This isn't a new discussion here, but it's kind of scattered about, so I wanted to open up the topic of crank length. We recently posted this article with staff and contribs trying out short cranks and giving their feedback. I've personally ridden 150mm Canfield cranks on my dual 27.5 bike for a good year or more now and generally like them having figured out the gearing tweaks that go along with them. I have SHORT legs and they're body-geometry match, though I'd like to try 155 or 160 thinking that'd be a sweet-spot for me on a bike without a motor. The stubs on the downhills are great, but sometimes a little more leverage on the ups would be nice. 150s on an e-bike sound like a treat for me.
Race Face just announced 160mm cranks and I've heard of some other stubby specs coming to market sooner than later.
It's always been interesting to me thinking about a rider like @TEAMROBOT and how long his legs are compared to mine. Our inseams are prob half a foot different but our crank length choices are within a few mm. On 175s, does he feel like I do on a kid's 16" bike?
I'm adding a poll so we can try to tally up some numbers. It's not perfect b/c it's only asking for crank length (not inseam length or riding type etc), but am curious to hear feedback over time with this one.
I am currently on some 165mm EEwings. Next bike will for sure go down to 160mm. Ridden quite a few lengths while I was at Canfield, and 160mm just felt like the best balance for me. 5'8" 30" inseam.
Tried a set off Canfield 155s as the new bike was lower than the old and I kept bashing toes and pedals as a result (stock were 170). Combined with an oval ring I couldn't be happier with the set up. Ended up going to the same on the other 2 MTBs in the stable and went shorter on the road bike as well. My cadence increased and evened out which makes short tech climbs easier, but most noticeable was how it felt it hitting jumps. I feel more centered and controlled going into a face by not having to use as much body English to set up for it. I haven't noticed any difference in effort when winching up anything that grabbing a lower gear doesn't mitigate, but sustained climbs are less bobby and that feels ace. Only downside is the required raising of the seatpost, meaning I can prob go to a 210ish drop but I'll wait til the posts die or the newbikepartitis gets too severe before ponying up. I had already been running 50mm & 60mm rise bars so didn't feel the need to raise the front, but that's something some folx would do well to keep in mind if going short. I'm 5'10", 32" inseam so pretty average build-wise.
I don't wanna brag, but I've got a set of cranks that are a whopping 175mm in length, fully equipped with power meter and four-bolt chainring.
I tried miranda 150mm e-mtb ones and you could pedal whilst bombing a dh track, it was surreal
it also felt like I was riding my 3 year old daughters bike, too small. They also bent like a banana pretty quickly.
I like 165, when I get back on 175's on the hardtail it feels so long.
So I'd say 165, but I think I could ride 160's comfortably.
170mm on my enduro bike and don't want to go shorter. My current ebike has 165mm cranks, and the last one had 155s which I hated. 5'8", 30" inseam, don't ride trails where I need to pedal going downhill.
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