Dear Mr. Moos I find the bottom bracket heigth on my '71 Raleigh Professional is higher than the norm. they came with 172.5 cranksets as a standard rather than the typical 170s. The ride is to me a bit "twitchy." I attribute the high bottom bracket height and the twitchyness to being a criterium style. The stays are also shorter than I usually ride. I attribute the short stays for needed responsiveness in a short course in a pack. The longer crankarms would give an easier leverage in coming out of a corner, although it is slightly at odds with a leaned over criterium turn. I might suggest a criterium bike or a cyclo-cross bike with a high bottom bracket for a 650B or 26" conversion. Of course with the smaller wheel you then have the consideration of brake reach. A set of wheels with disc brakes or drum brakes could then solve the brake reach concern. Another possibility is using a drop bolt in front and a long drop bolt in the rear.I have used the drop
bolt and the drum brakes for such a solution in brake reach.Happy trails,john strizeksacramento causa