Re: outboard bearings, simple question

still me wrote:

Chalo wrote:

Making bottom brackets
lighter, stiffer, and stronger requires a larger spindle diameter than
the old shell design supports.

I think lighter is the only issue here. BB's are plenty strong as is.

I beg to differ. If square-taper spindles were strong enough, then
BMXers would use them, and I would use them. But both BMXers and I
break such spindles off, so we used stronger equipment long before
external bearing BBs became available. Others contributors to this
group have also broken square-taper spindles.

The first time it happened to me, it surprised me. The second time, I
got a broken face and $8000 worth of dental work. There will be no
third time!

It's only when you want to start using other materials for the axle
that you need to make it larger, and then you need a new way to handle
bearings.

Most of the 24mm spindles I have seen, and all of the 22mm spindles,
have been made from hardened steel, like a square-taper.

Considering that the weight difference only matters to TDF class
riders and Porsche drivers who need the latest in tech to be kuel, it
would be nice if this didn't catch on. (But, my wishes never come
true).

It's true that the weight differences are not significant for most
people. But those are not the only differences.

Chalo

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