Just finished watching a video on HT Party that highlighted crank length and the effects felt on the rider. Steve did a great job directly comparing 155-170 crank lengths. The longer length (170) he mentioned some knee pain.
My Fatbike (Growler) came from the factory with 175’s On a size small frame. Being new to the game I’m not sure why this size frame was spec’d with such large cranks which begs the question. Are most if not all fatbikes equipped with longer crank lengths than dirt bound mountain bikes? And if so why? And if longer cranks are a mainstream situation in the fat community, can crank length perhaps be equally the culprit for knee pain as well as wide Q factor?
Personally, now that I have a full 6 months on my bike with 175’s, at 5’3” with a 28” inseam, I’m moving to 165’s. I feel my hips are flexing way too much and if I’m in a lower gear climbing, it seems way too easy to blow the rear tire riight off the trail even on hardpack. Almost too much torque when I’m out of the seat. I’m just asking these open ended questions to perhaps bring some things to,light. I personally;y don’t have a lot of knee pain, but occasionally;y I’ll get a little if I’m seated and cranking uphill too hard.
Again, are fatbikes equipped with longer cranks (170-175) rather than shorter on a universal basis, or is my Growler an isolated case?. If it is universal, what purpose does it serve? Seems like longer cranks are too much of a good thing sometimes. And it may explain knee pain as much as Q factor.
My Fatbike (Growler) came from the factory with 175’s On a size small frame. Being new to the game I’m not sure why this size frame was spec’d with such large cranks which begs the question. Are most if not all fatbikes equipped with longer crank lengths than dirt bound mountain bikes? And if so why? And if longer cranks are a mainstream situation in the fat community, can crank length perhaps be equally the culprit for knee pain as well as wide Q factor?
Personally, now that I have a full 6 months on my bike with 175’s, at 5’3” with a 28” inseam, I’m moving to 165’s. I feel my hips are flexing way too much and if I’m in a lower gear climbing, it seems way too easy to blow the rear tire riight off the trail even on hardpack. Almost too much torque when I’m out of the seat. I’m just asking these open ended questions to perhaps bring some things to,light. I personally;y don’t have a lot of knee pain, but occasionally;y I’ll get a little if I’m seated and cranking uphill too hard.
Again, are fatbikes equipped with longer cranks (170-175) rather than shorter on a universal basis, or is my Growler an isolated case?. If it is universal, what purpose does it serve? Seems like longer cranks are too much of a good thing sometimes. And it may explain knee pain as much as Q factor.
