167.5mm cranks are often touted as a staple for long-distance endurance rides, but is their effectiveness purely anecdotal or backed by science? While some swear by the reduced strain on their knees and increased efficiency, others claim that the benefits are negligible, and riders are simply sacrificing precious power for a perceived gain in comfort.
Proponents of longer cranks argue that they allow riders to maintain a lower cadence, which can be more efficient for long, steady-state efforts, while also reducing the stress on joints. However, detractors argue that this supposed benefit is only realized at higher power outputs and that, in reality, most riders will simply adjust their cadence anyway, rendering any potential benefit moot.
Furthermore, with the proliferation of track testing and aerodynamic optimization, is the incremental gain in efficiency really worth the potential trade-off in power and acceleration? Can longer cranks truly justify the added weight and reduced stiffness, or are we simply chasing marginal gains?
Rather than regurgitating the same tired platitudes about cadence and comfort, Id love to see a critical examination of the data. Have any of you found a significant difference in your long-distance performance when swapping between shorter and longer cranks, or is this simply a placebo effect? Whats the scientific consensus on this topic, and where does the current research stand?