"davek" <
[email protected]> writes:
>JJ wrote:
>> Can I replace the cup and cone bottom bracket with a cartridge on an older Trek 5230?
Sure, but you could also replace the frameset too.
You can also eat at McDonalds off of paper plates, but I prefer china
and silverware, and this is what a cup-and-cone bottom bracket is - a
more durable - lower friction - but slightly higher maintenance
version of a bottom bracket, compared to a cartridge bottom bracket.
Note that a cup-and-cone bottom bracket is also a less profitable
bottom bracket from a monopolist bike conglomerate's perspective,
since each piece is individually maintainable.
Frankly, I don't think that anyone believes that a cartridge bottom
bracket is actually superior to a cup-and-cone bottom bracket.
Friction is higher and the cartridge makes it heavier, period. The
only advantage of a cartridge bottom bracket is that any nitwhit can
install it without screwing up the bearings. In this case, the target
nitwhit is your local bikeshop wrench. But once a cartridge gets
really wet, most likely it will be toast.
The two most premium bottom brackets on the market - phil wood and
Royce U.K. - are the equivalent of cup-and-cone bottom brackets. The
royce bottom bracket is a completely traditional bottom bracket with
lockrings on both sides, for full chainline adjustability. The phil
wood bottom bracket is not a cartridge bottom bracket - it's a
sealed-bearing bottom bracket, built using the same principles as a
cup-and-cone bottom bracket.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA