[Yak] Bottom Brackets

[John S. Allen]

At 01:43 AM 1/18/2008, Paul Patterson wrote:

>I am in need of a new bottom bracket for my 700c wheeled bike. 
>Traditionally I have used the sealed shimano units and I get about 
>two years of life out of them.

Two years is rather short life for a sealed BB. How many miles, under 
what conditions? Aggressive cleaning of a bicycle, or riding with the 
BB underwater can force dirt into the bearings. Is that possibly a 
factor with you?

>But when they wear out, I have to replace the whole thing. I was 
>thinking of picking up a BB that would be serviceable or use 
>cartridge bearings that are user serviceable. My first thought was 
>phil wood, then I saw the price... 100 dollars!!! are they kidding? 
>That does not include the end cups and I would have to buy another tool.

You need only one of the smaller (no-handle) Phil tools which you use 
with a large adjustable wrench You need two tools only with some 
older French and Italian bikes with right threading on the right side 
of the BB shell. (BTW Phil Wood accommodates all the BB dimensional 
standards -- I got a Phil BB to fit my Raleigh Twenty, which has a 77 
mm wide shell and the old Raleigh 26 TPI threading.)

>I'm sure this is a nice BB, but is it really worth 100 USD? I need 68 X 115.

Yes it is. In my experience, and as claimed, Phil BBs last for 20,000 
miles or more. I ride my Twenty through winters, and I'm only into my 
third rebuild in 27 years. Phil BBs are factory-rebuildable too. In 
the long run, a Phil BB is a good deal, especially considering the 
avoided time/labor expense of repeated rebuilds.

>Is there another brand of BB's that use cartridge bearings that I 
>have overlooked?

Probably.

John S. Allen

Regional Director for New York and New England, League of American Bicyclists
League Cycling Instructor #77-C and Member of the League's Education Committee

http://bikexprt.com