Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Term.. BCD?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-25-08 | 11:38 AM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Term.. BCD?

What does BCD mean in reference to bikes?
Nova5 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-25-08 | 11:39 AM
  #2  
barba's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,083
Likes: 0
Bolt circle diameter. It is the spacing of the bolts that hold the chainring on the crank.

See here for all cycling terminology: https://sheldonbrown.com/glossary.html
barba is offline  
Reply
Old 04-25-08 | 12:02 PM
  #3  
DMF's Avatar
DMF
Elitist Troglodyte
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,926
Likes: 3
From: Dallas

Bikes: 03 Raleigh Professional (steel)

Bouyancy Compensation Device

Oh, bikes... Never mind!
__________________
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?

- Will Rogers
DMF is offline  
Reply
Old 04-25-08 | 12:11 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,438
Likes: 9
From: Oklahoma

Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50

Originally Posted by DMF
Bouyancy Compensation Device

Oh, bikes... Never mind!
+1
Al1943 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-25-08 | 02:54 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

You shouldn't joke with people who aren't sure it's a joke.
HillRider is offline  
Reply
Old 04-25-08 | 02:56 PM
  #6  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by DMF
Bouyancy Compensation Device

Oh, bikes... Never mind!
Hence why i said related to bikes.

Open Water 1 certified. don't have enough nearby to go for OW2.

I'm a NAUI, not one of those PADI folks... pretty awful diving instruction.
Nova5 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-25-08 | 03:12 PM
  #7  
MudPie's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 122
From: Southern California
Originally Posted by Nova5
What does BCD mean in reference to bikes?

One way to think of it is imagine a perfect circle that passes thru the center of each bolt, the diameter of that imaginary circle is the BCD.

Sheldon's site offers a practical way to measure BCD, instead of drawing and measuring a circle.
MudPie is offline  
Reply
Old 04-25-08 | 03:16 PM
  #8  
DiabloScott's Avatar
It's MY mountain
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 4,229
From: Mt.Diablo

Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek

All right, now that the question's been answered... time for some alternate definitions:

Butt Crack Dirt
DiabloScott is offline  
Reply
Old 04-25-08 | 09:14 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 946
Likes: 2
From: beantown

Bikes: '89 Specialized Hardrock Fixed Gear Commuter; 1984? Dawes Atlantis

Cause: Riding in the rain with no fenders.
randomgear is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-08 | 02:21 PM
  #10  
DMF's Avatar
DMF
Elitist Troglodyte
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,926
Likes: 3
From: Dallas

Bikes: 03 Raleigh Professional (steel)

Originally Posted by Nova5
Hence why i said related to bikes.

Open Water 1 certified. don't have enough nearby to go for OW2.

I'm a NAUI, not one of those PADI folks... pretty awful diving instruction.
I kinda figured when you made that distinction so clearly.

My last re-cert was through NAUI; I share your opinion of PADI. I've been certified in one form or another since the late 60s when they taught out of the US Navy Diving Manual because that's about all there was. Learned the internals of one and two-stage regulators as part of the basic cert. We called BCDs "BC"s for Bouyancy Compensator, and take if from a guy that dove for years without one, they're a mixed blessing. Nice not to have to be so precise with the weights and not have to swim to maintain depth, but they also add a good bit of complexity and aren't cheap. The comfort of the integrated backpack is probably enough to swing the balance toward using one - I do. (That and not freaking out your instructor.)

Where abouts are you?
__________________
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?

- Will Rogers
DMF is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.