krazyderek

Here's the thing, i have a 2006 synapse with the BB30, and the carbon SI cranks, the bike is 3 years old now, (bought it fall 2005) and i'm looking for something new. Peferably with a higher head tube cause if have lower back issues.

For 2009 the Synapse line finally has a taller head tube (180 vs 160) but only the top of the line Synapse with SRAM red has the BB30. Looking at the SIX line, i see the same thing, they increased the head tube (good) but took away the BB30. Out of the whole performance road line C'dale is only offering the highest models with the BB30 some not even that. Some other models say FSA BB30, with non-bb30 cranks, but i emailed c'dale to ask what was up with that, and they said it was a typo, they're not BB30.

I want to get another C'dale with the BB30, and possibly the Hollowgram cranks, but i don't want to drop 6 grand. It used to be offered on all but the lowest of models, now it's the exact opposite. It's disappointing to see the creator of such a "great" new BB standard barely offering it anymore.

Other bikes i'm looking at are

Cervelo RS, it's stiff and has a nice 180 head tube, but doesn't use the BB30 and i don't want to get one if they're going to integrate it for 2010
Trek Madone 5.2 (non-pro) has the longer head tube and a cool redesign of the standard BB to make it stiffer (they claim), but the head tube is 10mm shorter, not such a big deal i guess.
Specialized Roubaix, decent bike, 190 Head tube, but again, no BB30 but on the highest of models.

dmotoguy

I believe the reason they nixed the bb30 on many models was due to a crank supplier.. i'd expect them to offer much more bb30 by mid-year or next year... i was pretty bummed my slice came without it.. oh well.

BananaTugger

Frameset.

El Diablo Rojo

There are other BB30 offering from other manufactures coming down the road...personally I think it's a gimmick but like 11s we may have to live with it in future.

mr handy

So what is the major benefit of BB30 again?

dmotoguy

stiffness and weight, i believe are on the plus side..

lack of cranks that support it(should change soon.. and you can use a spacer until then), compatibility with spare parts, and frames that include it would be on the minus side..

Lucky07

I get that it's stiffer, but doesn't it weigh more?

waterrockets 

A bottom bracket offering is hardly a reason to choose or refuse a frame. The thing just spins in place, you know?

Marketing is amazing, isn't it? Just look at Monster Cable. <sigh>

kila kila kila

Wow. And here I thought only sub-low-end 40 lb high-ten frames used press-fit BBs.

El Diablo Rojo

Fixed

Tapeworm21

I don't think I'll ever buy a bike without the BB30 either. I can definitely tell a difference between the Specialized carbon cranks vs. the SRAM Rival ones I used to have. Barely have to put any pressure on it for it to gain speed.

That said, BB30 is kinda the new technology and unfortunately costs a lot of money to get into it. But like said above, buy the frame and swap it all over. Those SI cranks are badass so don't get rid of them.

ridethecliche

I think that these are going to be the ONLY bb's offered on higher end bikes after the next few years. So keep that in mind.

You can always get an adapted to use a 'regular' crankset, but if the high end standard gravitates towards BB30, then you'll be out of luck.

If cannondale and specialized are making them and touting how rad they are, and now FSA is going to start making MORE cranksets, then I suppose that the higher end market will follow suit.

It's a little hard to say that 'regular' bbs are 'better' when all the marketing types are saying that the bb30 is superior, and the 'pros' sponsored by those two teams are touting it as the best thing to happen to bottom bracket technology since the invention of the BB...

waterrockets 

Umm. Riiiiight.

And you can feel the power difference? There's a frame test I need you and your calibrated guads for...

iab

I also read they decrease your Q-factor, if that is important to you. Campagnolo is making a bottom bracket for the BB30 so all of their '09 cranks will be compatable.

Tapeworm21

I am right. Yes I can feel a difference, especially on the flats. Unfortunately, I have nothing to prove to you so take it or leave it.

brians647

And, with that last quote, I hereby declare that marketing will get our arses out of this recession just as deftly as it got us in it.

krazyderek

I have a cannondale with BB30 (synapse), and one with external GXP cups (CAAD8), the CAAD8 frame is way stiffer cause it was designed to be, so it's hard to tell the difference there. But hammering along at the front of the pace line sitting in the saddle, the BB30 SI cranks feel more solid, and smooth. They also have a Q factor that's about 10mm narrower then the GXP & Truvativ cranks, which i seem to gravitate more towards as more comfortable for me. For all out sprinting the CAAD8 wins, again, cause it was designed for such conditions, and maybe the slightly wider Q factor helps when you're out of the saddle swaying the bike side to side.

I'll definitely agree that's i'm falling victim to marketing to a certain extent, i just don't like the idea of paying almost twice as much for the newer version of the bike i have now. I guess i just want to get the best compermise between bang for buck, and overall technologie/stiffness/lightness.

waterrockets 

I have no data either, but I'll call it placebo for the sake of argument

I certainly believe you can feel that it's stiffer, but feeling more power, not so much.

Grasschopper

No it for sure weighs less. The original Hologram SI cranks were stiffer than DA7800 by a good bit and were also lighter...the new Hologram SL cranks are even lighter and just as stiff.

ElJamoquio

Stiffer, lighter, better q-factor, backwards compatible. I'm not sure why there's resistance to change. Oh wait.

waterrockets 

At this point, it seems like the resistance is just coming from the bike mfgrs. I don't really care what kind of BB is on my bike as long as it's post-cotter pin

RichinPeoria

BB30 is another cost driven stoopid idea that only benefits the OEM...I wont buy a frame with pressed in bottom bracket bearings any time soon.

ridethecliche

Agreed, but I'd like to add sealed to your list of post-cotter pin.

Some really awesome bb's require too much maintenance for bbs. The Dura-Ace octalink's being notorious for this. Awesome bb's but they require taking apart and regreasing as part of routine maintenance. That's a little annoying.

You can tell that I'm young, right?

ElJamoquio

I'm just pissed because I want to buy a quarq, and don't want a suck-ass crankset... which leaves me with BB30 only, of which there aren't many options.

ElJamoquio

Other than being more expensive to manufacture, and having many benefits to the consumer, your post is correct.