Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Threadless bottom bracket.

Ok, does this mean what I think it does? I'm so excited! Could this be used instead of trying to find a BB with French threads? Just pop this sucker in, who cares about French, Swedish, British, Italian threads, blah blah blah...

Or, has anyone gotten their French threaded frame retapped to Italian? How'd it work out?

http://www.xxcycle.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl?Screen=lp&CAT=21&PAGE=1

It's the Stronglight JP1000.

Yes, though apparently you have to do a little machining on the BB shell to get it to seat properly.

http://www.withingtoncycles.co.uk/product.php?id=591&node_id=609

My site has it much cheaper! ;) I feel like this is a grand revelation! As for the facing, that's something that could be done with the right file(s), some craftsmanship, and some patience. (but then again, maybe it seems simple to me because I make jewelry)

if you go ahead and get that...let me know how it works

How smooth does the face have to be? If it needs to be precise (as in, if were my anal retentive ass doing it) a file would drive me nuts! I would use something other than a file, personally.

Well, I don't really have a use for it, it's just something I came across. Well, I do have a French BB frame that, ahem Trekkie :) , I can't get rid of. It, however, looks nastier than a pile of dog dookie, but I'm pretty sure it's 531, with Simplex chrome dropouts.

Hey, the only thing limiting about a file is your own skill. ;)

I have installed a threadless BB on a bike with striped BB thread. It works great if installed properly, also let you adjust chainline quite a bit which is pretty cool.

I was gonna get that when I found out I had stripped my fixed cup threads. Instead, I JB Welded my fixed cup to my BB. If I had the money and patience to wait for the delivery of that threadless BB, I would've gone with the Stronglight.

Well, I don't really have a use for it, it's just something I came across. Well, I do have a French BB frame that, ahem Trekkie :) , I can't get rid of. It, however, looks nastier than a pile of dog dookie, but I'm pretty sure it's 531, with Simplex chrome dropouts.

Hey, the only thing limiting about a file is your own skill. ;)

Haha! always trying to pawn it off on me ;) ! Yeah, the skill thing is true, as is patience, which I also lack somewhat. :(

i doubt that you can get the BB shell faced perfectly with hand files. better to leave it to the tool designed for it.

...instead of trying to find a BB with French threads?

how hard have you looked? i have a set of campy cups, they say 35×1 right on 'em, and i'm not using them. interested?

It ain't too hard to find french cups-- I've multiple sets. The key is to stick the fixed cup on real, real tight. If it's a higher-end french frame, I'd be reluctant to mess with the BB threading. You could also try biketoolsetc.com -- they carry a YST BB for frames w/stripped threads, and at under 20$ they're cheaper than yours. Make sure the threading on any old cups marked 35x1 is French, not Swiss-- Swiss is the same pitch, but the fixed cup is reverse threaded.

alright, so what would be the drawback (if any) for using a threadless BB? I would like to give it a try, but they're out of stock on my spindle length. This seems easier than messing with cup and cone-frankly, I'm just too lazy! Cicadashell, I appreciate the offer! I'll think about it. Funny thing is, I had completely put this frame out of my head as something I could build up, but if just swapping out a fork (to avoid getting a new headset) and a $17.95 pop-in-and-go BB are all I need, hmmm!

Have you ever had problems with the fixed cup coming unscrewed? Also, with this threadless thing, what would keep the whole unit from spinning around in the frame, other than the bearings? The cheap one says nothing about facing.

I think biketoolsetc. is my new favorite site! Thanks!

Who cares if the BB spins? If it spins, that just means that the friction between the BB & BB shell is less than the friction in the bearings. To me that says replace your bearings, not that your BB is junk. ;)

I have never had problems with French fixed cups working loose. I crank them on real hard, don't use any loctitie. I do have a Var 30 fixed cup tool, tho, but Sheldon Brown has a technique on his website for putting on and pulling off fixed cups that involves a threaded rod and some washers:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/bbcups.html
Note Sheldon talks about removing the cups, but I don't see any reason why the same (or similar) setup shouldn't give you added leverage to put the cup on.

My site has it much cheaper! ;) I feel like this is a grand revelation! As for the facing, that's something that could be done with the right file(s), some craftsmanship, and some patience. (but then again, maybe it seems simple to me because I make jewelry)

Spend 20-30 bucks and have your LBS face the BB shell for you. They have a special tool for this that is very quick and precisce. IMO, any new bike should have it's BB shell and headtube faced before being built up anyway.

I have a mavic 610 threadleass BB (sealed) in my track frame. It's AMAZINGLY smooth, even being the third owner. Basically, the BB shell faces are chamfered 45 degrees, and the two retaining cups on the outside hold the internal BB shell in place.

There is some info on the process here (http://www.bikepro.com/products/bottom_brackets/mavic.html). I know you can find the mavic one on ebay, but I'm not exactly sure if the other BB's work in the exact same way (though I can't see how else they would) .

Hope this helps!