Originally Posted by
CMcMahon
Spanish BBs use small, custom sized bearings that cost about three or four times as much as a normal bearing; you can use a 19mm (3/4") or 22mm spindle with them.
Mid BBs use regular American Profile bearings (w/a 19mm internal diameter), which are much stronger (I've already seen a few people blow apart the Spanish bearings) and cheaper; the companies that use this BB (S&M/Fit, FBM) are currently looking into a way to use a 22mm spindle with them.
Wrong! Both mid and spanish bottom brackets cost the same. At least at our shop anyway. Check out the Kink or the Shadow ones at Dan's Comp if you don't believe me. Also you can choose either 19mm or 22mm in both of them too. I have never had a problem with either one of them and we sell lots of both. Many of the bikes we sell have switched to spanish this year.
You guys are always trying to get the lightest parts, well guess which is lighter, you got it, the smaller spanish one.