Swing Crank

Description

Do you have a “bad” knee or a sticky hip? Maybe one leg just doesn’t have the same range of motion that the other leg does. A Swing Crank is designed to help you find a satisfactory pedal operating range for the compromised leg, instead of compromising on an adjustment that doesn’t suit either leg.

Swing Cranks enable you to maintain your normal saddle height and leg extension, but makes it easier to bring a foot over the top of the pedal stroke when joint flexion (bending) is restricted on one side significantly more than the other side.

It’s kind of hard to imagine how the swing crank works, so look at the little gif below. You’ll see the left side with the swing crank brings the pedal down to the bottom of the stroke, the same as the other side, but doesn’t come near as high at the top of the stroke. This allows you to maintain a “normal” pedal stroke extension, but a modified pedal stroke that will be easy on the limited side, by requiring less flexion at both the knee and hip joint.

Consider a Swing Crank if:

• You have osteoarthritis in one knee or hip joint that restricts range of motion, especially in trying to get your foot over the top of the pedal stroke.
• You have some other orthopaedic condition that limits range of motion on one side, preventing a “normal” pedal stroke
• You have had joint replacement surgery (knee or hip) recently, and are in rehab to build back strength and range of motion
• You have had joint replacement surgery that didn’t work out as intended, and your function is compromised.
• AND, you still want to be able to enjoyably pedal a bicycle.

If you have restricted motion in both legs, you may be better off using shorter cranks, or crank shorteners, as these will reduce the amount of hip and knee flexion required to come over top dead center on both sides.

Features

• 6 configuration options providing for different range of motion limitations.
• Easy assembly and adjustment with basic mechanical skills, or have a bike shop install it.
• NOTE: The use of this product will increase the stance width of the cyclist by 32mm. i.e the material width and operating space taken up by the two components of the Swing Crank will put your pedal (and foot) 32mm further out the side than it was on the original crank.

Compatibility

• Standard 9/16″ pedal axle holes in your existing crank arm.
• Suitable for use on regular bicycles, e-bikes, trikes, and indoor exercise bikes such as the Peloton bike.
• Not recommended for standard 2 wheel recumbents, due to the balancing demands of the pedaling action.
• Will fit over crank arms with a width of between 22mm and 42mm, at a distance of 75mm from the pedal hole. So measure your crank width on the side of intended use to make sure this will work.

What’s in the Box?

• The Swing Crank comes as a kit, comprised of one crank shortener and one pedal swing. Swing Cranks are NOT used in pairs.
• These are usually the better solution for someone considering crank arm shorteners, but really only needs an adjustment on one side.
• Printed Instructions are included.

Installation Instructions

Written instructions included, but we have additional instruction and notes on our Swing Crank installation instructions page.

In summary, you will remove a pedal, attach the crank shortener component using the original pedal axle hole, and then attach the pedal swing component to the crank shortener. Finish up by re-attaching the original pedal to the pedal swing, such that it matches the position where it was, at the bottom of the stroke.

Tools you will need:

• 3mm Allen wrench
• 4mm Allen wrench
• 8mm Allen wrench
• 8mm box wrench – if ordering the right side. The design is a little different on the right side due to the chainrings on the bike obstructing bolt access.
• pedal wrench – if your pedals require one.

Machined in Oregon, USA