Susie Longbolts Bottom Bracket + Spindle Length Question

[Kirke Campbell]

Hello y'all,

For the Susie owners out there - what bottom bracket did you end up using on your builds? There are not a lot of good options for 73mm shells. The Shimano UN300 I installed on another bike recently felt quite stiff and gritty so I was hoping for something nicer but not in the Phil/White Industries range.

Seems like my options are the Tange 3922 (does anyone know if this has steel or aluminum cups?) or the Origin8 Torqlite. Any thoughts on the two?

https://www.thebikesmiths.com/products/tange-ln-3922?variant=6891612471330

https://www.pedalpusherscyclery.com/product/origin8-torqlite-square-taper-bottom-bracket-200889-1.htm?srsltid=AfmBOopzmq8wTYp2vTZwcKOKoisfzfTqfaghBtmP19GprJKDOQFjq7eA

And an additional question on spindle length:

I'm going to run a Suntour XC Pro 110/74 bcd triple crank which, based on my research, requires a 122.5mm spindle. I'm going to use it as a double (38/24) with a bash guard on the outer ring. Will a 122.5mm spindle stiff suffice? Or do I need a longer spindle since I'm effectively moving the middle line of my chainrings inward?

Thanks!

-k. 

[Richard Rose]

Kirk’s, I recently replaced the Shimano bb on my Clem with a Stronglight unit from Peter White. Nice quality & service. I will likely get one for my Gus when needed.

Sent from my iPhone

On May 11, 2025, at 7:25 AM, Kirke Campbell <kirkebc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello y'all,

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[Paul M]

Hi,

I'm using the Tange 3922 bottom bracket on my Susie with a 113mm length and the Rivendell Silver crankset with 38/24 chainrings and has the bash guard. The rear has a 9-speed cassette. This set-up works perfect with the only concern that a tire larger than 55mm would most likely rub on the front derailleur arm.

The Tange 3922 has steel cups and the whole bottom bracket is steel. Very high-quality BB and for the price.

I would imagine that the Suntour crankset would be fine with the 122.5mm bottom bracket since the middle chainring is designed to work on the full range of the cassette.

[David Ross]

Te Susie has a 135mm rear spacing so it doesn’t really clear the full tire sizes very well if you abide by strict chain line measurements. The good thing is, the chainstays are so long that the Susie isn’t very sensitive to chainline. I’m running 1x on my Gus because I need a clutch rear derailleur for the type of riding I do, but I’m running a 55mm chainline to clear my tires. Works perfectly well. 

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[Patrick Moore]

If the XC Pro worked as a triple with the 122.5 mm spindle, it ought to work just fine with the big ring replaced with a bash guard, since the middle and inner rings don’t move.

I converted my 2010 Sam from 46-36-24 to BB Bashguard-38-24 by simply replacing the rings. I messed neither with bb spindle nor with front derailleur (lovely LX) except for adjusting the outer throw screw. After all, if the setup shifted the 36-to-24 fine before, it should shift the 38-to-24 just as well — as in fact it did.

On Sun, May 11, 2025 at 8:22 AM Richard Rose <rmro...@gmail.com> wrote:

Kirk’s, I recently replaced the Shimano bb on my Clem with a Stronglight unit from Peter White. Nice quality & service. I will likely get one for my Gus when needed.

The Stronglight units from PJW are value champions, at least if Richard is referring to the inexpensive one that I bought. I did replace the plastic cups with leftover Shimano cups. 

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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[iamkeith]

FWIW, there are at least two - but I think three - versions of the XC Pro cranks.  The microdrive ones require a longer spindle to clear the chainstays by an equivalent amount to the normal 110 bcd ones.  (Lower "Q Factor," by the term Grant quoined.)   I have the former on my Susie, and the later on my Clem, but have owned both since the 90s and had them on various bikes.  For the Susie / microdrive combination, I had to use a pretty long spindle - longer than 122 - which meant a Phil bottom bracket. I might have to dig to remember the exact measurement but, if that's what you're doing, I definitely will.  I can also measure and take pics of the Clem setup, but those chainstays are WAY narrower.  

[Kirke Campbell]

Thanks for the info and insight here everyone. 

To those who've mentioned the Stronglight bottom bracket - is it available in a 73mm shell width? I'm not seeing anything online. 

Anyone ever try one of these Omni Racer bbs? The company is actually based near me, right outside of Houston. Tx. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373869825971?_skw=omni+racer+73x122+bottom+bracket&itmmeta=01JV204YQT9S78EDT1NRT63AHH&hash=item570c60cfb3:g:AswAAOSwXpth3yRq&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cZf5piZI07CQCA9wZbJ3%2F0K9HSM52Y3oe9dP49XAVVOdy%2B55j%2BkQSopRp1D5uEQpl8lWS4EGsRPAhg2%2FDOXPp6uqkEZfSpqo1acGNhFSkOFZkSSBMmBbDTt%2FT%2B5G0b1regKWeZ%2FXWW2fu6RJyHBvvuc6qVNjs4pmG558Y5w5c6kkKiqVm0dYgRnl39c%2B5d5Ayq4%2BQCPZjFW%2BGqLHe%2FY%2BEJyD4FddBlSv0uZ%2F%2Bejp%2BDdGI4fwf8TkyTMGBrHGYhDL%2BK5qlHQRTAeAlf1Cnx7yGR%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4rsk8DYZQ

@iamkeith - I have the earlier NON-microdrive XC Pro crankset, 110/74 bcd. Glad to hear there are other folks who've used these cranks on their Rivs. By my estimation, they are up there with 10sp Campy as some of the most beautiful cranks ever made.

[Paul M]

It's the chain that will rub against the tire in the lowest gear if the bb spindle isn't long enough not the front derailleur arm that I mentioned (that's happens on another bike).