Bottom Bracket

This article examines (1) the technical issue of fixie chain tension and (2) the aesthetic issue of fixie frame craftsmanship (considerations which apply to all frame manufacturing actually). Firstly lets note that a fixed gear bicycle is a type of single speed bicycle and not the other way around: fixies are single speed, but a […]

The BB86 bottom bracket standard is one of the mostly widely used press fit bottom brackets. You’ll find all the answers to the following questions and more in this review of the BB86 standard: CONTENTS What is BB86?BB86 vs BB92 vs BB30What is a BB86 Frame?What Cranks Fit BB86?BB86 Removal Impact Removal Non-impact RemovalBB86 InstallationBB86

The task of bottom bracket replacement is easy . . . when you know how. To do it successfully you need to This post provides a list of the essential points to note for the main types of bottom bracket. We’ve covered this ground in great detail for each BB type in a number of

External bottom brackets are practical, require little maintenance, and are reliable over long periods of time. In this extended look at these dependable BBs, we cover the main types, as well as what to take note of in installation and removal. We especially take a close look at the preparation procedure that hardly anyone talks

Keep reading for a detailed coverage of the main types of MTB bottom brackets you are likely to come across on MTBs, past and present the tools you need (and how to use them) for installation, removal, and maintenance There is a lot of crossover between MTB bottom brackets and the BBs installed on most

The shift from threaded BBs to press fit made the simple process of installing and maintaining bottom brackets more complex. Installing, removing, and maintaining potentially tricky press fit BBs becomes quick and efficient using a press fit tool set—especially if you own a bike shop. Here’s what to consider when choosing (and using) a press

The bottom bracket shell on a modern bike is the container into which the bottom bracket is pressed or threaded. Keep reading as we take a detailed look at this humble, yet key, piece of the geometric balancing act that is the modern bike frame. CONTENTS The 9 Tubes Making Up a Bike Frame Types

The last few decades has seen an enormous increase in the range of road bike bottom bracket designs. I take a look at the most well-known—and a few not so well-known. I also take a look at a key development with huge implications for the road bike bottom bracket, as we know it, namely the rise

Is the advent of the press fit bottom bracket the most sorry chapter in the history of BB design? Some would say yes. Without a doubt. Others are more forgiving to the point of swearing that press fit is the ultimate system. Conversations can become heated, at any rate. Laying out the evolution of the

A bike’s bottom bracket—or “BB”—together with the rear sprocket and chain constitutes the drive train. This article describes the most common BB types, many of which we have covered in detail in individual posts on FIRST’s blog. Skim through the headings for an overview, then skip to the section that interests you. CONTENTS THREADED BIKE