths other than just buying one and seeing how that works that isn’t super expensive. BMX crank and add chain rings?
My other bikes all have compact cranks. I have 105 triple 9 speed; ultegra 10 speed; FSA on my road bike and a cross crank maybe 46-34 on my cross bike. If taking crank and adapting it is cheaper using one from these bikes I’d go that way.
I have significant knee issues, had major surgery in December and want to get back to riding.
Not sure on the compatibility with power meters, but Sinz and Origin 8 make decent cheap cranks. Go to Ebay and search “145mm crank” or 155mm or whatever length. I use Sinz 110BCD with a square BB and mid-compact chain ring and have had 0 problems. You should also be able to re-sell them easily if you don’t like them, especially on here.
Check out the SINZ cranks on eBay ----- made well and they make very short ones ----135mm long and up. They use 110 BCD chainrings which are now called “compact” rings. Those 46/34 rings you have are 99.9% 110BCD so you could use those rings to give it a test run.
What is the cheapest way to try out shorter crank arms? I have Sram Quarq 900 crankset. I haven’t been able to find a way to use it with shorter crank arms.
Looking at cheap cranksets with shorter arms and can find 165s but nothing shorter. I can find Sora FC3450 in 165s for $78 but it is 9 speed and my bike is 10 speed Ultegra parts other than crankset. I found Sram Apex GXP which is 10 speed in 165s for $156. What is best way to know what kind of bottom bracket I have and what type of cranksets are compatible or if I’d need a new bottom bracket.
I’d like to find a way to try different crank arm lengths other than just buying one and seeing how that works that isn’t super expensive. BMX crank and add chain rings?
My other bikes all have compact cranks. I have 105 triple 9 speed; ultegra 10 speed; FSA on my road bike and a cross crank maybe 46-34 on my cross bike. If taking crank and adapting it is cheaper using one from these bikes I’d go that way.
I have significant knee issues, had major surgery in December and want to get back to riding.
Thanks for any suggestions!
If your crank is GXP it should be marked as such on the dust caps of the bottom bracket. Or check with your bike maker’s website, it should say somewhere whether its native GXP or BB30. Of course its possible its BB30 with a GXP adapter .
I’m not sure if they have them anymore but I think bonktown had 165 mm SRAM GXP Rival cranks up a while back for $75 or something like that. Might try searching “rival crankset 165” and see if any deals pop up on amazon or such. I’d bet someone on here has one they aren’t using so maybe try a WTB ad in the classifieds too. Rival seems to work just as well as any other SRAM/Shimano crank IME, its just heavy. For even shorter cranks it gets a bit tougher but some good suggestions above.
I picked up one last fall and have a practically new Red crankset with TT rings collecting dust on my workbench. The rarity of 165 mm Red cranks for cheap is a bummer but I’m sure I’ll find one sooner or later.
I just called Quarq and when the new Sram 975 comes out in 165 they could swap out my spider and move my current Cinqo into new crankset. That probably is best option and if I get it and don’t like it I can sell it.
If you decide you want to go even shorter, try Origin8 or Sinz cranks (eBay ~45$). Get a Square taper bottom bracket 68x107 or 108mm ($10-15). If you already have compact chain rings, you can move them over to the new setup and reuse the bolts. Otherwise order 110mm chainring and bolts for the new setup.
It’s a small investment and you can probably sell any experimental failures in the classifieds for about what you invested.
FWIW, I’m pseudo settled on 155mm cranks after going 170->165->155.
I was on the 170s for more than a year (1 IM), then about 3 months on the 165s (1 IM). I was fine on the 165’s but “knew” it could get better if I went shorter. I just recently moved to 155s, so maybe a few weeks on them so far. So far, I give them a big thumbs up. I have a better position on my bike and my seat is finally a little higher than my aero bars.
Climbing hills, whether seated or standing feels MUCH more natural now.
txgirl - How did you know to use 68x107 or 68x108 bottom bracket? I’m looking to try shorter crank arms also and just wanted to make sure I get the right bottom bracket.
The 68mm is based on your bike frame (most tri and road bikes are 68mm). The spindle length (107/108) may vary for your particular bike to get a good chain line. The good thing is, the bottom brackets are cheap and easy to get from your local LBS if you need to exchange.
I think you’ll find this link helpful if you want to DIY…
What bike do you have? The bike model determine which bottom bracket you need, then the bottom bracket dttermines which crank you need. Most frames are BSA 68mm, but thats rapidly changing so don’t buy a crank or BB until you know what the frame needs.
Several years ago I did the short crank experiement. I don’t know if it meets the criterion as “best” but by the time I was done I had a nice commuter bike and had pretty well nailed my ideal crank length at somewhere between 165 and 170 all for about $450. I used a square taper BB (major factor in cheapness thanks to the now defunct Chuck’s Bikes) and timed my commute over the same course for about 12 months. I used 150, 155, 165, 170, & 175. Each was used for between 20-40 commutes and time and pain (lower back pain went away when I stopped using the 175) were the determining factors. I am riding 165 on my commuter bike and 170 on the TT bike.
What bike do you have? The bike model determine which bottom bracket you need, then the bottom bracket dttermines which crank you need. Most frames are BSA 68mm, but thats rapidly changing so don’t buy a crank or BB until you know what the frame needs.
I have a Planet-x Pro Steal TT bike. I know that it has the standard 68mm bottom bracket. It currently has a FSA Gossamer crankset on it. I’m guessing the bottom bracket below will work just fine? As for crank arms, i’ll probably go with either Origin8 or Sinz from ebay or Amazon.
I’m the ultimate cheapskate, and, have been messing around with this short crank thing for a few months now. Been on 175’s forEVER. My fancy carbon 175s broke (they were defective), so I took the opportunity to purchase on Ebay brand new Shimano Tiagra’s in 165. Cost? ~$95.
Result? Love 'em and, I’m 5’11" w/33" inseam. I like them so much I bought bare Ultegra arms in 175 (brand new, Ebay, $11) and had the Bikesmith shorten them to 154mm. Put those on my training bike and love 'em! I’m now on a quest to try having him shorten some 165’s down to 144. I refuse to spend big bucks but do want to find my sweet spot.
You should have no trouble finding short (165mm) cranks, you may need to swap out your BB - or not. FYI don’t worry about 9 or 10 speed. That’s all a bunch of crap. I have chainrings that are 20+ years old and they fit my 130bcd cranks and shift just fine. This “testing” is not difficult; and, you might just like the results. You can contact Mark, the Bikesmith and see about other options, etc.
on the subject (not much of a wrench, sorry if the question is dumb) I am wanting to try some shorter cranks, I see that most of these cheap bmx cranks support 110mm bcd, but my rings are 130mm bcd. Would something like this http://www.origin-8.com/?page_id=91&short_code=Triple+Alloy+Crankarms&cl1=CRANK+ARMS+%26+SETS
work? I know it’s a triple, but it has the right bcd and I’m curious if I could just swap my double rings onto it and have a (very) cheap way to try the shorter cranks out.
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