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Bottom bracket choices

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Old 06-17-24 | 06:59 PM
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Bottom bracket choices

I finally decided to wait for a latest Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod or a Scott Foil frameset, which depends on availability and my LBS's efforts.
BB standard is retrieved from user manuals, and I am going to use Shimano cranks.
  • Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod: BSA/68mm - Sleeve required
  • Scott Foil: BB Housing 41 x 86.5mm
This may leads to debate over ceramic and steel bearings, but I just have to ask.
Also, it may leads to some discussion over quality manufracturers.
I guess the cheapest choices should be Shimano BBs, but how good are they?
I saw Specialized using BB-R9100 (Dura-Ace's BB) on S-Works Tarmac SL8, so may be it is a nice choice?
For more money, I can get Wishbone BBs with ceramic bearings, but it seems that no many people have experience with them.
At last, the most expensive BBs should be CeramicSpeed. Are they worth the money?
If we say Shimano's price is 1, then:
  • Shimano = 1
  • Wishbone = 4~5
  • CeramicSpeed = 10~15
How about quality-wise?
If any better options exist, please let me know.
Thanks!
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Old 06-18-24 | 01:58 PM
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I like wheels manufacturing thread together BBs with angular contact bearings.
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Old 06-18-24 | 02:06 PM
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I vote for standard Shimano. You will do fine even with the 105 level but if you get a good price for DA level, why not? I split the difference and run Ultegra on my bikes.
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Old 06-18-24 | 05:38 PM
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It's all navel gazing until a bike is in hand.
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Old 06-18-24 | 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by datlas
I vote for standard Shimano. You will do fine even with the 105 level but if you get a good price for DA level, why not? I split the difference and run Ultegra on my bikes.
Don't know whether it is a good deal or not, but my LBS tags it about 30USD which I think is a good price.
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Old 06-18-24 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
It's all navel gazing until a bike is in hand.
Agreed, and I will not deny it.
But I feel enthusiastic when thinking of every component of my coming bike.
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Old 06-19-24 | 04:00 AM
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As a mechanical engineer I wouldn’t advise wasting any of your money on expensive ceramic bearings. It is just marketing bs for the most marginal of marginal gains.
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Old 06-19-24 | 02:03 PM
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Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 2, Specialized Tarmac SL8 Fact 10r

For a PF I would recommend an one piece like from BB Infinite or a threaded screw in BB like from Wheels Manufacturing

For PF I would spend the extra money for a one piece or threaded system because it can eliminate creaking, make the bike stiffer, and in my experience with BB Infinities BB86 One Piece GXP Ceramic BB it has been amazing. Not sure how many watts it saves or if that matters but each stroke is insanely smooth. I have BSA on my Specialized and quite frankly I just run the standard SRAM DUB BSA BB at $35 because replacing BSA is so much easier that I treat the BB as a disposable.

If you were picking a bike mainly on BB yeah BSA IMO is better. PF can be fine but it all comes down to manufacture quality and tolerances. I have had no issues with my PF86 BB but I was so freaked out about going PF that I allowed myself to be sold by Hambini and BB Infinite to go BB86 GXP rather than DUB cranks because their rationale is that the smaller bearings of DUB would wear down quicker than the larger bearings of GXP. I have a handful of friends using BB86 PF DUB with zero issues with thousands of miles on their BB. This is all to say yeah there are some more optimal BB standards compared to others but don't get sucked into all these wishy washy engineering blowhards otherwise you will be stuck on a dead road platform like me unless I totally switched BB again
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