I am looking for ways to reduce the knee pain I sometimes get from long or hard pedaling. The Mirage Drive system is most closely akin to a stairstepper machine, which is known to be somewhat hard on knees, as opposed to the circular motion of a bicycle or elliptical.
Aside from simply going slower or going fewer miles, I sometimes employ my arms by gabbing a fistful of wetsuit just above the knees and pushing and pulling. This helps some.
Back in 2009, JeffreyET wrote about his experiment with making longer pedal shafts (
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=13835&p=76843&hilit=pedal+aluminum). I haven't read any more about this idea, and I'm wondering if anyone else has tried it and what the results are. What are the theoretical advantages and disadvantages (I'm not much for physics)?
It seems to me the greater leverage of the longer shafts would mean more power or an easier stroke, but possibly they would put my feet too far up in the air or too far forward or in some awkward position.
I assume Hobie has some good reasons for making the shafts the stock length, but might other lengths be better for some people or some uses?
Thanks for your thoughts.