CX vs. gravel BB height
08-28-17, 12:49 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 55
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
4 Posts
CX vs. gravel BB height
I've been chatting with a customer rep about BB heights on their CX and gravel bikes. I'm confused as to their replies. Per our conversation, their BB are lower on the CX frames. I thought they would be higher for clearance on CX and lower on gravel for stability.
08-28-17, 12:55 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,828
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1873 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
Yeah that doesn't sound right. Which manufacturer? Maybe you can look up their geo charts to confirm?
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
08-28-17, 01:02 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Well, the current fashion is always changing, but typically what I see is
road bikes ~70mm.
CX bikes <70mm,
Gravel bikes >70mm drop (i.e. lower than CX)
(track bike 50mm).
low long and slack is the current trend in mountain bikes, and gravel bikes seem to be following suite...
road bikes ~70mm.
CX bikes <70mm,
Gravel bikes >70mm drop (i.e. lower than CX)
(track bike 50mm).
low long and slack is the current trend in mountain bikes, and gravel bikes seem to be following suite...
08-28-17, 01:18 PM
#4
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Make sure you keep straight BB "height" and "drop". I could believe a gravel bike would have a higher BB than a CX bike. How? Tire size.
You make 2 frames both with 65mm BB drop....but one fitted with a 700x33mm CX tire, and the other with a 700x40 or 700x45mm gravel tire. Ta-da. The "gravel" bike has a (much) higher BB as measured from the ground. Why? Because bigger tire lifts the BB higher off the ground.
BB clearance/height is all about the tire size used when measured.
You make 2 frames both with 65mm BB drop....but one fitted with a 700x33mm CX tire, and the other with a 700x40 or 700x45mm gravel tire. Ta-da. The "gravel" bike has a (much) higher BB as measured from the ground. Why? Because bigger tire lifts the BB higher off the ground.
BB clearance/height is all about the tire size used when measured.
08-28-17, 01:52 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,828
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1873 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
Make sure you keep straight BB "height" and "drop". I could believe a gravel bike would have a higher BB than a CX bike. How? Tire size.
You make 2 frames both with 65mm BB drop....but one fitted with a 700x33mm CX tire, and the other with a 700x40 or 700x45mm gravel tire. Ta-da. The "gravel" bike has a (much) higher BB as measured from the ground. Why? Because bigger tire lifts the BB higher off the ground.
BB clearance/height is all about the tire size used when measured.
You make 2 frames both with 65mm BB drop....but one fitted with a 700x33mm CX tire, and the other with a 700x40 or 700x45mm gravel tire. Ta-da. The "gravel" bike has a (much) higher BB as measured from the ground. Why? Because bigger tire lifts the BB higher off the ground.
BB clearance/height is all about the tire size used when measured.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mstateglfr
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
12
02-03-19 11:13 AM
