where to find 162.5mm cranks?

[JimO]

So, this seem like gold dust.

I am trying to help my missus set up her bike better. She is very small, 5'4", with short inseam. Having had several bike fits done (successfully) to myself and had the relative importance of getting the right cranks length impressed upon me I wanted to first make sure she had the right crank length first. Her bike is fitted with a 170mm which is way too big for her. She could get away with a 165, but ideally she's a 162.5.

But, do they exist? It's a triple chainring set, for her tourer. It doesn't have to be expensive, and if I can't get one, I can easily find a 165. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Jim O

[seph]

Spa cycles do their own in 160 and 165 for a very reasonable price.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s109p2000

I use them, good stuff.

[Brucey]

both SunRace and SRAM manufacture 162.5mm cranks but finding them in stock in the UK is kind of tricky. Oddly enough much shorter ones are easier; you can get longer ones shortened, but the minimum 'shortening' is around 20mm. So 175s can be taken down to 155 or shorter, but a little longer than that is problematic. I have seen cranks both lengthened and shortened using welding, too, but it takes a really good welder to do it well enough that it is both strong and reliable.

Personally I wouldn't worry about using 165mm cranks; habituation is normally far more important than absolute size when it comes to cranks; despite what some people might have you believe, it is a weak correlation with leg length, at best.

Even using 165mm ones is somewhat consigning yourself to a life of misery tracking down a new set once every few years, but at least that is fairly do-able; shimano make 165s and others do 160 etc as well (as per above post).

cheers

[fastpedaller]

Yes the spa xd2's - I have the 160mm ones - a true bargain.
I even rode 150mm cranks using fixed wheel many years ago - it felt strange at first, but I eventually twiddled round several 12 hour time trials on them!

[LollyKat]

TA do 162.5 cranks. They are very good but expensive, and I don't know where you can get them in the UK (Condor Cycles might help).

You are probably better getting the Spa ones - you can always upgrade the rings to zicral for longer life.

[pwa]

I would recommend 160mm or 165mm from Spa. Don't waste money for the sake of 2.5mm. Nobody is that sensitive.

[andrewjoseph]

My wife is 5 ' 2", she uses 165 mm cranks on her road/Tourer and 170 on mtb. Like me she doesn't notice the 5 difference swapping between bikes.

[Merry_Wanderer]

Mrs M_W has 155mm cranks in a triple from SJS

[JimO]

Thanks everyone. I think I might go with Spa cycles and get her some 160's. Her legs are short, so I would go lower than higher. Always better to go shorter with cranks.

[LollyKat]

Very wise. Just remember that the saddle will have to go up 10mm to compensate for the shorter cranks, so the handlebar height may need adjusting too.

[roger72]

My 5ft 2ins wife used 150 cranks for several years which made her very nervous when stopping as the saddle had to be raised 20mm,she now uses 165 so the saddle is 15mm lower which makes her feel safer.Please bare this in mind before buying the cranks.