[email protected] wrote:
> given the different performance characteristics assumed during the last
> weeks cartridge discussion
> the following questions pop in
> frictionwise-is the B/C adjustable to beyond cartridge spec? or
> subjective handling performance?
> or does mechanics performance fall off adjusting multiple batches of
> B/C so much so the riders learn to distrust the B/C
> ie-adj 500 B/C is a huge PITA
> and the probability as mentioned enduro is enough and greater mil spec
> may not be streetable but greater mil spec can be TdF
> my head said a 100 miler is faster on a quality B/C adjustment (wheels
> cones spec?) but i get the answer in the TdF mass production not
> imagined
>
i think the majority of opinion is from those with a vested interest in
trying to not look stupid in the face of their previous writings on
these subjects, and/or from those who haven't bothered to do any
technical investigation.
as the owner of a pair of "high friction" mavic cartridge bearing
wheels, i was expecting them to have higher rolling resistance to cup
and cone wheels. but reality is, there's no such problem. i've done
several coasting tests for both types and find them to be completely
indiscernible from each other. i /do/ notice high friction when turning
slowly in my hand, but also remember that the majority of the friction
comes from the seals, not the races. and the seals ride on a layer of
grease. /if/ the grease were to shift mode to hydrodynamic
separation,[1] which is /not/ going on at hand-turning speed, then the
friction would drop dramatically. perhaps one of our "engineers" will
test rather than just give opinion.
i say that all things considered, if the sealed bearings hold out in
winter riding, they are the way to go because they are fully replaceable
and offer much longer potential service intervals.
[1] hydrodynamic separation of two surfaces sliding relative to one
another is different to elasto-hydrodynamic separation experience by
ball bearings at high speed. another example of hydrodynamic separation
is the journal bearings on the crankshaft of a car engine. at rest, a
car engine is high friction and hard to turn, but when running and the
hydrodynamic layer has initiated, friction is very low.