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Agghhhh...PRESS FIT

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Old 11-07-25 | 11:03 AM
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Agghhhh...PRESS FIT

Can't believe that I didn't notice this before, but the BB shell on my new TIME frame is press fit. I hate the idea of press fit! It accepts a PF BB386 (EVO). I see that there's lots of offerings for these sort of "threaded" BB's for press fit, like this one:

https://wheelsmfg.com/collections/bb...53184930775208

Is that the way to go nowadays, or would you just stick with a typical $40 DUB BB offered by SRAM (my crankset is a SRAM Force E1 12-speed)? I can't shake the idea that basic BBs are more than adequate for everyone's needs, except for guys like Jonas Vingegaard.
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Old 11-07-25 | 12:09 PM
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To 'upgrade' my 2015 Tarmac Pro, I have purchased same Wheels Mfg pressfit BB- which, I am told, seems to eliminate squeaky pressfit BB issue.
I've not yet installed, it, but plan to do so this coming week... Seems well made, and high grade bearings - I'm expecting good performance and long running life...
Needs a 'special' BB wrench for for the install (thing notched face plate needs non-chamfered wrench...)
Got the specific Wheels MFG on ebay for 1/2 cost of Wheels Mfg. wrench - seems to fit nicely.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264431000953

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Old 11-07-25 | 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by ArgoMan
Can't believe that I didn't notice this before, but the BB shell on my new TIME frame is press fit. I hate the idea of press fit! It accepts a PF BB386 (EVO). I see that there's lots of offerings for these sort of "threaded" BB's for press fit, like this one:

https://wheelsmfg.com/collections/bb...53184930775208

Is that the way to go nowadays, or would you just stick with a typical $40 DUB BB offered by SRAM (my crankset is a SRAM Force E1 12-speed)? I can't shake the idea that basic BBs are more than adequate for everyone's needs, except for guys like Jonas Vingegaard.
There are effectively millions of pressfit bottom, brackets out there, a vast majority without any problems. Wait until you have an issue then proceed from there.
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Old 11-07-25 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Atlas Shrugged
There are effectively millions of pressfit bottom, brackets out there, a vast majority without any problems. Wait until you have an issue then proceed from there.
This. If your bottom bracket does start creaking, check out this to solve:
But if you ever do decide to swap it out, one thing about the model you posted: having the threaded connection in the middle still depends on the frame being coplanar on both sides of the BB shell to not creak. But they often are not (even for the top bikes) so that design could still creak.

For this reason, I absolutely love me some BBInfinite bottom brackets whenever I make a change. Their both-bearings-on-a-single-cylinder-so-you-know-they-stay-coplanar designs soothe my angsts. See this model to see what I mean—29mm, so not right for your bike (and I don't know enough about SRAM to trust myself looking up the correct model), but I posted it so you get a sense of their design approach. You get what you pay for, though, or in this case pay for what you get, as their BB's run $200-250 for steel bearings and $300-350 for ceramic.
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Old 11-07-25 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by ArgoMan
Can't believe that I didn't notice this before, but the BB shell on my new TIME frame is press fit. I hate the idea of press fit! It accepts a PF BB386 (EVO). I see that there's lots of offerings for these sort of "threaded" BB's for press fit, like this one:

https://wheelsmfg.com/collections/bb...53184930775208

Is that the way to go nowadays, or would you just stick with a typical $40 DUB BB offered by SRAM (my crankset is a SRAM Force E1 12-speed)? I can't shake the idea that basic BBs are more than adequate for everyone's needs, except for guys like Jonas Vingegaard.
The good news is Time's tolerances bar none are some of the best in the industry. I frankly find their bikes much to do about nothing but the two things any time owner will rave about is the braided carbon structure and the tolerances. I believe Time uses a BB86 bottom bracket and if you asked someone like Hambini a 29mm or DUB spindle would not be ideal, since the bearings would have to be sub optimally small, however I have ridden multiple BB86 bikes with DUB bottom brackets (Winspaces and Scotts) with zero issues. IMO the best BB86 PF BB you can get is a one piece from BBInfinite if your tolerances are 100%, otherwise you run the risk of cracking the BB shell. If your not 100% within tolerance just go with a cheap $40 plastic BB, since the plastic does have some give if the BB isn't 100% to spec, granted you will probably run through the BB pretty fast if there are any intolerances.

Threaded BB can have their fare share of problems too, it's just they are much easier to work on as a home mechanic

I wouldn't not get a bike just because it has PF or BB86 but both my bikes are currently BSA.
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Old 11-07-25 | 03:35 PM
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I find the hatred of pressfit to be a bit overblown. I've had several bikes with pressfit BBs, yet zero issues with any of them. Assuming you have the bearing press and the primer/retaining compound, it's a pretty straightforward install IMO.
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Old 11-07-25 | 05:19 PM
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Not keen on pressfit myself, but they seem to last longer. Only my Cannondale uses one. BSA on my other bikes.
I bought the basic remover and install tools. These work great, but anybody could easily cobble together both from a hardware store visit.
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Old 11-07-25 | 05:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Jrasero
The good news is Time's tolerances bar none are some of the best in the industry. I frankly find their bikes much to do about nothing but the two things any time owner will rave about is the braided carbon structure and the tolerances. I believe Time uses a BB86 bottom bracket and if you asked someone like Hambini a 29mm or DUB spindle would not be ideal, since the bearings would have to be sub optimally small, however I have ridden multiple BB86 bikes with DUB bottom brackets (Winspaces and Scotts) with zero issues. IMO the best BB86 PF BB you can get is a one piece from BBInfinite if your tolerances are 100%, otherwise you run the risk of cracking the BB shell. If your not 100% within tolerance just go with a cheap $40 plastic BB, since the plastic does have some give if the BB isn't 100% to spec, granted you will probably run through the BB pretty fast if there are any intolerances.

Threaded BB can have their fare share of problems too, it's just they are much easier to work on as a home mechanic

I wouldn't not get a bike just because it has PF or BB86 but both my bikes are currently BSA.
Mine takes a BB386.
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Old 11-07-25 | 09:43 PM
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I have just built my Time ADH with SRAM Red original 11-speed eTap. I installed my Red GXP crankset using a Token 386 bottom bracket. I like the thread-together press-fit bottom brackets because you don't need a press tool, just the appropriate Park cup (mine is a BBT-27.3) and a torque wrench. I figured out the correct spacers and did not install a wave washer. Mine has been silent and trouble free for the first 268 miles. I have never had such quiet and smooth bike as my Time ADH.

GXP version:

https://tokenproducts.us/collections...41061490229348

SRAM DUB version:

https://tokenproducts.us/collections...40620774522980

Last edited by webtwo; 11-07-25 at 11:16 PM.
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Old 11-07-25 | 11:58 PM
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No worries, get Wheelsmfg threaded. I just got a Time frame too, and I went with the BBultimate one-piece. But I have been using the Wheels threaded on my Cinelli for the past 16K miles and it has been fantastic. Silent. Fast. Durable. Great experience with the Wheelsmfg.
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Old 11-08-25 | 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by webtwo;23640355.

GXP version:

[url
https://tokenproducts.us/collections/ninja/products/tf38624?variant=41061490229348[/url]

SRAM DUB version:

https://tokenproducts.us/collections...40620774522980

Great price! These look good too…any quality threaded should do the trick.
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Old 11-08-25 | 12:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Laducsp
No worries, get Wheelsmfg threaded. I just got a Time frame too, and I went with the BBultimate one-piece. But I have been using the Wheels threaded on my Cinelli for the past 16K miles and it has been fantastic. Silent. Fast. Durable. Great experience with the Wheelsmfg.
I have been debating between Wheels Manufacturing vs. BB Ultimate for my older Cannondale Synapse (BB30A), which has started to develop a creak under slow hard efforts in the small chain ring. The former requires me to switch to a Shimano 105 crank, which is not a huge deal as I have a spare, but the latter allows me to keep using my SI crank.
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Old 11-08-25 | 02:23 AM
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Had a few PF BBs with no issues.
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Old 11-09-25 | 09:23 PM
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Newer Pressfit is not the same as the old school BB30 crapola.
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Old 11-17-25 | 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by ArgoMan
Can't believe that I didn't notice this before, but the BB shell on my new TIME frame is press fit. I hate the idea of press fit! It accepts a PF BB386 (EVO). I see that there's lots of offerings for these sort of "threaded" BB's for press fit, like this one:

https://wheelsmfg.com/collections/bb...53184930775208

Is that the way to go nowadays, or would you just stick with a typical $40 DUB BB offered by SRAM (my crankset is a SRAM Force E1 12-speed)? I can't shake the idea that basic BBs are more than adequate for everyone's needs, except for guys like Jonas Vingegaard.
I've used that BB for years on two Felt FR's (one Ultegra & one DA). Zero issues, easy install, still original bearings. I would recommend their BB Socket to get correct installation torque.

I'm on the fence right now on a Time ADHX myself. Really would like to go 32mm on the road.

Last edited by Voodoo76; 11-17-25 at 12:57 PM.
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Old 11-17-25 | 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Voodoo76
I've used that BB for years on two Felt FR's (one Ultegra & one DA). Zero issues, easy install, still original bearings. I would recommend their BB Socket to get correct installation torque.

I'm on the fence right now on a Time ADHX myself. Really would like to go 32mm on the road.
I belive the frame is limited to 28 mm clearance.
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Old 11-17-25 | 11:49 PM
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I have a 2013/12? bought used Fuji Alitmira CX, actually it is a generic Nashbar frame but yeah, with a BB86 that went through two creaky press fits before I put a thread together Wheel Manufacturing BB in it and after I don't 8 years it is still going strong no creaking. Also a 2016 intense spider fs mountain bike with a bb92 that went through 2 race face press fit BBs, killed bearing, before I bought a cheap chinese ztto thread together BB for $18 maybe 4 years ago that is still fine. Wheels Manufacturing didn't make a BB that would fit that frame and a 30mm spindle but ztto did and at $18 I figure meh if I have to replace it every year it is still cheaper than replacing the Raceface BBs every two years.
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Old 11-18-25 | 03:10 PM
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Originally Posted by ArgoMan
I belive the frame is limited to 28 mm clearance.
The ADH yes, ADHX lists a max of 38mm.
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Old 11-18-25 | 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by webtwo
I have just built my Time ADH with SRAM Red original 11-speed eTap. I installed my Red GXP crankset using a Token 386 bottom bracket. I like the thread-together press-fit bottom brackets because you don't need a press tool, just the appropriate Park cup (mine is a BBT-27.3) and a torque wrench. I figured out the correct spacers and did not install a wave washer. Mine has been silent and trouble free for the first 268 miles. I have never had such quiet and smooth bike as my Time ADH.

GXP version:

https://tokenproducts.us/collections...41061490229348

SRAM DUB version:

https://tokenproducts.us/collections...40620774522980
Nice. I'm building out my Time right now.
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