How long should my MTB cranks be?

How long should my MTB cranks be?

The common range of mountain bike cranks across the industry is 165mm to 180mm (in 5mm increments) giving very tall or very short riders room to play around with their setup if needed.

What is better 170mm or 175mm cranks?

Macdermid found that riders reached their peak power nearly 1 second quicker on 170mm cranks than they did on 175mm cranks. That means shorter cranks give riders better acceleration, which can make a difference when passing other riders or trying to clean an obstacle.

Why do mountain bikes have longer cranks?

Back in the day it was thought that longer cranks were better, because they increased the pedalling leverage, thus enabling you to create more power. However, several studies have shown that even dramatic crank length differences have only a small effect on how much power you can produce.

How do I know my crank length?

Crank length is measured from the centre of the bottom bracket axle to the centre of the pedal axle. If you’re not sure what length the cranks on your bike are, the quickest way of finding out is typically to just look at the backside of your cranks, just below the pedal axle.

What length cranks do pros use?

The most common lengths are 170, 172.5 and 175 mm, but it is possible to find cranks between 165 and 180 mm in the market.

Who should use 175mm cranks?

Most XC riders will run 175mm crank arms which have greater leverage, and since you are doing more climbing typically than crazy downhill descents, you can get away with longer cranks and not smash them on rocks.

Are 170mm cranks good?

Basically, Shimano thinks 170 to 175mm is the Goldilocks zone of crank length for most people and most bikes.

Why do mountain bikes have 175mm cranks?

According to Lori Barrett of ROTOR Bike Components, it began when one major component brand started putting in 175mm cranks as part of their MTB groupsets, and the rest of the industry followed suit. Even though studies have disproved the theory that longer cranks always create more power, riders and the industry have been resistant to change.

What is the average crank length for a bicycle?

The three most common crank lengths for bicycles are 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm. What size your bike has will likely depend on what size the frame is. Small bikes tend to come with 170mm cranks, medium with 172.5mm and large with 175mm.

What size crank arm do I need for my mountain bike?

Go into any mountain bike shop and chances are every bike in there will come with 175mm or 170mm crank arms, with 175mm usually found on M–XL sizes, and 170mm found on XS–S.

Are 170mm cranks better for XC?

Macdermid focused on the effects of 170, 172.5 and 175mm crank arms on performance measures relevant to female XC riders. Macdermid found that riders reached their peak power nearly 1 second quicker on 170mm cranks than they did on 175mm cranks.