BB drop and seat tube
#1
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 72
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From: Waco, Texas
Bikes: Cervelo SLC-SL with Super Record
BB drop and seat tube
If you have 2 bikes with the same length seat tube but one has a 7mm deeper drop on the bottom bracket does it affect the amount of seat post showing?
Sorry if it is a common sense question. Thought I would ask people here with a lot more knowledge than I have.
Thank you for your time
Sorry if it is a common sense question. Thought I would ask people here with a lot more knowledge than I have.
Thank you for your time
#2
Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 17,197
Likes: 761
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
No, the BB drop won't affect that by itself. BB drop brings the BB closer to the ground, with more drop.
Your saddle position is set based on a measurement from the pedal or BB, or just based on leg extension while pedaling. The height of the top tube relative to the BB does not matter much, except for standover clearance. Anything low enough to give you good standover clearance is not too high and hence acceptable. Exposed seat tube length is also varied based on frame size and top tube angle. These are not affected by BB drop, in any necessary way.
You could spec out a frame with level top-tube, minimum standover clearance (highest seat tube position) and vary the BB height. The seat tube would get longer for a lower BB, and the exposed seatpost would then get shorter. This would start to look like a French Fit or a 1930s French randonneuse. In this case as you lower the BB you might need to shorten the head tube to keep the handlebar from becoming too high.
Your saddle position is set based on a measurement from the pedal or BB, or just based on leg extension while pedaling. The height of the top tube relative to the BB does not matter much, except for standover clearance. Anything low enough to give you good standover clearance is not too high and hence acceptable. Exposed seat tube length is also varied based on frame size and top tube angle. These are not affected by BB drop, in any necessary way.
You could spec out a frame with level top-tube, minimum standover clearance (highest seat tube position) and vary the BB height. The seat tube would get longer for a lower BB, and the exposed seatpost would then get shorter. This would start to look like a French Fit or a 1930s French randonneuse. In this case as you lower the BB you might need to shorten the head tube to keep the handlebar from becoming too high.
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