Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Bottom Bracket backed out?

Tonight I was riding with a friend, about 9 miles out. All the sudden my bike wanted to stop. I looked around, no flats or anything and then I looked at my BB.

http://pics.shorty.org/files/86/IMG_0143_400x533.shkl.JPG

What would cause this? I don't really understand how BB's work and stay locked in. The bike is 2 months old (little over 200 miles) and I'm hoping my LBS is willing to work with me on fixing it. Is it just something that happens sometimes or is something seriously wrong?

If may have not been properly torqued when it was installed.
Take it back to the shop that you got the bike at and they should do it at no charge.
Most bikes bought at shops have at least a 90 day tune up period where they will check your bike out for free.

It's not a MAJOR deal- it just looks to me like the cup spun out- the majority of a bottom bracket spins in from the right/crank side; what you're looking at there is basically a beauty trim piece. If you haven't done it yet, spin it back into place and ride over to the shop and see what they can do (teflon tape would be my home fix; maybe blue loctite, but I'm just a shadetree bike mech).

Then start your tool collection with an 8mm allen wrench, a crank extractor, and a bottom bracket tool/adapter (maybe $20 total) ;)

I'm going to guess this was a bikesdirect bike. I have a Windsor Hour that I got in December and it did the same thing. Only when it happened to me, it completely locked up my rear wheel as the cranks would not turn. I didn't have the tools to fix it and was only 3 blocks (carrying my bike) walking distance to my LBS when it happened, I took it there and my friend helped me out. Ended up with a new BB.

Bikesdirect wasn't joking about tightening EVERYTHING before riding, they obviously just hand tighten everything on their bikes.

This is a Kona Paddy Wagon.

Thanks for the info guys, I'm going to call my LBS right now.

locktite, or (less permanent but still good) use plumber's tape to wrap the threads, just make sure you wind the tape in the opposite direction you're turning the BB, so it doesn't unravel on you.

It's at the shop. Going to take 2 days, I assume because of the queue. FML

It's at the shop. Going to take 2 days, I assume because of the queue. FML

Are they gonna do it for free at least?

They made it sound like it. I tried to make it pretty apparent that I was just riding when it happened, it's only 2 months old and that I didn't try to fix it or **** it up more.

This is why I latched onto my favorite LBS once I found it. Unless they really have to do work on my bike, they'll generally help me out for free. I once had a brake cable get freyed and they gave me a new cable and housing free. At the same time, I once stripped a chainring bolt on a sunday and my favorite LBS was closed...I went to another shop expecting to get a spare for free, instead they charged me $3. Hopefully the bike shop you went to isn't like the latter of those two.

Two days!? A complete BB removal and reinstall takes 5 minutes, if you do both sides and take off the cranks.

That's happened to me a couple of times with an italian threaded bb. Blue loctite plus lots and lots of torque eventually solved it.

That's happened to me a couple of times with an italian threaded bb. Blue loctite plus lots and lots of torque eventually solved it.

That's why i like to stay away from italian threaded BB.

Yeah, it's a stupid design. The rest of the bike is nice though.

Just torque it properly. I've worked on dozens of bikes, including many French ones, and never had a cup work loose once I've torqued it properly. Blue loctite is okay, if I recall, but don't use the red, because you'll never get it off without heat. I'd refresh my memory on grades of Loctite before using it.

Oh sure, an italian bb works ok if you know what you're doing. I just admire the more idiot proof English design. It works just as well if you know what you're doing, and better if you **** up somehow---to me, that's an improvement in engineering. Plus, English threaded bbs are a bit easier to find.

Blue locktite has worked for me. Just make sure you clean the threads as best as you can before applying.

Bikesdirect wasn't joking about tightening EVERYTHING before riding, they obviously just hand tighten everything on their bikes.

i'd disagree, it took 3 guys at my LBS today to get my BB unscrewed

i have no idea what Im doing, but they definitely were perplexed as to why it was so tight. same thing happened with my stock lockring.

As the others have said, blue Loctite and proper torque.

Thanks for all the info guys. I ended up missing my weekly ride tonight because of this. But as long as it's a simple fix, I'm okay. Not too worried about the time taking to do it because I saw a few bikes in the back they were working on.

Two days!? A complete BB removal and reinstall takes 5 minutes, if you do both sides and take off the cranks.

Life sucks when you have to rely on a bike shop, doesn't it?

Got my bike back today. They said it might be from my back wheel being not aligned and making the chain line pull out the BB? Not really sure. I do know the BB ate into my crank arms. :(

Ended up being free so w/e I guess.

i'd disagree, it took 3 guys at my LBS today to get my BB unscrewed


no grease

Life sucks when you have to rely on a bike shop, doesn't it?

For real man, just get the tool and do it yourself if you have this problem again. I have never replaced a BB before, but had no problem doing it on my own...with a little help from parktool's repair page :)

Two days!? A complete BB removal and reinstall takes 5 minutes, if you do both sides and take off the cranks.

And I suppose they are supposed to drop everything and move this bike to the front of the queue?

yes it does suck having to rely on a bikeshop for most of your work. I don't have a BB wrench, so I got my BB installed by a friend of mine who has one. He put loctite all over it before he installed it b/c he said that he has had Italian threaded BBs back out on him before. So far, so good!

If you wanted idiotic advice, you've come to the right thread. Blue loctite on an english bb? Are you people more than just hack mechanics who have no idea what they're talking about? Ever heard of proper torque and grease for bottom brackets?

Or are we all barnetts trained here...?

If you wanted idiotic advice, you've come to the right thread. Blue loctite on an english bb? Are you people more than just hack mechanics who have no idea what they're talking about? Ever heard of proper torque and grease for bottom brackets?

Or are we all barnetts trained here...?

I said I put it on an ITALIAN threaded BB...and what's the big deal?