Thanks guys

I have checked a few UK forums and it seems that our climate destroys BBs with quite a few bikers reporting short life out of their BBs due to wet muddy conditions. When I embarked on cycling I never figured that I would end up replacing the BB once or twice per year. There was an upgrade available (UN73) which is Shimano XT level but I gather this has been discontinued, looks like I'll have to get handy with the spanners! To top it all I measured my chain at the weekend only to find that its stretched and I'll have to replace it, the brake blocks are also looking low! The LBS is going to love me!!

Doe anyone know whether theres a better BB available thats the same kind of fitting as a UN54 but an upgrade. Are there better manufacturers??

Cheers..