How does bottom bracket drop affect handling?

It not only establishes how stable the bike is, but it also determines how far a rider can lean into a turn while pedaling without scraping a pedal on the ground. More bottom bracket drop means a bicycle is more stable. Less BB drop means a bike is more maneuverable—but also less stable.

What is bottom bracket drop on MTB?

Another measurement, BB drop, is a vertical measurement from a horizontal line through the center of the bike’s hubs to a parallel line at the center of the BB. These two measurements are valuable in different ways when looking at a bike and determining how it might ride.

What is bottom bracket drop measurement?

Definition. BB Drop is the vertical distance between the centre of the bottom bracket, and the axles of the front and rear wheels. This is a fixed, static measurement. Once a bike is built up and has no rider on it, this doesn’t change.

Is it okay to put drop bars on a mountain bike?

Yes, drops can be slapped on any mountain bike, but they shouldn’t. For instance, most MTBs have a geometry with a much longer reach, and generally don’t fit as well with drop bars.

What is a good bottom bracket height?

With 170 mm cranks, a 10 ½ inch bottom bracket height is a good starting point. Road racing will require a slightly higher bottom bracket due to the need to pedal through some turns. 10 ¾ inch bottom bracket height is a good starting point if you are using 170 mm cranks.

Does 1 degree head angle make a difference?

TBH 1 degree dont make a difference. It feels the same, unless you change your stem and handlebar and then your bike will feel a bit more of a difference.

What is considered a low bottom bracket height?

Road bikes usually have a BB drop of between 65-75mm. Most road bikes designed for racing and 23c tires fall between 70-68mm. Increasing BB drop just a few millimeters can substantially increase the stability of a bike by positioning the rider lower within the confines of the wheel’s center axis.

Is stack or reach more important?

For a given reach, a greater stack puts you into a more upright riding position; your hands will be moved upwards and your body position will rise more towards the vertical.

How do I increase the reach on my mountain bike?

A bike’s reach is determined by the frame and you cannot change it. However, you can artificially increase the reach by purchasing wider or longer handlebars. This will force you to sit further forward while you bike, which is effectively the same thing as buying a bike with a longer reach.

Is a 68 degree head angle slack?

The head tube angle is the angle of the head tube in relation to the ground. A “slack” angle is anywhere from 63 to 66 degrees. This means the fork of the bike is going to stick out farther, creating a more stable ride at high speeds, but also be slower handling.