I purchased a set of the Velomax Orion II wheels back in 2003. After a long
ride in the rain in early 2004 the rear wheel bearings seized up. I ordered
a replacement set of bearings and a drift kit (metal drifts for removal and
installation of the bearings).
When I opened up the rear wheel hub to replace the bearings, I found that
the original cartridge type bearings did not have a seal in place on both
sides of the bearing. One side of each bearing was sealed, while the other
side was open. Without a double seal, water and grit easily entered the
bearings and they were ruined. The replacement bearings which I had
purchased from Velomax had double seals. Since I installed the double sealed
bearings I have had no further bearing problems.
I don't believe that a single sided bearing would be a good choice for a
bicycle wheel - any rain or road grit will quickly enter the bearing and it
would be ruined. But the double sealed bearings work just fine.
I do not know why the original set of bearings only had a single seal. Maybe
they were trying to save a tiny bit of weight.
"Earthstick" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> Does anyone use the AscentII wheels or any of the others from the
> Easton\Velomax range. I read some reviews of the Ascent Comps that
> suggested the bearings did not lat in wet weather. I think the
> AscentIIs are a newer version so has this been improved?
>