Effect of bottom-bracket height

[fastpedaller]

High bottom brackets - at least 11" are essential for fixed wheel bikes to avoid pedal strike.

That's one I'd not heard of - I'll have to do some measurements of my track iron now, just out of curiosity........Many years ago I was riding a TT on fixed WITH 150mm CRANKS , and struck a pedal! So I wonder what the angle of lean was?
It was with Campag road pedals though, so a bit less clearance than the SPD's I use now

[horizon]

I used to set my saddle height with reference to the ground (i.e. be able to touch the ground with both toes). Then I used the flat heel/foot at 90 deg to allow the knee to bend slightly in normal postion. So that's better and the saddle was then in proper relation to the pedal. I then ignored any issues with foot on ground at rest.

But then if the BB height goes up, the saddle must go up too. Even if this doesn't present a foot-on-the-ground issue, however, the saddle has now moved up and away from the bars. On my MTBs I think I have found a conflict between getting the saddle to pedal distance right (my legs felt cramped with the high BB) and stretch to the bars. I don't think I imagined it. It's OK if reach isn't an issue for you but I struggle with it (as I have mentioned many times).

I'm going to check it out again. If the BB height really does make a difference, it will be something to take into account more than I have in the past in deciding whether a bike frame is right for me or not (there's not much left not to have to take into account... ).

[keepontriking]

Aren't all traditional BBs 11" high?

Mine is, but most bikes these days seem to have them somewhat higher.

I recall we nearly all rode 10 3/4" in 'my day' for road/TT bikes then we used a minimum of 11" bb height for track, but also reduced the crank length down to 6 1/2".
But times change.

They have also gone metric, which of course messes everything up