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Questions and answers about sports

Adjusting pedal / crank / other components to account for different leg sizes

6 min read

Asked by: Donna Peterson

How do you compensate for leg length discrepancy cycling?

One of the most significant fixes would be through adjusting the position of the cleats. I would recommend moving the cleat position further forward on the shorter leg. The fore and aft of the saddle position would also make a difference here.

How do you measure a crank on a bike?

How to measure crank length? Crank length is measured from the centre of the bottom bracket axle to the centre of the pedal axle. If you’re not sure what length the cranks on your bike are, the quickest way of finding out is typically to just look at the backside of your cranks, just below the pedal axle.

What is non-drive side crank arm?

The non-drive side crank arm, or the crank arm opposite the chain, is a simple arm that connects the pedal and the bottom bracket.

How do you change a crank arm?


Quote from video: With the cap off pull the left crank off the spindle. Then tap the spindle loose with your hand if it needs some encouragement gently use a rubber mallet.

How do you fix leg length discrepancy?

The surgery slows or stops the longer leg from growing so the shorter leg can catch up. If a child has stopped growing, orthopedists can sometimes correct a leg length discrepancy by shortening the longer leg. This is done by removing a piece of bone from the longer leg. Limb lengthening surgery also can be done.

What do you do when one leg is shorter than the other?

If leg length discrepancy is causing more than just minor discomfort, some of the best treatment options include:

  1. Regular visits to a chiropractor for adjustments. …
  2. Growth plate adjustments. …
  3. Proper exercise and stretching techniques. …
  4. Shoe lifts. …
  5. Surgery.


Will any crankset fit on my bike?

Crankset compatibility. You can replace the chainrings on your crankset, but not all chainrings will fit all cranks. First, different cranksets may have a different number of arms or direct-mount interfaces (connecting the cranks to the chainrings), and they may be positioned differently.

What’s the difference between 170mm and 175mm cranks?

Macdermid found that riders reached their peak power nearly 1 second quicker on 170mm cranks than they did on 175mm cranks. That means shorter cranks give riders better acceleration, which can make a difference when passing other riders or trying to clean an obstacle.

Are shorter cranks better for knees?

In other words, a shorter crank does give you less leverage, but that shorter crank arm allows your downstroke to start where your body can create more power. This (according to the Canfields) produces more power and (according to the study cited below) is better for your knees and hips.

How tight should cranks be?

Quote from video: We put the tool in the cap. Just a couple of fingers will do us about four inch pounds. Sometimes not that much if you bring the crank arm over to the bearings.

What is GXP crankset?

Sram GXP is a very popular crankset standard used by SRAM. It offers an industrial based bearing arrangement and was touted as having the lowest weight and rolling resistance of any crankset bottom bracket standard.

How do I know what crankset I have?

Print. Shimano cranks are all identified with model information above or surrounding the area on the backside of the pedal threads. For example; FC-6700/6750 = Shimano Ultegra. The crank length is often located in the same area, which is helpful to note before placing an order.

Why is one lower leg bigger than the other?

Hemihyperplasia is the enlargement of one part or side of the body causing asymmetry. This means one or more body part(s) are bigger when compared to the other side of the body. For example, one leg appears longer and thicker than the other leg, or one side of the body seems bigger than the other.

What are the 3 types of leg length discrepancies?

There are three types of LLD: structural, functional and environmental. The structural or anatomic type is due to a difference in the actual length of the tibia or femur. This may be of congenital, post-trauma or post-surgery etiology as LLD commonly occurs following hip or knee replacement.

What makes one leg longer than the other?

There are many different reasons to have a leg length discrepancy, but there are two main causes: 1) your child was born with a condition that caused one leg to grow slower than the other or 2) something happened during your child’s lifetime that affected the length of the bone (i.e. a fracture) or affected the growth

How do I know if I have leg length discrepancy cycle?

Quote from video: Place their two fingers on the highest. Points of your iliac crests these are the arches of the pelvis. Just determine if there's a visible discrepancy.

How do you know if one leg is longer than the other?

How to Determine Differences in Leg Length. The only real way to assess a permanent, structural difference in leg length is through the use of an X-Ray or CT scan. This is because sometimes the appearance of uneven legs isn’t due to an actual difference in leg length.

How do you measure leg length discrepancy at home?

Quote from video: You put the end of that tape measure on that spot you bring it down and you go to the medial malleolus. Well first of all trying to get to the ASIS. Is kind of like doing the edge of a goniometer.

How do you measure leg length on a bike?

Quote from video: Hold it against the wall and pull that up firmly into your inseam it should be a bit uncomfortable. Then what you're going to do is you're gonna measure to the top of the spine from the floor.

How do you calculate leg to height ratio?

Subtract the person’s torso length from his or her total height. This measurement is his or her leg length. Write your leg and torso measurements in the form of a ratio. For example, if your torso is 30 inches long and your legs are 40 inches long, then your leg-to-body ratio is 30:40.

Does leg length affect cycling?

Riders with longer legs can ride longer cranks. Longer cranks do provide a power advantage. If two riders are the same height & weight and one rider has longer legs, then he has an advantage. Upper body mass does not help propel the bike.