Calculating Optimal Sock Length Ratios

If you talk to Darren he'll be happy to debate crank lengths and saddle set backs. He can reference a whole swag of published articles, anecdotal evidence and proven theory, all based around making you faster.

I also want you to be faster, but feel there is an issue that modern cycling media has ignored. Sock Length (yes it deserves double capitalisation) can be the factor that makes or breaks an race, it really is that important.

Many European Pros would have you believe that the only important factor in determining the right sock for you is colour, they must be white. Don't be fooled, these athletes are trying to protect their secret weapon, quite frankly they don't want you to know the secrets of Optimal Sock Length.

So here we are, minds open, eager to weigh up the pros and ams, and really get to the bottom of this important issue.

So we all know that socks can and will make you faster. Many novice cyclists opt for ankle socks, I know I did, and as a consequence was quite slow. Many top level riders are sporting 3-5 inch sock cuffs and could tear the legs off a thoroughbred horse. This leads us to speculate, does more length equate to more speed? Well this question has been answered for us.



The answer is no, many mountain bikers and generally crazed cyclists have tested this theory for us, and the evidence is over whelming. There is a point where as Sock Length increases, performance decreases. This leads us to the realisation that there is an optimal length sock, but is it a one size fits all situation or does the individual nature of our legs dictate different (pedal) strokes for different folks?

Through extensive experimentation I have calculated that my own optimal sock length is a 5" cuff. Now my shin bone is 20" long (ankle to knee), the simplicity of this ratio (4:1) leads me to believe it is a divine ratio for calculating optimal sock length.

More research on this magical 4:1 ratio is needed, so try it out yourself and let us know your findings.