Swing Cranks for riders with limited knee movement

How to check if a Swing Crank is suitable for you
Long Swing Crank for more severe disability
Price-list and order-form
Spare parts and repairs
Fitting instructions
Is there a cheaper option?

path of foot with normal crank         path of foot with Swing Crank

Use a Pulse Swing Crank when one of your knees doesn't bend as much as it should. It enables your leg to contribute as much effort as it can without being lifted so high.

Adjustable for different degrees of disability

A standard Swing Crank and Crank Shortener each have three pedal holes. These allow you to adjust the effect to suit your particular needs. You can even reduce the effect in stages as you recover from a leg injury:

Standard Swing Crank   normal setup:		If you need to bend your leg less:	If you can bend your leg more:
Crank Shortener: middle position   Swing Crank: middle position		Crank Shortener: short position Swing Crank: long position	Crank Shortener: long position Swing Crank: short position

There are other possibilities if you have difficulty straightening your leg completely at the bottom of the pedal stroke. For example, you can use just the Crank Shortener on its own:

Crank Shortener: middle position		Crank Shortener: short position		Crank Shortener: long position

Or you can use one of these intermediate setups:

Crank Shortener: middle position Swing Crank: short position		Crank Shortener: short position Swing Crank: middle position		Crank Shortener: short position Swing Crank: short position

(These lengths assume your cranks are 170mm long. Increase them by
10mm for 175mm cranks and reduce them by 10mm for 165mm cranks.)

How to check if a Swing Crank is suitable for you Ask a friend to measure how high you can raise your foot, as follows: 1) Raise your saddle so your leg is almost straight at the bottom. Measure height A. 2) Lift your pedal and foot as high as you can. Measure height B. 3) The height you can raise your foot is B - A.     Choose a Standard Swing Crank if you can raise your foot 200mm (8") or more. (or 190mm if you use 165mm cranks,  or 210mm if you use 175mm cranks)   Choose a Long Swing Crank if you can only manage 164mm (6½") or more - see below. (or 154mm if you use 165mm cranks,  or 174mm if you use 175mm cranks)

Long Swing Crank for riders with a more severe disability Long Swing Cranks are only recommended for riders who can't raise their foot 200mm (8") but can still manage at least 164mm (6½"). They are available in 2 different types and offer the following possibilities, plus various intermediate setups:     Long Swing Crank   normal setup:     If you need to bend   your leg less:     If you can bend   your leg more:   Crank Shortener: middle position   Swing Crank: middle position   Crank Shortener: short position   Swing Crank: long position   Crank Shortener: long position   Swing Crank: short position   3-hole Long Swing Crank for bicycles The Swing Crank and the Crank Shortener each have 3 pedal holes, allowing the 3 basic setups illustrated above (164mm, 200mm and 240mm). This is suitable for all types of cycle including bicycles, tricycles and exercise bikes.   4-hole Long Swing Crank for exercise bikes The Swing Crank and the Crank Shortener each have 4 pedal holes, allowing 4 basic setups (164mm, 200mm, 240mm and 286mm). This is suitable for tricycles and exercise bikes. It is unsuitable for bicycles as there would be a danger of grounding your pedal as you lean to turn corners.   (These lengths assume your cranks are 170mm long. Increase them by 10mm for 175mm cranks and reduce them by 10mm for 165mm cranks.)

Please note

It is machined from high grade aluminium alloy and incorporate sealed bearings and stainless fasteners.

Prices and how to order

Click here for other ways to order your Pulse Swing Cranks.

Delivery

I aim to despatch these items within 7 days, but there may be delays at certain times of the year (eg. busy periods and holidays) - please contact Chris if you need to be certain. Click here for full delivery information.

7 day trial period

If you are unsure whether a Swing Crank will suit you or not, please order one anyway and try it out on your own bike. If it turns out to be unsuitable, just return it within 7 days, at your expense, for either an exchange or a refund.

Free fitting

standard

long

Printed instructions are enclosed with every Swing Crank, or you can download copies here.   Important : Your safety depends on the correct fitting of this item. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IF NECESSARY, or send your crank(s) to me if you'd like me to fit your Swing Crank(s) for you.

Is there a cheaper option?

If price is a concern, then why not try a single Crank Shortener instead? If this doesn't work out, you can always upgrade to a full Swing Crank for little more than the difference in price. However, the following notes will help you understand why a Swing Crank is the best solution...

•	One Crank Shortener (or one short crank) would require a different saddle height for each leg - which, of course, is impossible!  (This is the only way that each leg could be straight at the bottom of its pedal stroke.)
•	Leaving your saddle at the right height for the good leg would mean that your damaged knee would always be bent, even at the bottom of its pedal stroke - which defeats the whole point of the exercise:
	Crank Shortener   its pedal is raised at the bottom, so your damaged knee remains bent all the time			Swing Crank   both pedals reach the bottom, so both legs straighten at the bottom
•	Two Crank Shorteners (or two short cranks) would overcome these problems, but your saddle would then need to be so high that it would become difficult (or even dangerous) to put a foot down when you stop.

 
A Swing Crank really is the best solution. It allows your saddle height to be correct for each leg, without your damaged knee having to bend so much.

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Chris Bell,   HIGHPATH ENGINEERING Cornant, Cribyn, Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 7QW, Wales, UK

©  Chris Bell