Re: [CR]bearing quality

(Example: Events:BVVW)

From: "Jon M. Schaer" <jschaer@columbus.rr.com>
To: <aantipas@sopris.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <20021227200002.97096.2921.Mailman@phred.org> <3E0CBADD.B7FEFDB@sopris.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]bearing quality
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 16:03:16 -0500

----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew Antipas" <aantipas@sopris.net>
> I noticed Bicycle Classics
> lists loose ball bearing as grade 25 and the same quality as Campy. I
> have seen other suppliers list grade 200 bearings. How are bearings
> graded? Is a higher or lower number the better grade? Thanks for the
> help!
>

The lower the grade the better the bearing quality. Grade 25 is normally the highest available, going through grades 50, 100, 200, and 500. I have seen one distributor that had grade 20.

Campy bearings are also grade 25, but are supposedly matched sets from production runs, which theoretically would allow smoother running. I personally have only found a difference with headsets, I assume because the larger bearing race radius and greater distance between bearing sets amplifies race alignment error and the effects of bearing variance. Just on principle I use Campy bearings in all my top grade components anyway.

Jon Schaer
Columbus, OH