Grand Bois,

I really love what you’ve done with your TdF. I saved a photo of it you posted ages ago, just ‘cause I like to look at it from time to time.

Not sure of the condition of the original Stronglight BB, as I haven’t taken it apart in some years. I should clarify that this is my “first child” among bikes, and it is at my aging mother’s house in middle USA, while I am not. (I’m in Va.)

I was recently there and spent some days riding it, as I do at least once a year. In my inspection, I became aware that it was certainly time to do a complete strip-down and overhaul. This site has pretty much inspired me that I should really go the whole way and refinish the frame, too. It’s had years of heavy riding in its (and my) earlier years.

Anyway, I’m trying to build up a few of the bits and pieces not already in my parts box that I’ll want/need when I retrieve the bike to do the overhaul.

I’ll certainly need new SC 93 chain rings if I’m to keep the Stronglight. And, it just seems like a Phil BB would be a worthy investment, as I’d basically never need to worry about it again (within reason, obviously). I have this odd notion that this bike "deserves" the special treatment. But it IS true that I’d probably not have to do that.

I do have two NOS Campy cranksets – AND French threaded BBs for each. My dating was more to when I bought them rather than specific to the models. I found my “treasure box” of parts when digging through deep storage last month. I knew I had purchased the SR set in Rome in 1983, but had forgotten I even had the older NR set!

But that is why I asked about whether a Phil BB would fit either the Stronglight 93 or the Campy Record cranks? I’m guessing that if you have a Campy BB in your TdF, and I see that you are still using the Stronglight 93 crank, then that pretty much tells me that the Campy spindle is fine on the SC 93 crankset, yes?

I’ve hesitated bugging the company with newbie-like questions until I’m certain that I will buy. Given the parts I have, there really IS no reason to buy a Phil BB, except that they’re such excellent BBs.

It’s kinda like why buy Phil hubs when one has NR hubs? Maybe ‘cause we like ‘em???

But I really do appreciate the thoughts. It’s good to reign in some of the impulses, if only to save for other impulses.

Thanks!