Re: [CR]Asymmetric crank leverage...ever been tried?

(Example: Framebuilding:Technology)

From: <Hughethornton@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 13:57:55 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]Asymmetric crank leverage...ever been tried?
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


I am fairly sure that I read somewhere that Francesco Moser used different crank lengths for one of his hour record runs, possibly the last successful one. Moser was quite scientific in his approach and experimented with lots of off-topic ideas to get more speed/distance, so it would not be surprising if he did actually ride with different length cranks.

Hugh Thornton Cheshire, England

In a message dated 30/06/2006 15:38:40 GMT Standard Time, dcwilson3@yahoo.com writes:

Thinking about the curved French Chandeze cranks on Ebay today and about Biopace chainwheels, etc., makes me ask if any one has ever tried asymmetric crank leverage factors to try to optimize pedalling by human beings with typically asymmetric leg strength. Just as persons have a dominant hand, they also have a dominant leg. The dominant leg is stronger. The non dominant leg is weaker. It makes some intuitive sense to design some kind of asymmetry into the leverage of the cranks to optimize pedalling between dominant and nondominant leg. Has anyone ever done this?

Don Wilson Los Olivos, CA USA

FWIW, I have always thought that crank leverage factors should be asymmetric between left and right because most riders have a stronger and weaker leg, just as they have a stronger and weaker arm. Does anyone know if any crank/chainwheel manu