Crankset advice

[Cruzn Trav 1]

Thoughts please

Would gossamer 170mm 50/34 crankset be suitable for silvio
I am 5ft 10inch if that helps
New to cycling wanting to perhaps build silvio

 

[defjack]

It would work ok unless you ride lots of hills or your an old fart.Then you might consider a triple. Jack

 

[Cruzn Trav 1]

Is the crank length toooo long
some people suggest 165mm on recumbents
What would you say ideal crank length would be for me
Thanks

 

[defjack]

I have 170 on my Silvio and do get some knee pain but not a lot. Just put 155s with a compact on the Giant so far no pain. Im sure you will get a lot more opinions. Jack

 

[Doug Burton]

I had a 170 50/34 on my Silvio when I rode the MS 150 in June. I find the 170mm crank perfect for my pedalling cadence: I have a 28 inch inseam. No pain with 170mm cranks.

I now have a 170mm 52/42/30n on the bike and I am very happy.

Crank length could be a multi-day discussion. Short cranks use fuel (carbos) efficiently, longer cranks use o2 efficiently.

Best,

 

[JonB]

Hardtailcruzer wrote: I had a 170 50/34 on my Silvio when I rode the MS 150 in June. I find the 170mm crank perfect for my pedalling cadence: I have a 28 inch inseam. No pain with 170mm cranks.

I now have a 170mm 52/42/30n on the bike and I am very happy.

Crank length could be a multi-day discussion. Short cranks use fuel (carbos) efficiently, longer cranks use o2 efficiently.

Carbos can be solved with a direct softdrink sucking system rather than water. O2 can be solved with a bigger air intake ;-)

 

[Cruzn Trav 1]

Thanks for the tips
If any one else has some thoughts I would love to hear them

Just purchased silvio frame set
Finding all I need to set this thing up will be quite a job
Building it is another
I think I can find all I need in Australia except handlebars
Probably need to order from US somehow
Never purchased anything from outside of Aust before
A bit of a hassel

 

[John Tolhurst]

Travis, I may order a few bars in to take the hassle out of that.

 

[John Tolhurst]

Hardtailcruzer wrote:
Crank length could be a multi-day discussion. Short cranks use fuel (carbos) efficiently, longer cranks use o2 efficiently.

Doug,
that is an interesting bit of info, is there a reference?

Hardtailcruzer wrote:
I had a 170 50/34 on my Silvio when I rode the MS 150 in June. I find the 170mm crank perfect for my pedalling cadence: I have a 28 inch inseam. No pain with 170mm cranks.

I now have a 170mm 52/42/30n on the bike and I am very happy.

The ratio of crank length to teeth is key. Take a compact double 50/34. It is 50/53rds and 34/39ths smaller than a standard double, which suggests equivalent gearing would be derived from cranks that are 175 * 50/53 or 175 * 34/39. i.e. 165 or 152.

 

[Hotdog]

Cruzn Trav 1 wrote:
Just purchased silvio frame set
Finding all I need to set this thing up will be quite a job
Building it is another
I think I can find all I need in Australia except handlebars
Probably need to order from US somehow
Never purchased anything from outside of Aust before
A bit of a hassel

When buying bike components from Australia I have to recommend you have a look at the big European online shops, like Chain Reaction Cycles and ProBikeKit. It's nice to buy local when you can, but the price differential can be huge so when you're buying expensive bits the overseas options are pretty tempting. I've bought parts from the UK that ended up half the best price I could find in Australia, even after including the postage. Any order with a total value of under $1000 Australia is tax and duty exempt, and shipping typically takes a week or so from the UK, a bit longer from Germany.