# Optimal Bicycle seating

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-bicycle-seating/368036>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 9, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-bicycle-seating/368036 "2006-08-09T18:44:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-bicycle-seating/368036/21 "2006-08-11T14:28:28Z")

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> [@scr4](#):
>
> There is no obvious down side to cranks that are too short, as long as you use appropriate (low enough) gears and keep a high cadence.

Well, no downside except for less efficient pedaling. Your leg muscles are most efficient when they can contract and extend through a particular distance. (or do you think tiny, 15mm crankarms would be just as efficient?)

> [@Malienation](#):
>
> Also, don’t you have to worry about the pedals hitting the ground in turns when putting a longer crankset on a bike that might not have been designed with that in mind?

Yes. In one of John Forrester’s books he relates the story of a race he was in, where the main threat to his team had extra long crankarms, but a standard frame. So they decided to attack in a turn when he couldn’t turn as tightly and pedal at the same time.

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-bicycle-seating/368036/22 "2006-08-11T14:44:34Z")

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> [@Quercus](#):
>
> Your leg muscles are most efficient when they can contract and extend through a particular distance.

True, but the drop in efficiency doesn’t happen within the distance range we’re talking about here. The recumbent trike manufacturer Greenspeed [tested different cranks](http://www.greenspeed.com.au/newsletter5.htm#4.%20Short%20Cranks) and found that power output does not drop until you get down to a crank length of 100mm.

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