mcyak

The subject was broached duging a visit to my LBS yesterday.
The drag on the oem Team Issue FSA Megaexo all but negates the positive effects of the CF Frame and stibb bottom end.
Apparently this drag issue affects Ultegra and Dura Ace BB as well.
The suggestion -if I didn't want to pay out big bucks for a ceramic bearing megaexo BB-was to have Phil Woods bearings installed in place of the origionals.
Anyone else have this done?
If so, your feedback please .
I'm definitely not putting up with the drag again this season. The question is: will the simple LBS installed PW bearings do the trick or is a entire new ceramic bearing BB the better long term option.
(I'd like to have this done once vs having it done till we get it right)

bikinfool

I did install some Phil bearings into my Shimano cups on an M770 crank, but it didn't change the drag noticeably (but on the other hand I wasn't expecting it to change much nor do I care as that degree of drag is meaningless). I have heard the Hope bearings allow more freely spinning cranks while you're watching it in the stand, though.

operator

If you're looking for low beaering drag, phil wood bearings are not it. They are very well sealed against the elements = slow. Which is not what you want The megaexo bb is shyte no doubt. Even upgrading to ceramic only marginally improves the "spinniness". I know, I ride one. It will never approach say, a seal removed BB-7700 in those terms or hell even a $5 cup/cone square taper well adjusted and greased.

DSchlichting

I installed a Chris King bearing set on my Team Issue Mega Exo last summer. No noticeable difference versus the original FSA bearing set.
But to throw something in from left field: is the issue really bearing drag or preload?

davidad

If this is what you feel by hand you are making much ado about nothing. Your legs or performance won't know the difference.

mcyak

Beg to differ on the legs won't know the difference.
At 67 and doing rides of 40-100 miles I find there's a huge difference between the effort used up with the fsa and that on my 91 paramounts SH24 sealed bearing bb. I put in several years back.

However; it appears -from the limited input here-the <$100 cost for the phil wood replacement probably isn't the way to go (despite what the LBS said)

operator

+1

A discering rider WILL be able to tell the difference between say a well adjusted loose ball BB and a crappy new external bottom bracket.

LarDasse74

If the OP is experiencing very high drag, he might consider getting the BB on his frame "faced" if possible. THis can sometimes alleviate high-drag bottom brackets.

operator

Hmm. That sort of doesn't make sense to me, explain. If BB facing is an issue the OP would be getting variable drag through the rotation. I don't see how facing the BB at the low end of the acceptable variation helps.

LarDasse74

Sorry - I can't find anywhere in the OP's posts where 'variable drag through the rotation' is mentioned... must be my ADD acting up.

Edit:

OH! I misread your post, not his

THe reason is that misaligned bearings will have higher drag throughout the rotation than properly aligned bearings.