I recently purchased the Ridley Compact frameset from Competitive Cyclist (hell of a deal!) and I am installing a Sram GXP bottom bracket on it.

The bottom bracket comes with 2 black spacers. The instructions are kind of vague but it looks like you use the spacers with an english bottom bracket shell (which the Ridley has)? Ive never had to use spacers on a bottom bracket before so I want to make sure it is correct to use them in the case.

Please let me know your advice.

thanks!

-Steve

The instructions do no good here. I called Sram when I was doing it and they said only use them for a Mountain bike.

Awesome, thanks for the help. The instructions are useless. I searched all over google, watched every sram video on youtube and still no mention.

No spacers it is!

I thought the instructions were pretty clear.

Anyways I installed mine without spacers (68mm).

+1

IIRC there was a table in the instructions that said whether to use 0, 1, or 2 shims depending on the width of the BB. I don't remember the specific instructions, but I felt that they were very clear as well.

i am unfamiliar with sram, but the need to use spacers has to be dictated by BB width, period

No spacers. Trust me I know. Went through this last week.

I have a 68mm bottom bracket, and if you follow the unclear instructions, it tells you to use the spacers for 68mm. Not true.

I was just going to say this. Do not lose the spacers becuase are usefull if you need to to tricks with the BBs...

Exactly. The instructions say for a 68mm BB use the spacers. That's why I was so confused.

Either way, I wont be using them and thanks everyone for the help

These are the same instructions that came with mine. Are yours different?

https://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/...xp-05-r5-e.pdf

Instructions clearly say no spacers according to the compatibility table AND the note in step 2: "Spacers - use ONLY with 68mm mtb configuration (see chart)"

Yeah that actually is different. I can't find an online version of the instructions I got by they were from a 2010 GXP English BB box. I tossed them already, otherwise I would snap a quick pic.

No spacers on road bike BB

Let's see it once you get it built up...

I would be interested to see the new instructions. The last GXP BB I bought was last year, and it still had the 2005 instructions.

Who ever typed up the 2010 instructions must have had a bottle of Jack Daniels sitting beside them.

Almost finished, at the last minute I decided I want to go with Yokozuna Reaction cables (group is 2010 Force). I'm just waiting for those and then the build will be finished, probably by this weekend

another confused person here ...

I had the same problem when trying to install my Rival groupset. I always go through any instruction manual before installing just to make sure I am not missing anything. The manual (2009) that came with the groupset said: 2 spacers for a 68mm BB (which is BSA). Unfortunately the groupset did not contain any spacers whatsoever. I started to look for a new instruction manual on the sram site and found a revised version (2010). Suddenly the instruction manual only showed 1 spacer on the non-drive side only ?!

I decided to check with the European Sram branch here in the Netherlands where I live. The not-so-friendly dude there first told me off since I was not supposed to call them directly as being a consumer. After I put on my "hey I am someone that bought your ******** product you *sshole"-voice, he checked with a colleague and was able to tell me the spacers were only supposed to be used on an MTB.
Since he was not too keen about him giving me any info at first, I wasn't sure if I hould believe him.

To make a (already) long story short.. I have decided for myself to use NO spacers on the 68mm BSA BB and see what happens.

I had to use the spacers with the Planet X Pro SL frame - 68mm on that one.

I don't care what they say, if you have a road bike don't use the spacers.

I torqued mine up without spacers and there was play. I put the spacers in and all is good.

I agree that I don't know of anyone else that's had to use the spacers on a road bike.

Pretty obvious to me.

^ So that picture is in the manual huh? I don't remember seeing it. I looked the how thing over to see what these spaces were for and I only found some more jiberish that left me more confused.

My BB and crank came in separate boxes and it seems like the BB came with no manual, but the crank did, I don't remember for sure.

Good to see that I'm not completely crazy. I went with no spacers and have yet to ride the bike (build is not finished) but something on the non drive side looks off to me

Steve, one thing that all manuals whatever what version are saying is following:
Check the assembly for play by rocking the crank arms back and forth away from frame. If the crank moves, tighten crank arm bolt until no play is detected. If maximum torque of
54 N·m (478 in-lb) has been achieved, remove the crank arm from the spindle, apply additional grease and repeat installation procedures until play is eliminated.