I have run 172.5 forever and been happy. I got my new to me tri bike and it came with 165s (I had the option of 172.5 or 165). I like the 165s and feel good. I’m asking my posted question because I want to get the 4iiii left side PM to match my road bike (Same PM) and I don’t know if it’s worth me considering 167.5 or 170s. I am only wondering if I would notice any discernable difference on the climbs. I am relatively surprised at how I am able to spin up pretty well with these, and I don’t notice any difference at all on the flats.
a proper bike fit that ran through the gamut of multiple different lengths is how I settled on mine. The size we went with just clicked best for me and gave me the best power output to comfort result. Best money ever spent.
I have wandered around that range of crank lengths (165-172.5) and I have to say that I have never noticed a difference in the 2.5mm range. If you think about it from a mechanical point of view, the difference of 2.5 mm is probably about the same amount of change you experience with different pad thinknesses in your bike shorts. I think you need to start getting in the 5 and 7.5 mm range before you feel big differences and i would say that this is mostly because you multiply crank length by 2 to get the total change in “effective” saddle height.
Kind of what I figured. It’s funny how the numbers can seem to throw ppl off but when you realize it’s mm it’s so minor. I am going to stay with my 165 and move on. I feel good and would rather get it now to train with. Thanks.
I’ve used 165 up to 195 and finally settled on 165s for all my bikes. I run aero bars on my road and gravel bikes and just found I preferred the faster spin. Even 175 kind of bothers me now if I have to switch.
Actually, I run a 170 drive side and 165 left side on my tri bike (its a long story related to q-factor) and I can’t tell the difference when I pull it out for my weekly ride.