Dangit. Spent all day over at the Hub, and now I know what my options are. My drive train is a little better thanks to my friend Erik (who just happened to be picking up his check, and didn't mind helping me find the tools I needed, then show me exactly how to use them back in the shop), but my bottom bracket is toast. Good thing I did call in and get all that extra sleep wed night - today is already sitting at 36 hours awake, and I have to call him in a bit to head over to his house and try putting in this new spindle...

If that doesn't work, then it means that I need new cups. If I need new cups, I need NOS or used. Both are really hard to find. I can't just get a new sealed BB with a JIS taper - they don't exist.

Well they do... But only Phil Wood makes them, at least from all the books and searches online they did for me. I need an Italian threaded 107-115mm BB, preferably towards the 107 end for my chainline. I guess if I were to switch to splined or Isis. But then I would need new cranks. And for the total price, I could have the Phil. But I don't have enough for either, so I now have a used Campy 115 symetrical spindle to try. We're not even sure if it's the right cup for the bearings I have, but I guess we'll know later.

This stuff is freakin complicated! It was so much easier to ride a beater road conversion that I could pretty much switch anything out on, and junk the frame or offending part if it didn't work.

Unrelated, Erik is looking for pro bono lawyers willing to take a bike vs cops case in Minneapolis. They stopped him on Nicollette Mall the other night, and are charging him with resisting arrest because he had an ashma (sp?) attack while it was happening. They didn't even arrest him. If anyone knows a good bike lawyer out here, please PM me.

I paced a cop for about 3 miles on the way home because of it. Didn't do anything illegal the whole way, but pulled up next to or ahead of them at every light. They must have taken offense at the last one - a whole block of cars waiting at a long light to turn left or right, almost none going straight like I was. I pulled up onto the sidewalk and went to the front and stopped. Let the first car by, then crossed the street. Got about 4 blocks, gunning for a light that was green with a flashing crosswalk sign. I heard an engine reving behind me, and the cop passed me in the other lane doing about 45, then merged into my lane in front of me and slowed down. Just enough to make sure the light turned yellow as they went through, and I couldn't take it without breaking the law.

I took the hint and waited out the light.