Originally Posted by
TommyL
Another weird effect (I'm not ready to call it a downside yet), is that my spin is slower. I have trouble keeping it up to 90rpms, and 70-80 is usually more comfortable. Then again, it feels more natural this way. I could do 90-95 on 170's or 180's, but I would quickly tire. I liken it to wen I ran cross country, and my stride was longer but slower than my shorter teammates.
well it is similar to running in that with the longer cranks your legs are traveling a lot further per revolution than with the short cranks so to have a similar leg speed to need to have a lower cadence. so with a 175 mm at 90 rpms is equal to 190 mm crank at 83 rpms. when you spin the long cranks at 90 it like using 175s at 97 rpms