Crankset unhappiness

[J0nG0m]

Originally was going to post this for Rad Power Bikes users, but since the RadRover has a generic frame I'm sure it apply to other brands.

So, I keep extending my saddle height because my position is just never there. I'm used to ride bicycle where my extended leg is completely straight but still touching the pedal, on my RadRhino I feel my legs are never that straight, yes I could just extend even more the saddle but then is too high in relation to the ground.

So my question: is it possible to change the crankset? I believe right now the crank arms are 170mm, so maybe 175mm would be better. What about the magnets? Can those be fitted to any crankset?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Is it possible to change the crankset? I believe right now the crank arms are 170mm, so maybe 175mm would be better.

Don't do it. It's the wrong solution to your problem.

5 mm is almost irrelevant in adjusting your saddle height.

If you are particularly tall, 175 mm cranks might be right for you (165 mm if short). For almost all of us 170 mm cranks are 'just right'.

There is another solution which might cost about the same as a crankset: a dropper seat post that will allow you to place your feet flat on the ground but, after rising by 75 mm or so (fifteen times greater than 5 mm!), will return you to the 'correct' pedalling position.
… David

 

[J0nG0m]

Yes I was writing my comment and on the back of my head thinking that 5mm might not be enough, since my other 2 bikes have 175mm crank arms I thought that would do.

So I'm guessing that the outside circumference of a fat bike is more like a 29er, which is maybe why at full leg extension I can't reach the ground.

@David Berry the dropper seat post seems a good idea, have to think about it. Thanks.

 

[Jerry LM]

Are you trying to reach the ground while sitting?? One advantage of mid drive here no magnets and any std. crank will work. Aren't fat bikes designed primarily as off road ? if so ground clearance would be taken into account when building for rough terrain. Also need to be careful with longer crank for the same reason.

 

[J0nG0m]

Are you trying to reach the ground while sitting?? One advantage of mid drive here no magnets and any std. crank will work. Aren't fat bikes designed primarily as off road ? if so ground clearance would be taken into account when building for rough terrain. Also need to be careful with longer crank for the same reason.

No, my aim is not having my knees slightly bent, if I put the seat to the right height then I can't even touch the ground with the tip is my shoes while sitting.

 

[Jerry LM]

Normally you can’t reach the ground when sitting unless you ride bent knees flintstone style.

 

[J0nG0m]

Normally you can’t reach the ground when sitting unless you ride bent knees flintstone style.

Cute, are you still using training wheels?

 

[erider_61]

Cute, are you still using training wheels?

Why would you expect to be able to reach the ground while seated. Your feet should be on the pedals while riding and you should be in a standing position above the cross bar when stationary

 

[MickM]

A slight bend in your knee when your leg is extended is the proper seat height. I was taught to put my heel on the pedal when the pedal is at the bottom of the cycle, then your leg should be almost straight and when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal like you are riding you will have a slight bend in the knee at the bottom. For riding trails/off road you might even want the seat a little lower, but it depends on what you like. Having a completely straight leg is not a good way to ride and can even cause problems after a while. JS

 

[J0nG0m]

Why would you expect to be able to reach the ground while seated. Your feet should be on the pedals while riding and you should be in a standing position above the cross bar when stationary

For me, my comfortable position on my hybrid is reaching the ground while Tilting the bike, on my mountain bike I have it so I reach the ground with the tip of my shoes.

 

[J0nG0m]

I was taught to put my heel on the pedal when the pedal is at the bottom of the cycle, then your leg should be almost straight and when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal like you are riding you will have a slight bend in the knee at the bottom.

That's exactly what I mean. As it is right now my saddle's height (touching the ground with the tip of my toes/shoes) I can feel that Im bending my knees too much.

 

[MickM]

That's exactly what I mean. As it is right now my saddle's height (touching the ground with the tip of my toes/shoes) I can feel that Im bending my knees too much.

Are you saying you are bending your knees too much when you ride or when you stop and put your foot down? At a stop you really shouldn't be on the saddle because you won't comfortably touch the ground, it is better to straddle the bike over the top bar.

 

[Jerry LM]

Why would you expect to be able to reach the ground while seated. Your feet should be on the pedals while riding and you should be in a standing position above the cross bar when stationary

My point exactly only put better..

 

[J0nG0m]

Are you saying you are bending your knees too much when you ride or when you stop and put your foot down? At a stop you really shouldn't be on the saddle because you won't comfortably touch the ground, it is better to straddle the bike over the top bar.

When I'm riding my knees are bending a bit which is not comfortable for me.

The whole thing about not touching the ground "at all" while on the saddle in my experience apply to road and perhaps XC bikes. On hybrid/commuting bikes I find that reaching the ground while tilting the bike is a good position, for mountain bikes for climbing and downhill reaching the ground with the tip of the shoes is good position (unless you have a dropper seat) and finally for downhill you definitely want to reach the ground.

So, not reaching the ground at all while on the saddle is not a rule, it depends on the type of bike and the use of it.

 

[linklemming]

When I'm riding my knees are bending a bit which is not comfortable for me.

The whole thing about not touching the ground "at all" while on the saddle in my experience apply to road and perhaps XC bikes. On hybrid/commuting bikes I find that reaching the ground while tilting the bike is a good position, for mountain bikes for climbing and downhill reaching the ground with the tip of the shoes is good position (unless you have a dropper seat) and finally for downhill you definitely want to reach the ground.

So, not reaching the ground at all while on the saddle is not a rule, it depends on the type of bike and the use of it.

Reaching the ground while on the saddle is something I have never done on my road/mountain(both XC and downhill) bikes. I simply move forward off the saddle and put my foot down.

You could make the argument that for downhill, it would assist in starting/stopping in VERY steep terrain and that would be true as moving forward would likely send you over the bars. Is that what your doing?

I havnt done knarly downhill stuff(by my standards) in about 10 years but when I did (pre-dropper posts) I just committed to what I was doing and rode it out (many times with my chest on the seat). I have also ridden shimano SPD clipless since they came out in the 90s which requires another level of commitment

 

[J0nG0m]

@linklemming Here on this video at minute 1:37 you can see my ideal position for mountain bike which is one foot on pedal and the other on the tip of my shoes. Again on my hybrid I can put my saddle higher because I can tilt the bike when full stopped and stand on the top tube. Maybe we are just talking about the same here.

 

[6zfshdb]

The correct riding position is what works for you on your bike. My philosophy has been it's better to ride with a slightly bent knee than risk a broken one during a dismount. Yes, it is less efficient but it isn't an issue on an e-bike since it does some (or all) of the work for you.

 

[linklemming]

@linklemming Here on this video at minute 1:37 you can see my ideal position for mountain bike which is one foot on pedal and the other on the tip of my shoes. Again on my hybrid I can put my saddle higher because I can tilt the bike when full stopped and stand on the top tube. Maybe we are just talking about the same here.

Thanks for the video, I wasnt aware that was even possible as I have never done it.

 

[Ken M]

Originally was going to post this for Rad Power Bikes users, but since the RadRover has a generic frame I'm sure it apply to other brands.

So, I keep extending my saddle height because my position is just never there. I'm used to ride bicycle where my extended leg is completely straight but still touching the pedal, on my RadRhino I feel my legs are never that straight, yes I could just extend even more the saddle but then is too high in relation to the ground.

So my question: is it possible to change the crankset? I believe right now the crank arms are 170mm, so maybe 175mm would be better. What about the magnets? Can those be fitted to any crankset?

Thanks

Sounds like you learned to ride a bike with the seat at "Flintstone" height which means you can stay in the saddle with your feet touching the ground. On most modern bikes it's not possible to have the seat at the ideal height for pedaling and still able to stay in the saddle. The suggestion of a dropper seat post is a good way to have the best of both worlds.

 

[vincent]

That is not what he is saying, watch the video