Originally Posted by
Saul KK
9cm of BB drop sounds like quite a bit. I was going back and forth between 7-8cm, maybe I should just go with 7.5cm. I do like the idea of a bit of extra clearance though when compared to a standard road bike.
BB Drop is how you arrive at what you care about - BB height. What folks are reacting to is your height of 281mm is pretty high for anything that isn't designed for single-track. Also, 74* STA is pretty steep for a use that would benefit from more compliance and a more rearward weight bias.
In general, i would evaluate lowering the BB and rotating the rider rearward around the new BB location. Shorter cranks help with hip/lower back flexibility issues as well. As others have said, interviews and watching you ride are needed for more specifics.