165 cranks & Stages PM

Julie Pfeifle

What are folks' thoughts on the benefits of 165 cranks?  My situation is I have a TT bike with a Quarq PM (on 170 cranks) and a road bike with no PM.  I'd like to get another PM and am thinking about switching the Quarq/170 cranks to the road bike and getting 165 cranks with a Stages PM (sort of a 2 for 1.)   I'm 5'6" (if that helps at all) and currently have 170 cranks on both the road and TT bikes.  I'm not having any issues with the 170s per se, and seem to run fine off the bike.  I've read upsides of 165s include opening up the hip more and enabling a more aero position.  Any other upsides?  Any downsides?  Has anyone switched to 165s and not liked it?

Thoughts on the Stages PM also?  ... I do love my Quarq, but can't justify another PM of that expense.

Thanks!

Julie Pfeifle

... and btw, I have tried to search the forums for these topics, which I'm sure have been covered before, but for some reason, search doesn't work for me. I always get one of those "500 - Internal Server error" messages.

Emily Brinkley

Hi Julie - I switched to a 165 when I got my stages. I ended up putting a 165 on both my TT and road bike so I could switch power out for each. After getting used to having a higher cadence, I've had amazing results. I'm very similar in height to you. Hope that helps!

moetai@gmail.com

got a 170 stages on my RD bike, 165 stages on TT bike...can't really tell the difference...love the stages PM. only downside would be the batterie life but it is easy to change.

Julie Pfeifle

Awesome, Emily!  What do you mean by "amazing results"... what changed for you?

Thanks!!

Emily Brinkley

Once I became a power athlete, my cycling took off. I went from an FTP of 170 at the beginning of out season last year to 201 giving me a 3.5 w/kg going into my IM build. Learning and following P&R's racing with power guide, it all just fell into place. So, amazing results might not have been because of the shorter crank arm, but it sure didn't hurt

Al Truscott

Last year I switched (when adding Di2) from 170 to 165 cranks on my TT bike. The only difference i noticed was it became easier to hold a low aero position. Due, I assume to the lower high point my knees reached and the associated "opening up" of my hips. FTP and race times were not improved, but then I'm getting older every year.

Scott Alexander

If it makes any difference in this discussion...
I'm 6'1", with a short 32" inseam and I've got 172.5mm company (50/34) cranks on my Quarq (GXP/English/standard BB), which I exchange between my road (BB30 bottom bracket) and TT/Tri (GXP BB) bikes.

If I had the funds, I'd probably have a separate quarq for each bike, probably with 165s on my TT/tri bike and keep the 172.5s on my road bike. But I'd have to experiment first to ensure it wouldn't impact me too negatively for either.

Dino Sarti

I use 165mm on both my road and TT bike. I think it helps my fit tremendously.