----- 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