Crank Length Chat

petethedrummer

Got this from the Cyclingnews forum:

Jacques Anquetil 175mm
Lance Armstrong 175mm
Magnus Backstedt 177.5mm
Chris Boardman 170mm
Santiago Botero 172.5mm
Angel Casero 175mm
Mario Cipollini 172.5mm
Fausto Coppi 171mm
Malcolm Elliott 172.5mm
Tyler Hamilton 172.5mm
Bernard Hinault 172.5mm
Miguel Indurian 180mm (190mm for second Hour record!)
Laurent Jalabert 172.5mm
Greg Lemond 175mm,
Brad McGee 175mm
Robbie McEwen 175mm
Eddy Merckx 175mm
David Millar 175mm (180mm in TT)
Francesco Moser 175mm
Marty Northstein 167.5mm in Keirin (170mm in kilo)
Graham Obree 175mm
Marco Pantani 170mm (180mm in mountains)
David Rebellin 172.5mm
Roger Riviere 175mm
Jean Robic 170mm
Tony Rominger 172.5mm (175mm for Hour record)
Oscar Sevilla 175mm
Jan Ullrich 177.5mm
Rik Verbrugghe 175mm
Erik Zabel 172.5mm
Alex Zulle 175mm (180mm in mountains)
Alberto Contador 172.5
Fabien Cancellara 177.5
Tom Boonen 177.5mm
Allan Davis 172.5mm
Gord Fraser 172.5mm
Oscar Freire 172.5mm
Thor Hushovd 175mm
Giovanni Lombardi 172.5mm
Alessandro Petacchi 175mm
Fred Rodriguez 175mm
Erik Zabel 172.5mm

Boardman used 170s on all his hour records

http://www.bikecult.com/bikecultbook/sports_recordsHour.html

Rominger 172.5
Moser 175
Merckx 175
Obree 175

And, according to this site, despite only having an 86cm inseam (33.85"), Marc Madiot used 180s all the time
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=3882&page=2

Can't say it means much to me at this moment in time as I don't know what length cranks I have on my bike but somebody might find it interesting.

sy

Surprised so few on 170 and what about Big Mig on 190's :eek:. I have always ridden 170's with 78cm inside leg. Supposedly easier on the knees and good if you are a spinner. Longer cranks, as can been seen from the data, are better for climbing and time trial as more leverage. No mention of Monsieur Kelly? Anybody know his stats?
Thanks pete

Quigs Snr

Sastre rides 170, he used to ride 172.5 but switched to improve his cadence. Anyone looking to change to 172.5, I have a brand new set of Sram Red in their box that I would be prepared to give someone a deal on.

Lumen

Quigs Snr wrote: »

Sastre rides 170, he used to ride 172.5 but switched to improve his cadence. Anyone looking to change to 172.5, I have a brand new set of Sram Red in their box that I would be prepared to give someone a deal on.

I'm still waiting for you to stick them in the adverts subforum....

Are they compact or standard?

chakattack

I'm surprised that some switch to longer cranks for climbing. I understand the principle of a lever but I was under the impression that spinning smoothly is the best way to climb. Does it depend on your style? Climbing out of the saddle (like Pantini)?

petethedrummer

I got curious and it turns out I have 170mm cranks, which according to this is probably correct for my 83cm(ish) inseam.

Raam

petethedrummer wrote: »

I got curious and it turns out I have 170mm cranks, which according to this is probably correct for my 83cm(ish) inseam.

There's no stopping you now.

blorg

petethedrummer wrote: »

I got curious and it turns out I have 170mm cranks, which according to this is probably correct for my 83cm(ish) inseam.

Bear in mind that the figures that calculator spits out bear no relationship whatsoever to the crank length apparently chosen by any of these pro cyclists, or indeed the crank lengths generally specified on bikes of a given size.

I use 175mm myself, only because that is what came on my first few bikes... but I only ever had to get it changed (from 172.5mm) on one.

petethedrummer

Raam wrote: »

There's no stopping you now.

Yup, just put on slightly longer cranks and I'll be a pro by next tuesday

Quigs Snr

Lumen wrote: »

I'm still waiting for you to stick them in the adverts subforum....

Are they compact or standard?

Standard. I didn't even realise you could get compact Red's, there should be a law against that or at least a euro ruling.