whats the shortest cranks people have found to still be mildly functional? basically just long enough to be able to startup, not pedal as a functional nonmotorized bicycle. i tried a 3inch crank but it was way to short to get enough leverage especially with a 24 tooth front sprocket.
shortest cranks that are still somewhat functional
- Thread starter the chief
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i wouldnt go any shorter than 145mm. just feels weird. 170mm is usually the standard size for bikes.
After I lowered the Atomic BB I had to shorten the cranks from 168mm to 115mm. Then to make it easier to pedal I changed the gearing from 18/55, to 22/34. It's still a little hard to pedal, but recently on black friday I pedaled it 10 miles with a group of bicyclers on mostly level grade, and averaged about 9 mph. I'm 59 so I think I have a right to brag about it a little lol.
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Short cranks are worthless unless your going down hill . Remember you have to pedal a china girl a little to get her going .
Yeah he did , he said he needed to use them on start up, You also need them to get you going a little . If not his next post would be why did my clutch stop working lol.
I just take the cranks off my kids old 16" bicycles......they're plenty short and you can run the tiny pedals that come on them too 
Or put larger pedals on if you prefer.
Or put larger pedals on if you prefer.