SpeedofLite 

steelbikeguy

Neat!
I hadn't seen this interview before, and it's the first time I'd heard about Mr. Sachs preference for very low bottom brackets! I gotta admit, I got used to a 10 1/2" bottom bracket on my mid 70's Raleigh Gran Sport. I kept that dimension when I had two subsequent custom frames built, and had one builder ask if I really wanted it that low.

Personally, now that I have another bike with a high bottom bracket (about 11"?), I'm not sure that it's a major difference in how the bike handles. With clipless pedals, there's little chance of grounding a pedal in a turn with the lower BB (unlike with conventional pedals). On the bike with the high BB, when I stop at an intersection, I have to get off of the saddle in order to put a foot down.

Another topic that got my attention was the use of SLX tubing on a large frame. As someone who rides 62cm frames, c-t, I'd always thought that SL was too light. Not sure if SLX was considered good enough. I did notice that a SP down tube was used, along with SP fork blades, so that was a good choice to improve the torsional stiffness. The minor tendency to shimmy wasn't surprising, but now I'm wondering if the bike would be considered to "plane".

Thanks for sharing the article!

Steve in Peoria

Andrew_G

I've owned several Richard Sachs frames over the years, but none at present. I've copied the dimensions of my most recent RS frameset on to my current custom bikes.


I do prefer a low bottom bottom bracket; I consider 26 cm (10.25") my favorite. (Previously used on Richard Sachs and 1979 Pinarello).


I don't notice much difference in BB height when riding on the flat, but when descending, the lower BB feels more stable (secure). To me, a 27cm BB height (previously: 2001 Mercian) feels perched high up and doesn't feel as stable. 26.0 to 26.5 cm, to me, feels much better.


I found that a 25.5 cm (10") BB felt a slight bit soft under pedaling force. (Transition from one RS frame to another.)


All bikes were/are 60 cm c-t, with 175mm cranks and Look pedals.

repechage

In the clipless pedal era ( most recent, not the original Look ) a low bottom bracket is less of a concern.
Riders are very adaptable, one learns the machine.

way back I had two race bikes, one with a very high bracket. Terrific for criterium racing, I could pedal through a corner and hear my competition behind dig a pedal in the turn.
very useful on the last corner.
today, not that necessary.

do find it interesting that so many plastic frames have 70 mm of drop.

poprad

I love the comparison of the design aesthetic of the Campy gruppo to a Ford Taurus!

Catnap 

himespau 

^^^Great quote.

smd4

I love the broadside photo of the entire bike along with the detail photos, all with simple backgrounds. Seems that in today's magazines, we rarely get broadside photos; often all we get are "wedge" shots of the bike taken at extreme angles from the front or rear.