I have never really understood which crank length i should be riding, have always rode 175mm length but don’t know if this is the best length for me. I’m 5’9" with a inseam of 32" and i ride a 650c QR kilo. any help?
Interesting calculation. According to my 33" inseam I should be riding 169.7 or so. I’ve been riding 175s for the past 7 seasons and have decided to go back to 172.5s for this year…I’m hoping that it improves my spin and helps my run
Crank length is a personal choice, and may even change as your body and muslces develop. If you pedal very efficiently, a longer crank will develop more torque for a given effort with little loss of energy from the greater distance the foot needs to travel. On the other hand, if you bounce on your saddle and sway your shoulders with every pedal stroke, a shorter crank may help those wasted motions and freshen your body when you’ve got to ditch the bike and run.
As a side note, I’m 6’1" and started on 170mm cranks. I went up to 175 mm cranks and last year went back to 172.5mm. I always spend 500-1000 miles riding 170mm in the winter before switching to the “big gear” cranks for racing season. I can’t say that my speed, power, or climbing ability has seen dramatic changes, I think it just changes how I arrive at the finish.