50/34 vs. 48/32 Crankset (Comparison & Analysis)
This post compares the advantages and disadvantages of 50/34 and 48/32 cranksets. The Advantages of 50/34 Higher Top Speed To understand the effect of chainring size on speed, one has…
53/39 vs. 50/34 Chainrings (comparison & analysis)
This post compares the advantages and disadvantages of 53/39 and 50/34 road chainrings. The Advantages of 53/39 Chainrings High Gearing The apparent advantage of a 53/39 setup is the extra…
Can You Put Road Cranks On a Track Bike? (fast answer)
Condensed Answer: It's possible to install road cranks on a track bike. The conversion will not allow you to use track chainrings (unless the cranks are old) and may require…
Running 52/36 Cranks With a 11-30 Cassette? (pro & cons compared)
Combining a 52/36 crankset with an 11-30 cassette is a viable option when: Short Distances If the bike is used for short distances (a mile or two), then almost any…
50/34 vs. 52/36 Cranksets (Comparison & Analysis)
This post compares the advantages and disadvantages of 50/34 and 52/36 cranks. Note: The numbers indicate the teeth on the large and smaller chainring. 50 = 50 teeth on the…
175mm vs. 172.5mm Cranks (Comparison & Analysis)
This post compares the advantages and disadvantages of 175mm and 172.5mm crank arms. The Advantages of 175mm Cranks More Leverage The longer the crank, the greater the leverage that the…
Can You Put BMX Cranks On a Dirt Jumper? (simple answer)
Condensed Answer: A set of BMX cranks can be installed on a dirt jumper, but the conversion requires a threaded bottom bracket compatible with а 19 or 22mm spindle. Bottom…
Can You Use a SRAM Crankset With a Shimano Group set? (simple answer)
The goal of this article is to outline SRAM cranks' level of compatibility with a Shimano groupset. Definitions Cranks – a component connected to the pedals and the chainrings that…
Cottered vs. Cotterless Cranks (What’s Best?)
This post compares the advantages and disadvantages of cottered and cotterless cranks. Definitions Cottered Cranks Cottered cranks are attached to the bottom bracket spindle via a wedge inserted into the…
Why Are My Bike’s Cranks Moving from Side to Side?
Description of the problem: The cranks feel unstable. When the rider pushes and pulls on them, they move sideways. Sometimes the motion is subtle, but it could also be very pronounced to…