truvativ lulz.

Is there a huge jump in quality between SRAM branded stuff and Truvativ branded? Anthony's SRAM-equipped Pedal Force looks so nice, but everyone I talk to about Truvativ says its junk. Maybe its just the really low end truvativ?

Mike, if you need, I have some slightly used 105 BSA cups at home that you can borrow/buy.

Speaking of BB issues: two of my bikes have nasty BB sounds. Both the Major Jake and my CAAD9 creak like mofos when I pedal out of the saddle. The Major uses FSA cups, while the CAAD is Ultra-Torque. Really, I never had recurring issues like this when I was using square tapper BBs. Now that I think about it, having the BB bearings outside the BB shell might be a bad idea, because you haven't got the extra support of a BB shell supporting loads on the bearings, just that lip of threads that go into the BB shell.

^^ Just to add to that thought: maybe bearing load support is why BB30 and press-fit cups are becoming popular? I never really understood what was wrong with square tapper to begin with. Lots of people complain about flex, but I'm sure most of those complains are either baseless or based on experience with really cheap BBs. I wonder how a Record or Phil stainless BB would fair in comparison to most outboard stuff?