I'm shopping for my first fixie. The Steamroller entices, but I notice it has 70 mm of bottom bracket drop, which is a lot. I'm probably going to get a larger size, and put 175 mm cranks on it, which makes me wonder about pedals slamming the ground. Has anyone had a problem with pedal to ground clearance on a larger Steamroller? Intended use is commuting and bopping around town. I've heard that pedal slam can be pretty disastrous on a fixie. OTOH, low bottom bracket equates stability and efficiency, so I'm still enticed.

While this is a much discussed subject of debate, my $.02 is that a higher bottom bracket only matters on the track. Two of my previous fixies have been converted road frames with low bottom brackets, and my current bike is a Steamroller. In the three years I've been riding fixed, I've never had an issue with pedal strike.

Additionally, I've never struck a pedal on my Surly Pacer with 180mm cranks and the same BB drop. While I realize that coasting makes a difference, I've also aggressively raced the bike in criteriums where I've pedaled hard through corners.

For commuting and bopping around town, you won't get anywhere near the amount of lean required to strike a pedal on the ground.

im on a conversion with 170mm cranks and i push it pretty hard sometimes and i have yet to have the dreaded pedal strike

I've never experienced pedal strike running 170mm cranks and eggbeaters on my Steamroller...

i remember being very concerned about BB height/drop and pedal strike when i was first getting into fixed riding, and i can tell you that it's not such a big deal, really.

if you have 165mm cranks and reasonably narrow pedals and Q factor, you'll never think about BB height/drop again.

I would dare say pedal strike is a bigger deal on the road than the track, where on a track do you make 90 degree turns etc...

I ride a steamroller and I feel like the bottom bracket is slightly lower than on my track bike. As stated before it shouldn't really pose a problem though.

Same on my 53cm Roller since I got it a year ago. I did ride a lemond Road bike, and had a pedal strike issue 10 mins in. So I don't think the Surly will be a problem.

On a vaguely related note, does anyone have a link to the old steamroller geometries? Back when they were "Boston Baked Bean" they had a 1" threaded fork and steeper geometry, but I haven't been able to find it online lately.

I have a 05 steamroller. size 58 or 59. Constantly striking the ground with my pedals. I have 175 and going to def. switch to 165. It might be because I do most my riding in the city and have to take sharp corners. Give it a try maybe striking the pavement will make you feel good.

I have a 59cm Steamroller with 170mm cranks. I've never experienced pedal strike.