Phil Wood Stainless Steel Bottom Bracket

Price Paid:  $100.00 at can't recall

Favorite Ride:
high UV exposure

Bike Setup:
Three setups, 1 fixed gear, two road bikes.

Summary:
I bought this WAYYY back in 2000. I originally put in on a fixed gear bike. I had the bearings replaced, after a couple years, and rode the fixed bear till 2004. I later installed the same unit on an Allen Wanta road frame. I rode this for two years.
I then installed the SAME unit on a Lemond Buenos Aires, which I am still riding.
So, three bikes, three states, (Arizona, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Arizona again) NINE years, same unit. No problems.

Strengths:
longevity, adjustability

Weaknesses:
Initial cost, then after nine years, it becomes a strength.

Similar Products Used:
Sugino, Campy, Shimano

Price Paid:  $65.00 at Twin Ports Cyclery

Favorite Ride:
Headwaters 100, Firehouse 50

Bike Setup:
The bike, an Italian frame (Columbus tubing) failed (cracked frame), but not the Phil Wood BB, which I removed for further use

Summary:
Don't look for the price anywhere soon--I bought the Phil Wood BB in the 1980s, and am still using it. It's a sealed BB, with not a hint of rumbling--in short, still smooth as silk

Strengths:
Smooth

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Variety of BBs over the years, but nothing compares to the PW BB

Price Paid:  $90.00 at Ben's Cycle

Favorite Ride:
any

Bike Setup:
Cannondale Track, Sugino 75 cranks, Level Component hubs

Summary:
Solid and smooth. Use this on my fixed gear commuter. Effortless pedaling. I hear the durability is legendary and should last me a long time.

Strengths:
Solid and smooth.

Weaknesses:
none.

Similar Products Used:
Miche pista bb, Shimano UN53

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Internet

Favorite Ride:
Morati

Bike Setup:
Ti road & Campy

Summary:
15,000 miles and never a problem. Pulled the BB out after 14,000 miles. Removed the seals. BB was still fully greased. Looked like new.

Strengths:
Bombproof

Weaknesses:
"Zero"

Price Paid:  $76.00

Favorite Ride:
anything country, especially mountains

Bike Setup:
Which one? it's lasted for three mountain bikes!

Summary:
Bought this gem to replace the inexpensive spindle set that came with bike and and had already worn out _thrice_. Expensive, but dealer assured me it had a five year warrantee on the bearings, so I took the chance. That was in 1986. So far it has outlasted that bike, the one that came after and is still going strong on my present bike!

It has endured mountain biking through dirt, mud, stream crossings (even totally submerged), commutes of anywhere from 50-100 miles a week, every week, or 15 years, rain or shine.

The only maintainance it has had is once a year I carefully remove the outer seals, clean out the old grease and repack with boat trailer wheel bearing grease and reseal.

This has been going on for twenty years and counting yet except for the grease, I have replaced NOTHING! it's still on the original spindle, bearings, everything and it still runs smooth even after 51,000 (that's Fifty One Thousand) miles.

Need I say more?

Strengths:
can be positioned for perfect chainline, very low maintainance, immortal

Weaknesses:
Are you kidding?

Similar Products Used:
whatever came with the cranks I had at the time