| Article Index |
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| 3. Spindle Lengths |
| Changing Types of BB |
| All Pages |
BB - common acronym for Bottom Bracket.
The spindle length is the distance from the one end of the spindle to the other. (Do not include the bolts in the measurement.) You can measure the spindle length with Vernier Calipers as shown above. The spindle length will determine how far the BB spindle extends from the frame, and this extension is also important for determining the bike’s chain ring distance.
WORKSHOP TIP: Getting a good chain line is really important for both ease of shifting and wear life of the chain. Put simply, you make a straight line between the chainring you usually use with the sprockets you usually use, and don’t shift to extremes.
You should be able to find the recommended spindle length from the manufacturer. If building a new frame up however, you may need to research the component dimensions you’re going to use to check compatibility. (Although in truth, many components are standardized to fit and it is only when building something out of the ordinary that you might have to make these considerations.) Of course, experience is everything. The more you explore in the workshop how components mix and match the more you will understand the compatibility or lack thereof.
