BB30 and Shimano cranks

niceonetom · 17-11-2011 4:45pm #1

I'm in the market for a new frame and am a touch confused about the whole BB compatibility area. I'd like to avoid having to buy a new crankset as well as a new frame, so whatever I eventually buy (and this may be a lengthy process) has to be usable with my current Shimano Holllowtech cranks.

Now some of the frames I'm looking at have BB30 and from what I can see these are usable with Shimano cranks if you either
a) install an adapter sleeve to the frame so Shimano's own BSA cups can be installed or
b) install press-fit BB30 bearings and fit the spindle of the Shimano crank with an adapter.

Neither of these really appeal to me as I'd generally prefer to use two things that are designed to work well together rather than three things that bodge it. I am keen to minimize the risk of a creaky BB too.

Anyone come up against this issue? What way did you solve it?

Maybe I should just avoid BB30 frames altogether.

Lemag · 17-11-2011 5:02pm

niceonetom wrote: »

Neither of these really appeal to me as I'd generally prefer to use two things that are designed to work well together rather than three things that bodge it. I am keen to minimize the risk of a creaky BB too.

Anyone come up against this issue? What way did you solve it?

AFAIK, the only way around it is to avoid a BB30 frame or to buy a BB30 crankset. But you seem to know this already.

velo.2010 · 17-11-2011 5:06pm

Are you adverse to BB90? I know a guy who might have an immaculate carbon frame with said BB.;) Immediatley compatable with Hollowtech - actually giving you a smoother transmission than with the Hollowtech cups.

niceonetom · 17-11-2011 5:18pm

Lemag wrote: »

AFAIK, the only way around it is to avoid a BB30 frame or to buy a BB30 crankset. But you seem to know this already.

I guess I'm asking which of the two available workarounds might people here have used, why, and with what result.

@velo.2010 The lancemobile? Nah. Not for me. Associations aside, that H2 fit wouldn't be ideal for me.

velo.2010 · 17-11-2011 5:29pm

Reading the rumours, Shimano may actually go to some sort of BB30 directly compatible setup in the next couple of years when they update Duraace/Ultegra.

As for now, maybe the TCR Advanced SL? Clearance sale on at Wiggle for the 2010 model. Half price at £1250. Looks good and with the Pressfit BB you'll have no probs with the cranks.

niceonetom · 17-11-2011 5:43pm

TCR advanced SL is a bit Brown Thomas for me. I'm rummaging through the bins at TK Maxx really.

Paul Kiernan · 17-11-2011 5:53pm

I'm confused too. But I thought that there was an option c) a bearing which was BB30 on the OD side but 24mm on the ID side (rather than the 30mm of BB30). This would directly take the Shimano 24mm cranks. A bit like your option b) above but the adapter or shim is an integral part of the BB.

Having said that I can't find one anywhere:(.

velo.2010 · 17-11-2011 5:54pm

niceonetom wrote: »

TCR advanced SL is a bit Brown Thomas for me. I'm rummaging through the bins at TK Maxx really.

Cool. I'm sure you've checked out the usual Canyon, Dolan etc. Good luck with your search.

niceonetom · 17-11-2011 5:56pm

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

Having said that I can't find one anywhere:(.

You'd think someone would have some up with that, wouldn't you? If you do find it, let me know.

niceonetom · 17-11-2011 5:57pm

velo.2010 wrote: »

Cool. I'm sure you've checked out the usual Canyon, Dolan etc. Good luck with your search.

Yep, those are all on the shortlist.

Lumen · 17-11-2011 5:58pm

I do not like press-fit and I do not like adapters.

Gently screwing a threaded BB into a well lubricated bottom bracket shell is a mechanically satisfying experience I do not want to give up.

Paul Kiernan · 17-11-2011 6:20pm

niceonetom wrote: »

You'd think someone would have some up with that, wouldn't you? If you do find it, let me know.

This looks the biz. The two halfs screw into each other giving what should be a very solid fit. Far preferable, I would think, to just pressing the cups into the frame

Idleater · 17-11-2011 7:11pm

For what it's worth, my frame (orca) is bb30 and is available with full shimano if one were so inclined. There are a couple of installation videos where they use a shimano bb30 adapter to then thread in the duraace BBC cups and install crank.

I'm fairly sure most of the euskatel race bikes that run duraace cranks use said adapter. My point being that if race bikes are prepared using an adapter for standard cups then i doubt there are press fit bearings to do the same job.

niceonetom · 17-11-2011 7:39pm

That's one way of doing it. It appears that Euskaltel are doing it the other way by using press-fit BB30 bearings and an adapter on the spindle of the crankset:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/scheldeprijs-last-equipment-shakeout-session-before-paris-roubaix/114360

EDIT:
Then again, here's a man in Orbea overalls fitting an adapter sleeve so make an orca ready to take BSA cups, so I guess both work...

I think I prefer the sleeve idea. I think it's irreversible though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBqmV6hhFtI

easygoing39 · 17-11-2011 8:13pm

I cant see that sleeve ever coming out again!

Paul Kiernan · 17-11-2011 8:18pm

Idleater wrote: »

i doubt there are press fit bearings to do the same job.

Sigh, I don't know why I bother:rolleyes:

niceonetom · 17-11-2011 8:21pm

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

Sigh, I don't know why I bother:rolleyes:

Well I'm glad you did.

Paul Kiernan · 17-11-2011 8:36pm

In fairness, the bearings I linked too are fairly heavy (which defeats the purpose of using Press-fit) and I don't know what KCNC's quality is like. My own instinct is that I would probably go for the adapters. They seem fairly snug and as long as the BB30 bearings are fitting tightly they should be fine. They'll also work with frames that come with the BB30 bearings already fitted.

niceonetom · 17-11-2011 8:48pm

I'm not sure which method of the three I'd go for but at least I can now say that there's no real reason to rule out all BB30 frames from my search. That may or may not be a good thing as the search for a cheap racey frame progesses.

FWIW I think KCNC have a pretty good reputation for making small-run, slightly boutique bits for weight weenie MTBers and fans of anodized alu. I wouldn't be put off by that brand at all and trying out that BB would might be worth a shot. If it creaks I can at least get rid of it and try spindle adapters or the sleeve. Starting with the sleeve would give me no place to go should things go less than perfectly.

Idleater · 17-11-2011 9:40pm

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

Idleater wrote: »

i doubt there are press fit bearings to do the same job.

Sigh, I don't know why I bother:rolleyes:

Fair play, tbh i missed the link on the mobile site, apologies.
The videos Tom found are what i was referring to anyway so the rest of my post stands.

sy · 17-11-2011 10:22pm

niceonetom wrote: »

I'm not sure which method of the three I'd go for but at least I can now say that there's no real reason to rule out all BB30 frames from my search. That may or may not be a good thing as the search for a cheap racey frame progesses......

Have a look at the Cannondale Supersix. Some great deals on the lower specced 2011 models. Bought one a month ago and delighted with the frame which is a BB30. Happy shopping

100Suns · 18-11-2011 12:40pm

sy wrote: »

Have a look at the Cannondale Supersix. Some great deals on the lower specced 2011 models. Bought one a month ago and delighted with the frame which is a BB30. Happy shopping

Nooooooo.

It's a great frame if it doesn't disintegrate! Mine cracked on the seat tube. Cannondale alleged it was my fault for either (a) tightening it too tight on a workstand, or (b) tightening it too tight on a roof rack. I'd never placed it on either. No joy. Admittedly I had bought it 'nearly new' from the US so I wasn't expecting anything much but the stonewalling was nonetheless disappointing.

This presented me with the same dilemma as niceonetom. The frame eventually purchased had a BSA BB. After much research the thoughts of doing a workaround just didn't sit well. For peace of mind I purchaced a new set of BSA compatible cranks (great deal on boards cycling adverts:)).

D20903 · 18-11-2011 1:21pm

The sleeve being used in the Orbea video can be pressed in and out of a frame repeatedly.

sy · 18-11-2011 2:07pm

100Suns wrote: »

Nooooooo.

It's a great frame if it doesn't disintegrate! Mine cracked on the seat tube. Cannondale alleged it was my fault for either (a) tightening it too tight on a workstand, or (b) tightening it too tight on a roof rack. I'd never placed it on either. No joy. Admittedly I had bought it 'nearly new' from the US so I wasn't expecting anything much but the stonewalling was nonetheless disappointing......

Hmmm. I'm sure there isn't a frame out there that hasn't had a failure so statistically I hope it was a rare sample. Must have been giving it too much wellie on that race around Ireland

Did you give full inspection when purchased 2nd hand. Silly question but maybe the previous owner ....(a) tightening it too tight on a workstand, or (b) tightening it too tight on a roof rack. Anyway thanks for the warnin. I have be riding a Focus frame for past 4 years and much as I like it the Cannondale is definitely an improvement

100Suns · 18-11-2011 3:15pm

sy wrote: »

Hmmm. I'm sure there isn't a frame out there that hasn't had a failure so statistically I hope it was a rare sample. Must have been giving it too much wellie on that race around Ireland Did you give full inspection when purchased 2nd hand. Silly question but maybe the previous owner ....(a) tightening it too tight on a workstand, or (b) tightening it too tight on a roof rack. Anyway thanks for the warnin. I have be riding a Focus frame for past 4 years and much as I like it the Cannondale is definitely an improvement

Don't get me wrong-it's a great racing frame, the best I ever had. I bought it here:

http://www.turbochargedbikes.com/

The guy's a genuine (and wealthy) entusiast. He does a super-spec build, rides it for a few months and sells on. It was in perfect nick when I got it. After I noticed the defect (occured 18 months later), the more I researched it the more incidences I encountered. Cervelo seemed to figure prominently also (sorry RAAM).

Good luck with it-the probability of 100% of boardsies having failures with a super six is pretty remote.

@niceonetom-sorry for the hijack. You might let us know what way you jump with the BB issue.

ratracer · 30-08-2012 9:29am

Well niceonetom,

Did you go ahead with the new frame and if so how has the bottom bracket worked out?

I'm in a similar situation myself now, and i reckon i've got t'internet worn out with searches on shimano into BB30.

If you've done it, which method did you use and how have you found it? Any input is welcome. I'm currently looking at two Felt frames, one with BB30 one with normal BB.

Thanks

BB30 and Shimano cranks

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