2005 Bontrager crank w/ integrated bb to much drag?

My LBS was building an fairly high end 2005 Lemond today. The bike was
a mix of 105 & 04 ultegra. The crank w/ itegrated bb was a new
bontrager. It was similar to the 04 d/a xtr & xt. The crankset looked
very nice and the bb seemed smooth. The crank seemed to have a HUGE
amount of DRAG. Is this a problem with these new external bearing
designs? Maybe the LBS hasn't got around to adjusting it but as it sat
something seemed amiss.

On 15 Aug 2004 13:04:03 -0700, (Evan Evans)
wrote:

My LBS was building an fairly high end 2005 Lemond today. The bike was
a mix of 105 & 04 ultegra. The crank w/ itegrated bb was a new
bontrager. It was similar to the 04 d/a xtr & xt. The crankset looked
very nice and the bb seemed smooth. The crank seemed to have a HUGE
amount of DRAG. Is this a problem with these new external bearing
designs? Maybe the LBS hasn't got around to adjusting it but as it sat
something seemed amiss.

I've noticed a lot of modern bearings seem to have a lot of drag.
Hubs, bottom brackets, headsets. Not like in the old days of loose
ball bearings.

dianne_1234 wrote in message ...
On 15 Aug 2004 13:04:03 -0700, (Evan Evans)
wrote:

My LBS was building an fairly high end 2005 Lemond today. The bike was
a mix of 105 & 04 ultegra. The crank w/ itegrated bb was a new
bontrager. It was similar to the 04 d/a xtr & xt. The crankset looked
very nice and the bb seemed smooth. The crank seemed to have a HUGE
amount of DRAG. Is this a problem with these new external bearing
designs? Maybe the LBS hasn't got around to adjusting it but as it sat
something seemed amiss.

I've noticed a lot of modern bearings seem to have a lot of drag.
Hubs, bottom brackets, headsets. Not like in the old days of loose
ball bearings.

That's because of the tight seals required to protect the cartridge bearings
from contamination. On a bicycle it's a losing battle. The tiny amount of
grease within a cartridge bearing is not generally designed for the
conditions of high load and slow speed encountered on a bicycle. In
addition, design of bearing units with cartridge bearings is compromised due
to cost and restrictions of generally accepted size. It would not please
the eye if the bicycle changed shape within a generation. So it wouldn't
sell. The result is for a long time we will be forced to accept inferior
bearings or much higher prices.

Has not Campagnolo's ejector thread patent expired?
If it has, it should be taken up on cheap traditional units to give all the
protection required along with a centre oiling hole which all standard bikes
had around WWII

Balls should usually be held in a retainer to prevent them wearing agaist
each other and so contaminating the lubricant. Oil is best used as a
lubricant. I find 3in1 cycle oil perfectly adequate. It has extra
protection by way of water dispersants and antioxidants. So if the oil's
still around, it's still doing its job. Keep them wet. It's much easier to
get going when adequately lubricated.

Trevor

gevans- The crank w/ itegrated bb was a new
bontrager. It was similar to the 04 d/a xtr & xt. BRBR
The crank seemed to have a HUGE
amount of DRAG. Is this a problem with these new external bearing
designs? Maybe the LBS hasn't got around to adjusting it but as it sat
something seemed amiss. BRBR

No adjustment possible and with all the seals that are in these things, they
are smooth but 'sluggish', draggy.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

(Evan Evans) wrote in message om...
My LBS was building an fairly high end 2005 Lemond today. The bike was
a mix of 105 & 04 ultegra. The crank w/ itegrated bb was a new
bontrager. It was similar to the 04 d/a xtr & xt. The crankset looked
very nice and the bb seemed smooth. The crank seemed to have a HUGE
amount of DRAG. Is this a problem with these new external bearing
designs? Maybe the LBS hasn't got around to adjusting it but as it sat
something seemed amiss.

for the new style bb's, the bb must be precisely faced to be perp. to
the threads. very important. if not done, very bad.

also, any seals in the system will cause drag. a little oil and some
use will help this out.

(Evan Evans) wrote in message om...
My LBS was building an fairly high end 2005 Lemond today. The bike was
a mix of 105 & 04 ultegra. The crank w/ itegrated bb was a new
bontrager. It was similar to the 04 d/a xtr & xt. The crankset looked
very nice and the bb seemed smooth. The crank seemed to have a HUGE
amount of DRAG. Is this a problem with these new external bearing
designs? Maybe the LBS hasn't got around to adjusting it but as it sat
something seemed amiss.

for the new style bb's, the bb must be precisely faced to be perp. to
the threads. very important. if not done, very bad.

also, any seals in the system will cause drag. a little oil and some
use will help this out.

Campagnolo is looking better all the time : )

Campagnolo is looking better all the time : )

Campagnolo is looking better all the time : )

(PVD) wrote in message . com...

for the new style bb's, the bb must be precisely faced to be perp. to
the threads. very important. if not done, very bad.

Right on and great answer! Bravo Pete.