Does your LBS carry loose ball bearings?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Does your LBS carry loose ball bearings?
I was shocked to find that the one a few blocks from my house does not. It's a high end place and I'm sure none of the bikes they sell uses loose bearings but you'd think they'd do the occasional tuneup on an old bike.
I guess not. However, if you want a cup of espresso or a pastry they've got you covered.
I guess not. However, if you want a cup of espresso or a pastry they've got you covered.
Last edited by tjspiel; 07-25-17 at 08:27 AM.
#2
Randomhead
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I think they still do, I bought some a couple of years ago. Maybe not as many bearings as a shop would have bitd though
#3
Senior Member
I was shocked to find that the one a few blocks from my house does not. It's a high end place and I'm sure none of the bikes they sell uses loose bearings but you'd think they'd do the occasional tuneup on an old bike.
I guess not. However, if you want a cup of expresso or a pastry they've got you covered.
I guess not. However, if you want a cup of expresso or a pastry they've got you covered.
Also I could barely get the time of day from any of the employees, and one of them spouted some misinformation about gravel tires that I know through personal experience is decidedly false, which tells me he doesn't know jack about gravel.
#4
Senior Member
They do. Bought some 1/4" ball bearings two weeks ago to replace my wife's rear wheel hub bearings that were caged and starting to see some wear. They were cheap too, just 4 cents each.
#5
Occam's Rotor
No, but they can order them for me at 12 times the price of Amazon, and they will be here within 3 to 5 weeks.
#6
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luckily, the shop i frequent carries ball bearings - in addition to the PBR in the mini fridge behind the service counter. granted those guys are all younger and can come across as ******-ish but i've always been treated fair.
#7
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Thread Starter
I visited a "high-end" shop in MPLS a few months ago and my overall impression was that it was more concerned with being hip and carrying the latest instagram-famous bikes and products than it was with being a bike shop. Decent espresso though.
Also I could barely get the time of day from any of the employees, and one of them spouted some misinformation about gravel tires that I know through personal experience is decidedly false, which tells me he doesn't know jack about gravel.
Also I could barely get the time of day from any of the employees, and one of them spouted some misinformation about gravel tires that I know through personal experience is decidedly false, which tells me he doesn't know jack about gravel.
#8
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Thread Starter
Every now and I then I consider replacing the old cup and cone BB on my fixed gear bike with a cartridge but bearings are so cheap and I've got 3 tubes of Phil Wood's grease that came with some miscellaneous tools and parts I bought from a guy on craigslist.
#10
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They had some the last time I needed some. Since then I tossed a couple bags of 100 in a mail order to meet the free shipping minimum, and I've been working through them. I still support the shop by asking them to do the stuff I don't want to mess with, although that list is slowly shrinking.
#11
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I was shocked to find that the one a few blocks from my house does not. It's a high end place and I'm sure none of the bikes they sell uses loose bearings but you'd think they'd do the occasional tuneup on an old bike.
I guess not. However, if you want a cup of espresso or a pastry they've got you covered.
I guess not. However, if you want a cup of espresso or a pastry they've got you covered.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#12
Senior Member
The last three LBS I've been in in my area have had both loose balls and caged bearings.
#15
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How the heck can they even work on bikes if they don't have loose bearings? Are they so high end that they never touch a bike that doesn't have 100% sealed cartridge bearings?
Just go to Amazon or eBay.
Just go to Amazon or eBay.
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#16
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I recently picked up 500 BB's in 5 sizes from Amazon for $10-$12 maybe. Aside from wheels, pedals often use loose bearings, even some of the higher end models. I replaced the bearings in the wheel of my son's tag-a-long bike, and also regreased its 1-piece crank and bottom bracket. HUGE difference there! I also replaced bearings in another wheelset I have, and rebuilt 3 sets of pedals. Everything is like new, now!
#17
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Thread Starter
My BB had started to creak and I figured it was due for bearing replacement anyway so I thought I pick up some bearings in case I was short.
My guess is that they do have them, but they buy them in bulk and don't sell to the public cause they don't know how to sell something they can't scan. I bet if the right person would have been behind the counter they would have given me a fist full and charged a couple of bucks.
The two people that were behind the counter just looked at me like I was nuts and tried to be helpful by selling me a $12 bearing replacement kit for a 1 piece crank.
Last edited by tjspiel; 07-25-17 at 12:01 PM.
#18
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Is it possible to use loose BB's instead of caged on 1-piece cranks? If so is it significantly better? Or do you replace the individual BB's inside the cage?
#19
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And because you are using more bearings, it is better. Cages are used because they make assembly cheaper.
That's one reason I didn't buy the replacement kit. It would have fewer bearings. The other reason is that I didn't want to spend $12 when what I needed should cost a fraction of that.
#20
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Is it really common to call ball bearings "BBs"?
BB is a specific size of round ammo, specifically 0.177 inches. Also they're copper coated steel, you really wouldn't want to put them in a bearing.
BB is a specific size of round ammo, specifically 0.177 inches. Also they're copper coated steel, you really wouldn't want to put them in a bearing.
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#21
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The shop that I go to does have them, and they sold me some at a decent price a while back. MTB shop, and primarily service and repairs. You need to drive past those latte swilling roadie hangouts and find a shop where they like to work on bikes!
#22
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I recently picked up 500 BB's in 5 sizes from Amazon for $10-$12 maybe. Aside from wheels, pedals often use loose bearings, even some of the higher end models. I replaced the bearings in the wheel of my son's tag-a-long bike, and also regreased its 1-piece crank and bottom bracket. HUGE difference there! I also replaced bearings in another wheelset I have, and rebuilt 3 sets of pedals. Everything is like new, now!
#23
aka Tom Reingold
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I've never seen it done. I imagine you would want sticky grease to hold the balls on while you assemble everything.
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New York City and High Falls, NY
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#24
Senior Member
I don't see why they can't do it on bearings.
Perhaps the store decided to separate sale items from repair items. It might be a bit of a hassle to count out bearings individually.
But, it also turns away customers. Internet? Elsewhere?
Our local building supply store has loose bearings. Also local bearing supply stores.
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Here's Sheldon Brown's page for BB maintenance including the recommendation to ditch the cages:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/bbadj.html
However, I've seen an article on the same site from Jobst Brandt recommending that you keep the cages.
Edit: I guess they agree. Sheldon says to ditch the cage if it contains less than 11 balls.
Last edited by tjspiel; 07-25-17 at 05:03 PM.