BB30 Question and bottom bracket question

Patrick Hayden

Originally when I bought my tri bike I bought a QR Lucero Lite with a GXP bottom bracket. I then picked up a quarq SRAM 54/39 for it. About 3 months later the bike developed a crack on the seat tube, and I had to get it replaced through QR and ended up getting a CD 0.1 which has a BB30 bottom bracket. To accommodate the quarq on the BB30 bracket I had the LBS put in a BB30 to GXP adapter.

Now I am looking at swapping out the quarq 54/39 with a compact and I figure if I am going to do it, it probably makes sense to change it to a BB30. So here is the question, if I I buy the compact quarq is there anything else that I need? Do I also need to replace the bottom bracket/bearings. Are there any other gotchas that I should know about if I go down this route? 

Thanks for the help.

Paul Hough

I have a CD0.1 that I THOUGHT was a BB30. I ordered a SRAM Red compact crank and BB30 inset bearings for it, but I didn't get around to changing them out until 6 months later. Guess what...it wasn't a BB30. If you are absolutely sure you have a BB30, I'll sell the crank and bearings, both in the box, for $250 plus shipping.

mancona

If you have a bb30 adapter that was pressed in and then has standard gxp bearings you should bring it to a shop. Removing the pressed in adapter will usually void the warranty and can crack the BB if done wrong. If done correctly, it's no big deal.

I know of at least two other types of bb30 to gxp adapters, bb30 to gxp bearings and wheels manufacturing adapters. Both can be much more easily be removed and allow you to switch to a bb30 crank.

BTW, if this sounds complicated, just be glad you don't have a Cervelo with BBRight as that is even worse ;-)

It would be easier just to get a gxp compact crank and then you don't have to do anything. But I you want the bb30 you can do that. You will just need to but bb30 bearings and pay the shop to remove the adapter. Keep in mind there are different bb30 standards and you need the right kind for your frame. The two most common are bb30 or bb30 pressfit.

Patrick Hayden

Matt and Paul thanks for the responses.

@ Matt: So in your mind is there much of a benefit in going straight up with the BB30 I had heard there were some pros with stiffness, responsiveness, etc. or is it minimal and just not worth the hassle? I am trying to estimate the cost of swapping out the current quarq with a compact one and need to get spousal approval so need to have my ducks in a row if I want to go down the more expensive route. As it sounds it is 50 bucks more from quarq, the cost of new bearings (40-200 if you go with ceramic), and then the cost of the install at the LBS. So unless there are some noticeable differences that make it worth my while it is cheaper and much less of a hassle to get the GXP.

mancona

I've rode both and notice zero difference between GXP and BB30. I think BB30 looks nicer and has the potential for better performance but I highly doubt anyone can notice the difference of the same crank in bb30 vs standard. BB30 is lighter, but we are talking less than 100g so barely noticable.

I would go the less hassle route, but that is just my opinion.