'Bottom bracket' Why?

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asterix

Comrade Member
Location
Limoges or York
Why is it called a bottom bracket?

Ok so it's near the lowest part of the bike, but it doesn't seem to be a bracket at all. i.e.

brack·et (brkt)
n.
1.
a. A simple rigid structure in the shape of an L, one arm of which is fixed to a vertical surface, the other projecting horizontally to support a shelf or other weight.
b. A small shelf or shelves supported by such structures.
2. Architecture A decorative or weight-bearing structural unit, two sides of which form a right angle with one arm flush against a wall and the other flush beneath a projecting surface, such as eaves or a bay window.
3. A wall-anchored fixture for gas or electricity.
4.
a. A square bracket.
b. An angle bracket.
c. Mathematics See brace.
5. Chiefly British One of a pair of parentheses.
6. A classification or grouping, especially within a sequence of numbers or grades, as a category of incomes sharing the same tax rate.
7.
a. The distance between two impacting shells, the first aimed beyond a target and the second aimed short of it, used to determine the range for artillery fire.
b. The shells fired in such a manner.
tr.v. brack·et·ed, brack·et·ing, brack·ets
1. To furnish or support with a bracket or brackets.
2. To place within or as if within brackets.
3. To classify or group together.
4. To include or exclude by establishing specific boundaries.
5. To fire beyond and short of (a target) in order to determine artillery range.

Furthermore, why call it a bottom bracket when there is no top or higher bracket to distinguish it from?
 

oxbob

New Member
Location
oxford
a. A simple rigid structure in the shape of an L, one arm of which is fixed to a vertical surface, the other projecting horizontally to support a shelf or other weight. Imagine your crank arm connected to the spindle, this forms the L shape, also an older term for the bottom bracket is bottom hanger
 

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
It's still called a bottom bracket on this:

P7010321.JPG



LMAO!!!!
 

Elmer Fudd

Miserable Old Bar Steward
BentMikey said:

I'm curious, how do you steer one of those, is it a 'twisty action' like a normal (?) bike, or a side to side movement like a boats rudder ? The only one I recall seeing in the flesh had low bars.

P.S. not sure, but looks like your pointing in the picture below the damp proof course needs a touching up :blush:
 
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