starjag

I'm looking for a cyclocross bike with low (road/touring) bottom bracket drop. The idea is to have a solid, flexible pavement/gravel bike with a low center of gravity.

Most of the cyclocross bikes that I've seen (sizes 49-52cm) have a BB drop of 65-67. I'm looking for a BB drop of 70+ to match what I've seen in road and touring bikes.

So far, the only non-custom offering that I've seen with a BB drop of 70 is the All-City Macho Man in size 49. But would like to see other alternatives.

I'm not looking for custom frames at the moment. Any links or ideas are appreciated. Cheers!

starjag

Habanero Cross frame with BB drop of 78. Any experience with these frames?

fietsbob

So you actually want a touring bike/ commute , instead of a CX bike .

have you ridden a bike with a higher BB ? the extra Cm is not that important ..

My Pocket Llama has a higher BB , when I stop I slide off the saddle and put my foot down,

it's No Big Deal..

Have a 90 Pinarello CX I built Up .. Its fine .. as well ..




back to the home shopping show..

ThermionicScott 

+1. True cyclocross bikes have a high bottom bracket for a reason -- buy something else if you're actually looking for a touring bike.

BluesDawg

Watch the developing subcategory of gravel grinder bikes which combine many features of cyclocross bikes with lower bottom brackets and room for wider tires but without the heft and rigidity of touring bikes which are overbuilt to carry heavier loads. Salsa Warbird and Raleigh Tamland are a couple of examples. There will be more.

starjag

This is exactly what I'm talking about, particularly the Tamland! Anything else out there similar to the Tamland that might be available now?

Barrettscv 

All City has the Space Horse with a 75mm BB drop. It has rack-mounts for touring and can fit a 70x40 easily.
https://allcitycycles.com/bikes/space_horse

starjag

Would love to see a list with more alternatives, maybe BB drops of 68mm and over. All-city, Habanero, Raleigh, Salsa, what else?

Barrettscv 

List the models that you think fits this criteria and ask others to add theirs.

starjag

As BluesDawg said, this is "the developing subcategory of gravel grinder bikes which combine manyfeatures of cyclocross bikes with lower bottom brackets and room for widertires but without the heft and rigidity of touring bikes which are overbuilt tocarry heavier loads."

All-City Macho Man and Macho Man Disc - 70mm drop
All City Space Horse - 75mm drop
Bianchi Volpe - 68mm drop
Gunnar Hyper-X CX - 70mm drop
Gunnar CrossHairs - 70mm drop
Gunnar Fast Lane - 75mm drop
Habanero Cross - 78mm drop
Raleigh Tamland - forthcoming geo
Salsa Warbird 2 - 70mm drop
Soma Triple Cross - 70mm drop
Specialized CruX - 69-70mm drop
Specialized Tricross - 69-70mm drop
Waterford Cyclocross - 70mm drop

Barrettscv 

Soma Triple Cross
All City Space Horse
Specialized Cruz and Tricross has a 71mm drop in the 52cm and smaller sizes. 69mm on the 54 and 56cm sizes.
Gunnar Hyper-X and Crosshairs have a 70mm BB drop, the Fastlane has a 75mm drop
Waterford Cyclocross
Bianchi Volpe has a 68mm drop on the 51cm and larger sizes

Loose Chain

I believe that a Cross Check is 66.4mm (2.6 inches) so it has a traditional high BB. But, I like it that way on thsi particular bike. LC

starjag

Post #10 has the updated list.

Barrettscv 

Your welcome

WFRTony

I am currently riding a 700c Surly LHT for my dedicated gravel bike, but I would like something lighter and sportier. The Rawland Stag and Soma Grand Randonneur look interesting, but I would prefer 700c wheels. So far I am leaning towards the Black Mountain MUSA Cross. https://www.blackmtncycles.com/p/blog-page.html

My preference for steel forks, cantilever/v-brakes, and the ability to fit big tires has limited my choices. I am intrigued by the Space Horse, but I imagine it would ride a lot like my Surly.

shoota 

Check out Foundry bicycles

Pendergast

The Fyxation Quiver is another you might want to take a look at if long reach caliper brakes are okay. 70mm BB drop on that one. It can take tires up to 47c.


https://www.fyxation.com/products/quiver-road-frameset

h2oxtc

How much of a difference will 6mm make in the BB drop? My bikes vary between 68 and 73, and ironically the "touring" bike has the smallest drop. I honestly can't tell the difference given all the other differences between the bikes.

starjag

Interesting. This is something I can feel while riding. Certainly between 60 and 70, but maybe I won't be able to feel the difference between 68 and 70.

ambro

Personally, I like the lower BB too. My Cross bike has a 70mm, similar to a road geometry - what that does is allow me to take sharp corners when riding on the road. Do I occasionally nick a tree root in a race - yeah - but so what. The sturdy feel when descending and cornering more than make up for it. I would not go lower than a 68mm because I like the 'road like' handling. Van Dessel Sports makes the Gin and Trombones - a very good CX bike with a 70 mm BB drob. www.vandesselsports.com

GrayJay

A high BB is beneficial for avoiding pedal strikes on steep sidehill climbs & traverses. For racing on courses without sidehills, there is probably much less reason to have a high BB.

corwin1968

Handsome Cycles' Devil might fit the bill.

73/73 head/seat tube angles
45 mm fork rake
70mm BB drop
Canti studs
clearance for 45mm tires
chainstay length in the 43-45 cm range (forward facing dropouts)

Listed frame weight is 5.06 lbs (slightly heavier than a Cross Check) but my kitchen scale weighed my 55cm in the 4.7-4.8 lb range.

Here's mine with 40mm Schwalbe tires. It weighs 26.7 lbs as pictured, with heavy 40-spoke touring hubs & rims so it's not the lightest bike out there but I think the right components could get it to the low 20's.

sks939

Stevens Super Prestige is a carbon frame with 70mm drop for the size 58 and 60 cm frames.