INEOS & British Cycling Physio Changed My Mind About Crank Length

This week, I had the chance to chat with Phil Burt—someone who’s been at the sharp end of cycling innovation for over a decade.

From his time with British Cycling and INEOS, Phil has seen (and shaped) some of the biggest shifts in performance and bike fit.

We covered a lot of ground in this conversation, it’s worth listening to in its entirety but one area which really sparked my attention was crank lengths.

I’ve always been a 175mm guy.

Now there is a growing use of 165mm cranks.

Once seen as an outlier choice, they’re now becoming a go-to option for road, gravel & time trial users.

The benefits? They go beyond just aerodynamics:

More Efficiency, Less Discomfort – Shorter cranks help reduce strain on the hips and lower back while making pedaling feel smoother.

• More power – Dropping crank length means tweaking saddle height + fore/aft position which changes hip angle - some athletes are seeing over 20 watts FTP change with this small tweak.

  A Triathlete/ Time Trialists Secret Weapon – A lot of triathletes are making the switch, finding it helps ease lower back tension but also giving marked improvements in speed.

• Phil summed it up well: “If you’ve ever battled knee pain or felt like you’re shifting around too much in the saddle, shortening your cranks can help smooth everything out. It’s like turning the volume down on those little aches and niggles.”

  The data on the change to 165mm seems really strong but make sure you make the adjustments to your position which Phil suggests. I’m going forward 4mm with my saddle & up 10mm (I know it seems like a big shift)

  I’ll keep you posted how it goes.

• We’re toying with the idea of bringing back a Roadman Training Camp. I’ve spent a lot of time in Girona during my cycling career and love the idea of bringing a group of listeners out to show them my favourite routes, cafes & restaurants.

  Pop a reply to this email with an expression of interest if it sounds like something you’d enjoy - it’s going to be limited to 15 people.