XL Crankset

[Liquid Knight]

I'm building a recumbent and have limited myself to 26 Inch wheels (those are the wheels I have in my shed) and to make the bike keep up with traffic I need to increase the pedal drive ratio. The biggest cranksets I can find have 175mm long arms and have either 52 or 53 teeth.

Are any bigger ones available?

[shalmaneser]

Unless you're horribly tall anything much bigger will be very unpleasant. I believe you can get Dura Ace in anything up 177.5 and possibly some top line Campag stuff too but that's about it.

Bear in mind longer cranks is effectively the same as dropping down a gear...

Edit:

http://www.cyclefitcentre.com/pdf%20final%20docs/C...

Edited by shalmaneser on Wednesday 17th November 18:24

[Roman]

T.A. chainrings upto 61t:

http://www.chickencycles.co.uk/index.php?cat=32&am...

[Mr Will]

I know 'bents are aerodynamic, but what speed are you planning on cruising at? Will you really be able to spin out a normal top gear on the flat?

[Liquid Knight]

I'm six two, triathlon and time trial rider who's retired due to a compacting spine so I've been on atb's and 'bents. I'm building a dual suspension recumbent because the pot holes and other crap on the road make cycling more then ten miles prety much unbareable. Mountain bikes just feel slow and I can sit in top gear virtually all day. I'd like to combine the speed and efficiency of a recumbent with comfort a suspension bike would provides without having to spend this much......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SAVVY-X-USS-disc-SLX-recumbe...

...and....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carbon-Fiber-Recumbent-BMX-C...

I think a long road bike crank is the way to go. Thanks for all the advice.

[Mr Will]

Fair enough, you probably do have the legs to justify it!

[Liquid Knight]

The legs are good just can't lean over the bars for long any more (handlebars).

[NitroNick]

You can get sram red chainsets in 177.5 also.