It remains a challenge to distinguish all standard sizes the bicycle industry uses for bottom brackets and crank sets. With all these sizes, systems and brands, it is possible to make numerous combinations. "We believe that everyone should have easy access to this information, which is why we have developed a comprehensive step-by-step plan. This plan can be found in our catalogue. By measuring only 3 dimensions and checking which crank set brands and systems on the bicycle, you can see in the overview which bottom bracket you need," says Carl van der Spruijt, Technical Director at Elvedes.
To make searching even easier, Elvedes has added an additional table featuring drawings of each bottom bracket. This visual representation provides a clearer understanding of the product, as it highlights the essential details and important dimensions more effectively than a mere photograph accompanied by a description. Furthermore, the table includes information about the corresponding spare parts available for each bottom bracket. Almost every Elvedes bottom bracket can be stripped and overhauled without the need to replace.
Service kit
The 2018088 bearing service kit has been developed for these revisions. With this tool it is possible to replace the bearings in the bottom bracket in no time at all, without having to remove the housing from the frame. By utilising this kit, repairs can be conducted efficiently, as only the worn or damaged parts need to be replaced, sparing the rider the expense of a complete replacement.
Modular
For each new bottom bracket, Elvedes looks at techniques they can use from the existing bottom brackets. Carl van der Spruijt: "To date, we have been able to build our entire range in a modular way, which has the great advantage that you can use a number of basic parts, such as bottom bracket housings and bearing sets, for multiple brands of drive systems. This enables us to keep the number of spare parts minimal, and to develop parts with which a bottom bracket can easily be converted to another system."
A good example of this are the bearing caps for FSA systems. With the help of a few bearing caps it is possible to easily make an Elvedes bottom bracket designed for a Shimano system. The information about the interchangeability of the bottom bracket parts can also be found in the table that they have placed in the 2023 catalogue.
This article is sponsored by Elvedes.
