Fit Bit: Tri Crank Arms

Triathletes should use a crank arm length that is 2.5 – 5 mm shorter than their road bike crank. The shorter crank will require increasing the saddle height (with respect to bottom bracket) in order to maintain the same leg extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Raising the saddle along with the shorter crank arm length will open up the hip angle at the top of the pedal stroke, which will increase comfort (for someone with clearance problems) or allow the aero bars to be lowered to get into a more aerodynamic position.