BB Height and Crank Length

[fattirerider]

Is there a general rule about the length of cranks reccomended for the bb height?

I'm specing a new bike and wondering if 170mm will be short enough with a 13.6 inch bb height. Shock sag and the fork axle to crown height will also effect this. But since this is unknown I'll take a guess.

Yesterday this became a bigger issue on my Preston that has a 13.3 bb height and 175mm cranks. I caught my pedal on a root in a run in to a drop/jump and nose wheelied off. Bike fell in the gap and I went over the bars and my upper body made tranny!:woot:

[DUDEONABIKE]

what bike are you putting the cranks on?

[mattj]

If it's a Blindside go 170s. I put 175s on mine and I regret it. First 175s I've had in years and they are hanging up here and there. My shock is a little undersprung too so I'm spending a lot of time really close to the ground. Maybe it won't be a problem when I get the right spring on there....


-m

[fattirerider]

Not a Blindside, Transitions site says the BS has a 14.2" bb. I'm looking looking at a Intense SlopeStyle it has a 13.6".

I read quite a bit about it on Mtbr and those guys are going with170mm. They may not have the roots we have in the Pnw though.

[DUDEONABIKE]

170's should be fine on that bike

[Jon-boy]

I just built mine with 165's to be 100% sure. It was recomended to me by the guys at Fanatik in Bellingham. I have a totem on mine so the BB sits at 13.75" static. Once it sags into the travel it's pretty low.

What colour frame are you going for and what type of build?

[Jon-boy]

Oh by they way the bike rips. You won't regret it. I was impressed with the way the bike lays down the power and sits up when you are cranking into a jump or over a tech section. The frame feels nice and stiff in the turns and the rear end is light and you can really place it where you want.

[seand]

if you need torque, get the 170s. I have 170s on my little bike (11.75" bb) and I do tag my pedals from time to time but it really isn't that bad. Since I pedal that thing around, I needed the longer cranks. If I were only pushing uphill and riding down, I would have gone with 165s.

[fattirerider]

I just built mine with 165's to be 100% sure. It was recomended to me by the guys at Fanatik in Bellingham. I have a totem on mine so the BB sits at 13.75" static. Once it sags into the travel it's pretty low.

What colour frame are you going for and what type of build?

I'm getting the Works red! Its a like a clear coat in red so you can still see the welds like a raw frame.

Build wise Fox 36 Van, and a King 1.5 to help keep the front up abit. Other goodies as money is available.

Have a pic of yours?

[fattirerider]

if you need torque, get the 170s. I have 170s on my little bike (11.75" bb) and I do tag my pedals from time to time but it really isn't that bad. Since I pedal that thing around, I needed the longer cranks. If I were only pushing uphill and riding down, I would have gone with 165s.

I'm thinking I will be pedaling the bike a fair amount. If your getting by with 170s with a 11.75" I should be all right.

Good info as always seand!

[Jon-boy]

No pic, waiting for the new rear wheel before the glamour shots. The works red looks REALLY nice. I've seen it on an M6 that they had in the store. If it wasn't more $'s for that finish I might have gone for it. The stealth black looks good too.

The King 1.5" headset is pretty slick. It comes with a really nice headlock so no need to fit the star-fangled nut in the steerer.

[fattirerider]

Did you get white? I saw one on Fanatik's site with a Totem.

[Jon-boy]

That's the demo bike that they built up. It's a medium and I went for a large. The build is really similar though.

[fattirerider]

Large huh.. How tall are you?

[NSTP]

sag and travel are definitely something to consider, along with BB height. Like with a V10 that's BB is 14.8 which is pretty high, but obviously with 25-30% sag on 10" of travel you are sitting pretty low. 170's should be fine on the SS if you want to o more pedaling.

[Jon-boy]

Large huh.. How tall are you?

6'2". Long in the body too. It's still an inch shorter than my current (old) frame.