Little education on Bottom Bracket tech when buying GS or Crankset - please check and verify before buying

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 26, 2018

om brackets

                                     Cut  out view of BB 30 shell and crank

I got enamored with a GS and I was able to buy one cheap only to find out that its crankset is BB 30. BB 30 is short and adopted to mostly to Cannondale. It was invented by Cannondale. It consist of bearing only pressed fit into the bottom bracket shell vs a circlip engaged in the slot in the shell.  BB 30 cranks are fit only to BB 30 bikes! Its cranks are short....74 mm.. So with  BB386.  Some cranks are not interchangeable with one another. Some cranks are 30 mm in diameter, some are 24 and 22 mm (like the one I bought)  Things get more complicated if you go to MTB where BB shells can be or 86.5 or 91mm.   But Shimano cranks seem to be adopted to many shells.

Kaya pala walang bumili noong GS na iyon na BB30. Now its my problem if  the crank will fit my bike (hindi Cannondale)

BB 30, BB 386 BB 865 make for stronger crank  BB set up and is much lighter.  vs the traditional two piece BB or threaded BB shell (the thread makes the  BB shell heavier)  However, the  pressfit thing requires special tool for installation and removal... Only few bike shops and few mechanics know the PF.

Before jumping in to buy a crank set, ask questions and verify.  Like me I cant return the crankset.  I have to buy a new one (a 24 mm crank diameter) 104 mm long (the BB30 crank  spindle  is only 74 mm.. long (being BB30 crank)

A lot of mechanics and sellers are not very familiar yet with this. Those who are selling cranks cant answer too.

The buyers too must not sell their crank or GS if they will not fit the bike of the  buyer.

Salamat po

BB chart compatibility

My OEM bike project taking shape

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Phililppines
February 22, 2018

                                              Installed na direct mount ultegra brakes

Four twos in a date. Seems a lucky date.

My OEM bike frame which arrived last Saturday, after 3 weeks or nervous waiting (the communication with the supplier based in the Visayas was erratic and it started after I made my full payment) is slowly beginning to take shape.

I still lack the following:

     1. A crank that has spindle of 100 mm or more is needed.  I have to get a Shimano.  The Red which is
         very light, will not fit because the spindle length being designed for BB 30 is only 74 mm;  Kaya
         pala walang pumapatol  maski very light.  The crank is BB 30 specific (the BB shell width) It wont do
         for threaded or 865 or 90 mm shell

    2.   A drop bar

    3.  Stem  50 mm

    4.  86.5 bb which is available at Bikezilla

I will sell a bike just to get a 6800 group set.   It will be heavier by 100 gms because I have to use a 600+ grams Ultegra  crankset.  Ibang Red gagamitin ko:  STI, rd, fd.    and still get a respectable weight.  Maybe 6.6 kg.

                                                 Mukhang peke ba o orig?  What do you think?

New bike technologies that we should be familiar with

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 24, 2018

There are at least 3 new bike technologies that we should be aware of and be updated with:

1. Press fit bottom brackets (we have been used only to Shimano threaded BB.)  Now there are BB30 and press fit.  I encountered a Red SRAM that uses press fit system

2. Thru axle. We have been used to thin spindles with QR. But now we see fork and rear stay with holes instead of U slot and with axles that fit perfectly through the hole and the hub body.

Thru Axle from Bike Bug

Thru Axle video

3.  Direct mount brakes that are single pivot instead of dual, and bolted with two bolts instead of one.
     directly bolted onto the fork or the rear stays.  Some are installed  at the underneath the chain stay (near
     the BB)  They say the direct mount brakes work better. There is no fade and there is no need for center -
     ing because both of the calipers are fixed;.  The brakes are lighter too they say.

    The Bianchi bikes are exposing us to the new tech.

BT Win direct mount brakes

I repaired the squeaking bottom bracket of my GTS bike

Wheels of Happiness

The squeakng sound of the BB of the GTS bike bothered me to no end.  It is good that I have the tools to remove the BB.  And when I was nd able to remove this, I found out:   the BB was encrusted with dirt; the shaft had gotten out of the bearing.ace.  It was loose.

I therefore cleaned the BB side, the axle, put in some fresh grease and tapped the shaft into the bearing.  I tested it today.  And now the squeaking sound is gone. However, there is a play and pretty soon, I will have to replace the BB