Now here's my suspicion on this topic...
First, back then I doubt anyone used a crank length greater than 165mm on a track bike. (Although now that I've made this assertion, I'm sure numerous examples to the contrary will appear...)
Anyway, I think some of these bikes were built with a particular type of velodrome in mind. If you primarily raced on a quarter-mile/400m track (something like Kissena in New York or Hern Hill in London) you could use a lower BB height. I also wonder if some bikes were specifically built for absolutely flat ovals?
So bikes built for short, steep and indoor tracks would have
higher BBs. Perhaps some bikes were even built for specific
events. I.e. in a points race, miss-and-out or Madison you
should always be going fast enough that BB height is less of an
issue. I must admit, though, that my experience with these has
been strictly at Kissena and Trexlertown - 400m and 333m
respectively - so my viewpoint might be skewed on this subject.
All the best,
Fred Rednor - in Arlington, Virginia (USA) and
too far from my favorite velodromes
> Joe Bender-Zanoni wrote:
>
> >My suspicion is that Paramount track bikes either came in
> two distinct BB
> >heights or were often custom made. My 1964 bike had a stupid
> low 10 1/2" BB
> >and it was a stout sprinting bike, not some special pursuit
> model where a
> >low BB might be appropriate.
> >
> >Has anyone studied on this issue?
> >
> >Joe Bender-Zanoni
> >Great Notch, NJ
> >
> >
> >-
> >
> My run of the mill 1981 Bianchi Pista (165mm crank) has a BB
> height of
> only 10 3/4" on 21mm tires, less than some of my road bikes.
> It has wear and tear that corresponds to previous track use.
> You have got to wonder what has changed to make a bike like
> this is no
> longer suitable for its intended purpose.
> Perhaps in the OT days people used to get up to speed
> quicker.
>
> It's going to be interesting to see if I can make it around
> the new
> track http://www.forestcityvelodrome.ca/
>
> Marcus Coles
> London, ON, Canada.
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