Crank it down
Crank it down
Busting the myths about bike setup is something Burt tries to do in Bike Fit and he says many riders fall into the same traps caused by misinformation.
And among them, according to Burt, is crank length. Longer crank, more power right? Not in Burt’s book.
“There are a couple of things about bike fit, which I’ve included in my book, which are big myths,” Burt explains. “One of the biggest is that the common man still seems to think you need to ride the longest crank you can.
“That’s just completely untrue now. Previous research may have suggested you need [a longer crank] to develop power but today’s advanced gearing now takes care of that.
“If you’re suffering hip pain or knee pain and riding a 175mm crank, well you can take five millimetres out of that without even touching the saddle or the drop and reach.
“Crank length, and drop and reach, are two of the most common untested parameters when it comes to the correct fit.”