Conference noted::bicycle

> We are thinking about getting him a new bike for Christmas and I was wondering
> if sealed hubs and a sealed bottom bracket are worth considering. 

Nearly all new bikes come with a shimano cartidge bb now.  They are cheap and
much easier to replace/repair than traditional cone/bearing or cartridge
bearing varieties.

As for hubs, I cartridge bearings last longer, and are often in 'better' hub
sets anyway.  I am not sure its possible to buy a bike without some type of
seal around the hub axles anymore.  Until they get really expensive, as
price goes up, so does quality (engineering tolerances get tighter.)  My basic
premise is always, buy the best wheel set you can afford.  It has the most
impact of any upgrade.  The really expensive ones start adding nicer finishes
and other not necessarily performance enhancing touches.

I guess my 2 cents distilled is:
	1 - you'll get a cartridge bb anyway, dont worry about it
	2 - better wheels mean better ride and 'seal'

> Any opinions?

I'm sure you'll get plenty more :)



.02
--Roger

    I grew up in Florida (Central - Winter Park and east coast -
    Indialantic) and watched many bikes and cars rust away.  The best
    way to prolong life for your toys in these corrosive conditions is
    to store them inside and after use, rinse and lubricate.
    
    I suppose this is a case where Ti everything would cure the problem.  
    Perhaps Al frame and components would help ?  

    We vacation in Maine for two weeks every summer (on the coast) and I
    always bring my bike (Merlin - Ti). It's always a mess when I get it
    home so I know coastal areas can wreak havoc on equipment and that's
    with only 300 miles.
    
    High end doesn't mean sealed necessarily. I have Campy Record hubs and
    they are cone and race. So if you're looking for something specific
    make sure the dealer knows. Most places will swap sealed hub wheels if
    the ones on the bike aren't to your liking. Of course, if the sealed
    hub wheels are more expensive you may make up the difference.
    
    It's not only the salt, but that fine beach sand that can find its way
    miles inland. It can get ugly, that's all I know. Sealed bearings will
    definitely help, but they will still end up having a shorter life span
    than something being used away from the coast.
    
    The only other alternative is to be a maintenance freak and spend more
    time cleaning and lubing than riding.
    
    ...good luck!
    
    Chip
    

Dont forget to keep the draileur pulleys clean too.  If they gum up w/sand
it makes for messy shifting.  The crown race might be another trouble spot,
but I suspect a 'Lizard Skin' type covering would help quite a bit.

--Roger

    The Specialized Crossroads I take it is the bike in question.  This is
    a pretty cool bike, light and strong with solid components.  I wouldn't
    replace the bike, I'd replace the bottom bracket.  Try a Royce, or a
    Shimano XTR bottom bracket.  What most likely happened with the current
    bottom bracket is that it loosened up, and once that happens to a non-
    cartridge bottom bracket it self destructs without any help from sand
    or salt, just like a headset.  So if you don't replace it with a 
    cartridge, then at least keep it tight.

  Thanks for the input. The current bike is the Specialized Crossroads Cruz (?)
  I think - one step down from the Specialized Crossroads I believe. A few of
  the components are wearing out as expected I guess since we went with a basic
  model because we did know how it would work out. As I mentioned earlier, he
  is really using and enjoying the bike - about 3500/4000 miles/year I'd guess. 
  Not bad for a 68yr old man who had a difficult time getting his leg over the  
  seat when we first gave him the bike.

  I'll probably make a visit to Belmont Wheelworks this weekend and take a look 
  at what is available. I'll check into upgrading the hubs and bottom bracket   
  too.

    thanks again,
    /bob

    Just a nit (and it might be my ignorance) but I've never heard of
    someone putting sealed bearings into a threaded BB. Not unless there
    is some kind of adapter out there (I haven't seen) or you replace the 
    shell (whis is ($$$$$'s).
    
    Chip

There were adaptors about for threaded BB's - Stronglight and FAG spring to 
mind, and I also have the feeling that the Royce product does as well.  Of 
course these are generally for real bikes and not VTT's (no smiley necessary 
for those who know me).

Back in the year ".", Bayliss-Wiley did a similar unit which could be slipped 
into a BB after the threads had been stripped - it just needed reaming out to 
the correct diameter, I resurrected an old Rory O'Brien that way once.  That 
was when you got fish-and-chip suppers for 3 and still had change out of 
half-a-crown ....

    I thought, from reading the catalogs and perusing the specs, that the
    Shimano cartridge BBs were threaded to fit standard threaded BB
    shells.  They seem to be specified by threading and BB shell width, just
    like a standard BB.  I also recall an old Stronglite set (from the
    early 80's) that adapted cartridge bearings to a normal BB shell.  The
    bearing cartridges were held by threaded 'cups'.
    
    My Viscount uses an unthreaded BB, but it's unusual.
    
    Karl