We recently posted a reel on instagram about how different crank lengths affected the fit of one rider. While the post was popular, many comments revealed some misunderstandings about the fundamentals of crank length and its pros and cons, especially when going shorter. In this post, we’ll break down the science behind crank length, how changing it may improve your position, and address some common myths. We’ll first discuss why you might consider shorter cranks, the impact of crank changes on fit, and then dive into the science of how crank length affects power output. Finally, we’ll tackle some common misconceptions. Crank Length & Bike Fit: When shortening cranks, there are three main goals: Open up the knee angle (knee flexion) Open up the hip angle (hip flexion) Improve movement quality and efficiency The majority of these changes occur at […]

As a bike fitter I’m often very critical of bike geometry – specifically fit geometry – and especially geometries with labels like “Endurance” or “Race.” While it is true, fit geometry has a major impact on how “racey” the resulting fit will be, so too does the rider’s proportions and final bike setup. I’ve seen very conservative positions on a race bike and very racy positions on an endurance bike. This is mostly due to rider proportions, however bike setup can also influence this significantly. Notwithstanding the above, Trek has recently launched a new updated version of their Madone and with it the American brand has made some major geometry changes. Given that the Madone is one of the most popular bikes on the market today, I thought it was worthwhile to give my take on the new geometry and […]