Classic & Vintage - Are there any new sources for Bottom Bracket CUP SET FRENCH 35X1MM 2xRIGHT

Are there any new sources for Bottom Bracket CUP SET FRENCH 35X1MM 2xRIGHT

I am restoring a crappy french bike I bought for 10 Euros (I currently live in France). Its a "France Sport" mixtie. I am using it as a way to learn how to restore bikes, I hope to work on more and better bikes in the near future.

My current issue is that the bottom bracket cups are pitted, and it just does not seem right after all this work to reuse pitted cups. On the other hand I don't want to put too much money into it.

I have searched somewhat and have found the following;

-- Harris Cyclery for $20; http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/french-cranks.html#bottom2
-- Amazon, looks like exactly the same product as Harris, but for $10; http://www.amazon.com/Bottom-Bracket-FRENCH-2xRIGHT-RETAINER/dp/B003ZKOOMC

Are there any other sources? I would like to stock up, but would like to pay less that $10 per set (otherwise, I am likely to just pack the existing set in grease, and hope for the best).

Thanks for your help,
Bruce.

$10 for two BB cups is too much, huh?

$10 for a BB is CHEAP...though from what I can see from the ad it looks OK. If your BB is feeling wrong after rebuild, make sure the bearing retainers are facing the correct way...an easy mistake to make but will NOT work right down there, and can do damage. Even if the old set is pitted, it should turn fairly smoothly not under load, but you may hear or feel a little chatter from the pitting. If I paid less then $10 for a BB, I would really doubt the quality,(the Suntour Superbe BB we just got for my son's bike go $65-$125 IF you can find em) but just for learning the process, Go for it...Good Luck, and Happy Wrenching. Welcome to the forum.

+1. I doubt you'll find new French threaded cups any cheaper. If this bicycle was a keeper and used cotterless cranks, I'd actually consider the Velo-Orange, cartridge BB. At $50, it's not inexpenive but pays for itself in terms of saved labour.

Thanks for the replies.

$10 is not too much, I actually bought 2 sets, but I would like to stock up for future builds. *If* I could get them cheaper, I might me more likely to replace pitted cups than to reuse them. Maybe its not possible to find cheaper, but no harm in asking.

The Velo Orange french-threaded cartridge BB is really nice, but first I need to find a worthy bike. I have been looking through the "show us your mixtie" thread and there are some stunners there. Mine is very sad indeed by comparison.

Cheers,
Bruce.

Since you are in France, a small bike shop that caters to used bikes may be a viable alternative. Ask them if they have any lightly-used French-threaded BB cups available.

-Kurt

Since you are in France, a small bike shop that caters to used bikes may be a viable alternative. Ask them if they have any lightly-used French-threaded BB cups available.

-Kurt

+1, you'd think used ones wouldn't be hard to come by in France.

You were on the right track buying the crappy 10 euro french bike. Look for more of them. Even if the bb is shot, you will get french pedals, stem, headset, etc. I keep a large box of french sized parts, all came from crappy bikes, cosmetically challenged, but full of reusable parts.

10 bucks??...that's just like two coffees at Starbucks!.......:rolleyes:
Anyway, it's only ten buck from being gratis too....:rolleyes:
Which is more I can say for most C&V parts that have something to do with the French these days....:D

Chombi

Stock up? I'd say stock up on those. Before they're no longer available.

I bought some French cups on ebay, but I think they were $19. $10. sounds pretty cheap.

I found a cheap French-threaded set from a vendor on ebay, cost in the $10-$15 range. They were branded "Action" or maybe "Active". The bearing surface didn't look too polished but they went in okay and adjusted to be very very very smooth to the touch. The point being, one doesn't know how good they are or how well they will wear until one tries them, but that's sure not expensive.

Stock up? I'd say stock up on those. Before they're no longer available.

+1. One of the few things keeping my hoarding tendencies under control is the fact that I don't have any French bikes! ;)