Lifecycle Buzz - can a change crank size ?

[Polo]

I bought a second hand Freego Hawk many years ago but it always felt too big as I am only 5ft and despite being electric made my knees hurt if I rode it too often. The crank size seemed too long and I just felt “over biked”. I have been looking for a smaller second hand bike for sometime but unfortunaly all the ones that I am able to travel to are too large. Consequently I have just bought a Lifecycle Buzz as I am on a limited budget and very importantly states is good for small people. I am enjoying it - though will changing the seat post to a more forgiving one ! Though the bike itself feels the right size I am still feeling the cranks are too long which is particularly annoying when the bike was being advertised for short people. Can anyone advise whether it would be possible to change to a 160 crank size on this bike?

 

[Chris M]

Shorter cranks will of course require more effort as they produce less leverage. This means they will be harder on the knees.

 

[Fat Rat]

Hi welcome
Hope you find what your looking for soon

 

[Raboa]

Hi, here is a link:

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Raleigh-Chainset-42T-Triple_205328.htm?sku=624109&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu-St6bPF4AIVSbvtCh0YNgXNEAQYBiABEgJn_vD_BwE

Also put in 150mm crank arms in eBay, big selection.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.X150mm+cranks.TRS0&_nkw=150mm+cranks&_sacat=0

You can just buy the crank arms to save money.

You just need to work out what type of bottom bracket you have (square taper, hollowtech).

Hope this helps.

 

[vfr400]

What sounds like a simple idea is actually a little bit complicated, though definitely doable.

When you get shorter pedal arms, you need to put in a bit more effort, but you can counter that by using a smaller chainring or a lower gear, then, of course, you end up going slower for the same pedal speed, which is not a problem on a normal bike, but you might find that the bike overtakes your pedalling when you use the motor, which is really annoying. That depends on how much power you want to use from the motor.

On many folding bikes with small wheels, the gearing is already too low, so changing to shorter pedal arms might make that a little more comfortable because you can generally pedal a bit faster with shorter ones.

You'll most likely have to lose that nice chain guard on the chainwheel. As well as keeping grease off your legs, it keeps the chain on the chainwheel, so you might find that the chain keeps jumping off without it, in which case you need to fit a chain guide, which can also become more complicated and expensive than it ought to.

 

[Polo]

Hi, here is a link:

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Raleigh-Chainset-42T-Triple_205328.htm?sku=624109&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu-St6bPF4AIVSbvtCh0YNgXNEAQYBiABEgJn_vD_BwE

Also put in 150mm crank arms in eBay, big selection.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.X150mm+cranks.TRS0&_nkw=150mm+cranks&_sacat=0

You can just buy the crank arms to save money.

You just need to work out what type of bottom bracket you have (square taper, hollowtech).

Hope this helps.

Great thank you

 

[Polo]

What sounds like a simple idea is actually a little bit complicated, though definitely doable.

When you get shorter pedal arms, you need to put in a bit more effort, but you can counter that by using a smaller chainring or a lower gear, then, of course, you end up going slower for the same pedal speed, which is not a problem on a normal bike, but you might find that the bike overtakes your pedalling when you use the motor, which is really annoying. That depends on how much power you want to use from the motor.

On many folding bikes with small wheels, the gearing is already too low, so changing to shorter pedal arms might make that a little more comfortable because you can generally pedal a bit faster with shorter ones.

You'll most likely have to lose that nice chain guard on the chainwheel. As well as keeping grease off your legs, it keeps the chain on the chainwheel, so you might find that the chain keeps jumping off without it, in which case you need to fit a chain guide, which can also become more complicated and expensive than it ought to.

Thank you for your response. I am not too bothered about speed just want to get from A to B or out for a nice ride without getting knackered. It is used as a mode of transport as well as for pleasure.