This question has been bugging me and this knowledgeable list undoubtedly knows the answer. Since I play with almost exclusively vintage lwts, I had no experience with cartridge bearings until I got this Ral Pro which had a new Shimano cartridge bb installed. Very smooth and zero play granted, but it has more drag than my meticulously adj bbs. This reminded me of my long-standing question:
Do racers use low viscosity grease or even heavy oil to reduce drag? If grease, why put oil holes in hubs and other bearing areas up until (a couple of decades ago) ala Campy Record hubs. Isn't it an advantage to oil bearings every race day as opposed to fighting viscous grease? Are contemporary racers now using cartridge bearings?
Jack Romans
Sacramento, CA