i have been told that my bottom bracket is very low.
is this why my bike is slow when i am downhilling?

Yes.

why is that…i am not really sure what it all means really.

Do you hit your feet on the floor?

If not then it’s fine. If just say once or twice a ride, it’s still fine.

A low BB means a low centre of gravity, which gives stable handling. A higher BB keeps your feet off the floor, but you can feel rather perched on top of the bike rather than in it.

Looking at your nickname, do you ride a Specialized? They generally have low-ish BBs. I’ve just switched back to one from a Yeti and been reminded that they are a bit low, but the trade of for me is good handling, especially downhill.

To be blunt – Do you like your bike? If so then then tell those people who tell you it’s low to get knotted!!

😀

The lower your BB the lower your centre of gravity and the more stable your bike will feel, which will make you feel more secure going downhill so in theory you should be able to go faster.

There is a distinct trend to having as low a BB as possible on downhill bikes. Some 8″ travel bikes like the Iron Horse are running sub 14″ bottom brackets. Compare that to most 6″ trail/AM bikes which will be running 13.5″ BB and you get the idea about how low sub 14″ is on a DH bike.

My Spesh has been modified to run just under 13″ BB at 5.5″ of travel. This made more improvement to DH performance than adding another inch of travel would have.

hiyah specylised
i have also first hand experience of a slow downhiller who rides with me. strangely he also blames his low BB. i always thought he was joking or just crap. maybe not?
mind u he is also from further afield.
he also trys very hard, but could it b the dreaded low BB
jw

Sunday BB is too low, the amount of things i’ve hit the pedals/ bashguard off…

can just about ping you off the bike if you’ve ended up landing cranks vertical instead of level, which can be less than amusing!

My Sunday’s BB is 13.6″ and I’ve never found it too low

i do have a secialized bike.
i must admit that most of what is written above is double dutch to me.
what exactly is a bottom bracket?
i do try hard to be fast going down but i think the brakes slow me down too much.

😆

some of you say that it will slow me down, some dont…can i just get rid of it and see if that makes me faster?

The BB(Bottom Bracket) is the bearing/tube it sits in between your cranks – The lowest part of the frame.

If it’s lower, then it follows your feet are lower and your body is lower, so you’re more stable, yes? But at the expense of maybe hitting your feet on the floor when you pedal, especially if it’s a full suspension bike.

It can only be changed by changing your frame

Bit clearer now?
😀

A low BB is NOT BAD. A low BB WILL NOT make you slower downhill, unless you are some sort of downhilling-god and it limits your amazing skills! Only practice will make you better!

I’m enjoying this, really. I like helping people understand stuff.
😀

Ask away….!

A low BB WILL NOT make you slower downhill

In fact, (and I’m a reasonably experienced rider, not mega fast, but not slow by any means) having just gone back to a Specialized with it’s low BB, I’d say I prefer it.

But it’s not just the BB height that determines the handling of a bike, there are hundreds of other factors.
You might find your mates have read ‘low BB’ in a magazine or similar and are just jelous/trying to confuse you/got the wrong end of the stick!

Quite likely, that….

🙂

2/10. Too obvious and gave yourself up too easily. Back to Troll School for you.

hey casper..i have ridden with a guy like this.
has he got a stumpy?

lol @ speccyeyes..troller to the max 🙂

what exactly is a troller?
can i use this instead of my bottom bracket to go down faster?

This gets better.

A troller is one of these.

You can replace your bb with one buy alas it will slow you down because their arms arnt really strong enough to hold the crank arms on.

I see speckleised you have only been a member for an hour, are you really that green or an experienced user?

does the pic above remind you of anyone casper?

casper at least my wife knows I bought a new bike lol

It’s because you are closer to the ground so gravity is stronger, creating more rolling resistance.

“It can only be changed by changing your frame”
Or your fork, or the size of your tyres, (or wheel size) …

Is it Evan Davis, the reporter blokey?

Is a troll like an Irish leprechaun?

why does evan davis look like sid james? yak yak yak!

I think speckliesed is taking the p*ss!!!

hi five7five.
sorry not to get back to u sooner have been trying to measure the height of my BB, but the bike wont stay still.
i to ride with an irish guy who has a BB problem. he really tries hard though.
can anyone really tell me if a specialised does have a lower BB?

Hi Casper

I have just found out you have been riding for 10 years. I would have thought you should have been able to keep up with fatgit by now.

As u can c i have managed to get a pic of the lowest BB.
U will notice that the foot is nearly touching the floor.
Actually to compund the problem he fell of just after this shot.
Can anyone offer a helping hand?

Dont know what your problem is the other foot is well clear.