Do Bikes Come In Standard Pedal Arm Sizes?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,


The three most common crank lengths for bicycles are 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm

. What size your bike has will likely depend on what size the frame is. Small bikes tend to come with 170mm cranks, medium with 172.5mm and large with 175mm.

Do all pedals fit all bikes?

To simply answer:

No, bike pedals are not universal

. Not only visually or for their different purposes for various cycling disciplines, but also internally. Bicycle pedals mainly have two sizes: 9/16” and 1⁄2”. The 9/16” is the more standard version of pedals and covers almost all subtypes.

Are crank arms universal?


Many chainrings are not compatible across different brands or even across different models for any given brand

. Cranksets attach to a frame via bottom bracket, and there are many different types of bottom brackets.

What is the standard crank arm length?

THE CRANK LENGTH

The most common lengths are

170, 172.5 and 175 mm

, but it is possible to find cranks between 165 and 180 mm in the market. The goal when choosing crank length is to find the best possible balance and various factors must be taken into account when evaluating.

How do you know what size crank arm to get?

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.

How do I know if a cranks will fit my bike?

Most manufacturers will print the type on the bottom bracket shell of your bicycle.

Look for a match between the “shell width” of the bottom bracket and the “diameter” of the crankset’s axle. If both are equal, use the crankset

. On the other hand, you can use the BCD (Bolt Circle Diameter) to check compatibility.

Are all Shimano crank arms compatible?


Shimano road cranks are interchangeable between other component levels that utilize the dual pinch bolt

. Nearly all pinch-bolt style Shimano road cranks are able to be interchanged in equivalent lengths.

Are all crank arms compatible?

In general terms,

most cranksets can be fitted to a variety of bottom bracket shells, though much of this compatibility depends upon the availability of suitable hardware

(see next section). Any incompatibilities that do arise are often related to the length and/or diameter of the crank axle.

Are all Shimano cranksets the same?


Shimano Crankset Parts are not interchangeable, but they are compatible

. Shimano makes many types of cranksets geared for different cyclists. All Shimano Chainsets are not the same. Notably, they vary in crank arm length, pedal diameter, etc.

How do I know my bike pedal size?


Check the Cranks on

the Bike

Manufacturers made it easy to put the sizing on the crank, knowing that people would look for their pedal size. If your cranks are made up of three separate sections, two separate crank arms, and the spindle that goes through the frame, your pedals will be size 9/16′′ x 20 TPI.

How do you know what size pedals to get?

What size do bike pedals come in?

When it comes to pedal sizes, there are two sizes:

1⁄2” and 9/16”

. 1⁄2” pedals are only used on very basic bikes with a one piece crank. A one piece crank is just that, it’s one piece of steel that is bent/forged to run from one pedal, through the frame, to the other pedal.

What difference does crank arm length make?

MAIN DIFFERENCES

The result is that,

with the same ratio and force exerted on the pedal, it favours a higher cadence

. Meanwhile, a longer crank allows a rider to push/pull harder ratios but makes it more difficult to maintain a high cadence.

Are longer crank arms better?

As you’ll know from using a crowbar or a wheelbarrow, the longer the lever, the greater the load that can be lifted; so

a longer lever arm allows a rider to create more torque than a rider with similar leg strength

, but a shorter lever arm.

Are all bike pedals the same size?

Are All Bike Pedals the Same Size?

Bike pedals are not all the same size

. Bike pedal sizes vary due to the crank arms dictating the specific sized threads that it will take; this is mainly dependent on the age of the bike as well as the type of bike that you have.

Will shorter cranks help my knees?

Pain is relieved.

Just by installing shorter crank arms, without any other adjustment, the knee at maximum flexion is lowered by 7.5 mm. That difference provides approximately 3° to 4° of relief

.

Does bike crank length matter?


Crank length can be used as a tool to improve fit related issues impacting comfort, power, and aerodynamics

. Moving to a shorter crank can improve: Comfort: A shorter crank length reduces range of motion at the knee (extension and flexion), hips, and low back.

Are shorter crank arms better?

If the gearing isn’t adjusted, the shorter crank arm effectively gives a harder gear in terms of the force required at the pedal to create a given propulsive force at the wheel, potentially leading to more strain on the body when you run out of gears.

Can I put a road crankset on a mountain bike?

The condensed answer is:


Mountain bike frames aren’t designed for road cranks

. The chainstays are wide to accommodate fatter tires and often create clearance issues.

What cranks fit BB86?


Any Shimano, Campagnolo, or SRAM GXP crank

will fit BB86 perfectly well. Avoid 30mm spindle cranks with this bottom bracket standard and you’ll be fine.

Do bottom brackets make a difference?

In addition, the average drag for all of the bottom brackets tested is just 0.77W. In other words,

bottom brackets do different significantly drag-wise in terms of percentages

but as far as actual watts are concerned, we’re talking relatively small numbers here that most general cyclists aren’t likely to notice.

Are SRAM and Shimano cranks interchangeable?

Thus, cranks from Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo are

freely interchangeable

along with those from all aftermarket brands (e.g. FSA, Rotor, Praxis, etc.). And while it is preferable to match the chainrings/crankset to the transmission, there is no strict need to do so.

What is a 68 73 bottom bracket?

The 68mm and 73mm dimension

measure the width of the bottom bracket on the frame of the bike with no BB installed, simply the width of the shell

. Most road bikes that use a threaded bottom bracket measure 68mm wide and most cross country/trail mountain bikes measure 73mm.

Which is better press-fit or threaded bottom bracket?

After a decade or so of press-fit bottom brackets being the dominant system on high-end road bikes, there has – to almost universal acclaim – been a notable return to threaded bottom brackets in the last few years.

Can I upgrade my crankset?

Is Crankset Worth Upgrading? Absolutely! The main purpose of upgrading your crankset is for performance improvement and that means adjusting or replacing the crankset to get an improved experience. So

yes, the crankset is always worth upgrading

.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.