Which type of bottom bracket to pick
 

I am buying a frame with option of BSA or BB30 or BB86. Which one should I pick?

I have been reading through many articles, but I couldn't help me decide.

:crash:

BSA....it's been around for a million years, won't give you the creaking issues common with press fit cups, and gives you the option of a few different types of spindle

There are plenty of good cranksets made for all three, but I'd personally opt for the English threaded bottom bracket. Reliable and easily serviceable. No pressing bearings in our out, or paying someone else to do it. If you've got a wrench and a cheap bottom bracket tool, you can easily do all the common work yourself.

+1 to the above. BSA will be supported for many years to come. lots of choices for bottom brackets and cranks, and it just plain works.

Another vote for BSA. It's simple, strong, reliable, quiet and cranks and bottom brackets for it are readily available. It's about the only bottom bracket "standard" that really is standard.

And it's a win for a decades old design that has been used on thousands of race winners and common riders. BSA! We, the riding public, have a chance every time we purchase to send the industry a message that change for marketing sense is not common sense. Andy

BSA with an external bearing bottom bracket, best of both worlds.

The main advantage of BB30 is a few grams lighter and better single speed conversion options.

BSA, all day, every day. Any frame with a press-fit BB is an automatic dealbreaker for me. I will not lower myself to gluing oversize bearings into a plastic frame.

I'd be fine with all three on well executed frames. If you're buying a generic frame, I'd check reviews on any pressfit bb frames before getting one. BB30, in particular, requires very tight tolerances for the bearing bores. BB86 (and PF30)are a little more forgiving because the bearings are pressed into plastic cups.

If you want to run a Shimano crank, avoid a BB designed for a 30mm spindle if possible, so either BSA or BB86 (or Trek BB90) If you're going to be running a crank with BB30/PF30/BB386/BBright/OSBB/BB30A et et etc options then the 30mm spindle pressfit bottom bracket will be a lighter inofitself, be stiffer, and may allow for a lighter and stiffer frame design. Some of these designs can be very dependent on tight tolerances, and some do develop problems, but truthfully mostly they work well and aren't crazily difficult to work on. Probably the scariest thing is the potential to damage a BB shell if the bearings are pressed in crooked.

So yeah, BSA, unless you are really into a super light build (which is fine).

Thank you very much for your recommendations. BSA it is.