Built-up pedals with different leg lengths?

[TV8 but now flat 6]

Hi everyone, over the last year, I have become a regular cyclist and have moved to off-road and gone back to mountain biking - lots of fun!

Due to an accident many years ago, I have odd lengths legs (Approx 20mm) and wear a build up on one shoe. Giving the bike a check over and I noticed that one of my pedal bearings has worn and it is on my longer leg (and to be truthful, probably stronger leg) and as I am going to need to buy new pedals, keen to get some feedback and ideas for any known solutions such as a thicker pedal on one-side to compensate.

Thanks in advance

 

[ColinJ]

My left leg is significantly shorter than my right and I think that it does cause me some problems on the bike. On long rides I often get backache on the left side side which I think is due to over stretching the shorter leg.

When I used to use Look pedals I put shims under the left cleat to reduce the difference by a cm or so. That seemed to help. I use SPDs now though and like having the metal cleats remain recessed so shimming isn't an obvious option.

Another thing I tried was using a slightly shorter left crank. (I broke a left crank and replaced it with one that was 0.5 cms shorter without realising it wasn't the same length as the original.) I think that helped. If you can get hold of a shorter crank for your shorter leg, that might help you?

 

[Deleted member 1258]

[QUOTE="ColinJ, post: 6501110, member: 712"

Another thing I tried was using a slightly shorter left crank. (I broke a left crank and replaced it with one that was 0.5 cms shorter without realising it wasn't the same length as the original.) I think that helped. If you can get hold of a shorter crank for your shorter leg, that might help you?
[/QUOTE]

Have you got that the right way round?

 

[ColinJ]

Another thing I tried was using a slightly shorter left crank. (I broke a left crank and replaced it with one that was 0.5 cms shorter without realising it wasn't the same length as the original.) I think that helped. If you can get hold of a shorter crank for your shorter leg, that might help you?

Have you got that the right way round?

Unless my brain is in a spin (which is always possible) - yes!

The shorter leg has a problem reaching down at the bottom of the pedal stroke so I think I end up with my pelvis tilting to help it, and hence suffering back problems. Using a shorter crank means stretching down less.

I have a photo somewhere which someone took of me riding my bike and you can clearly see that I am not sitting properly on the bike. Here you go...

If I look down when riding, I can normally only see the left side of the frame.

 

[KnittyNorah]

There are several specialist engineers and cycle co's that produce off the shelf and made to measure symmetrical, asymmetrical and/or even adjustable cranks and adjustment devices, some of which can be attached to the cranks (I presume as a sort of trial) and some of which are actual full replacements for one side or the other.

Highpath Engineering and Avon Cyclery are just two that come to mind off the top of my head but I know there are more.
Very short person here with a damaged knee and ankle on one side which has a lesser range of movement and is more 'sensitive' than the other, so I'm all prepared to get myself asymmetrical cranks if it proves necessary. So far, so good, fingers crossed, touch wood and all that stuff!

 

[Cycleops]

If I recall correctly @mickle has experience in this area.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Unless my brain is in a spin (which is always possible) - yes!

The shorter leg has a problem reaching down at the bottom of the pedal stroke so I think I end up with my pelvis tilting to help it, and hence suffering back problems. Using a shorter crank means stretching down less.

I have a photo somewhere which someone took of me riding my bike and you can clearly see that I am not sitting properly on the bike. Here you go...

View attachment 604354

If I look down when riding, I can normally only see the left side of the frame.

I always thought it was the other way round, short crank for the long leg, long crank for the short leg, I can't remember now what the fella in the club with this did to correct it.

 

[ColinJ]

I always thought it was the other way round, short crank for the long leg, long crank for the short leg, I can't remember now what the fella in the club with this did to correct it.

Imagine that taken to extreme leg length differences and adjust the saddle height to suit the short leg/long crank. In that situation, the poor long leg would never get the chance to straighten out on its short crank because the pedal would be way too high at the bottom of the pedal stroke!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Imagine that taken to extreme leg length differences and adjust the saddle height to suit the short leg/long crank. In that situation, the poor long leg would never get the chance to straighten out on its short crank because the pedal would be way too high at the bottom of the pedal stroke!

 

[MontyVeda]

... long crank for the short leg ...

think of it like this... my inside leg is 36" from crotch to heel, which is also about the distance from the saddle to pedal at its lowest position. If my other leg was shorter, I wouldn't want to increase that 36" with a longer crank.

 

[ColinJ]

think of it like this... my inside leg is 36" from crotch to heel, which is also about the distance from the saddle to pedal at its lowest position. If my other leg was shorter, I wouldn't want to increase that 36" with a longer crank.

Exactly...

Blimey - either you are very tall, or your body is the opposite of mine! I am 6' 1" but only have an inside leg measurement of 32" - 33" (shorter nearer to 32, longer nearer to 33). My above average height comes from the upper half of my body

 

[Deleted member 1258]

think of it like this... my inside leg is 36" from crotch to heel, which is also about the distance from the saddle to pedal at its lowest position. If my other leg was shorter, I wouldn't want to increase that 36" with a longer crank.

Which leg is 36? if your legs are different lengths you must have two different inside legs? I've got it now, if you set the bike up on the long leg you need a short crank for the short leg so you aren't stretching to reach the bottom of the stroke, I'd got it arse about face.

 

[MontyVeda]

Exactly...

Blimey - either you are very tall, or your body is the opposite of mine! I am 6' 1" but only have an inside leg measurement of 32" - 33" (shorter nearer to 32, longer nearer to 33). My above average height comes from the upper half of my body

6'3" lanky freak of nature. If my seat post was longer I'd move it up a little higher

 

[MontyVeda]

Which leg is 36? if your legs are different lengths you must have two different inside legs? ...

both about the same length... with an 'if' my other leg was shorter

 

[Deleted member 1258]

6'3" lanky freak of nature. If my seat post was longer I'd move it up a little higher

sounds like you suffer from Giraffes disease, your arse is to far from the ground. I suffer from ducks disease, my arse is to close to the ground.