68 x 103mm bottom bracket??

the_prophet
the_prophet Posts: 426
edited January 2014 in Workshop
The bottom bracket on my commuter, Ridgeback Solo, has just died. Creaking like a floorboard and rough to spin. Assumed it would be easy to find a replacement, but the size 68x103 is making things more than difficult.

Seems its a unusual size thats no longer made and I can't find a replacement anywhere. The cranks are sugino track square tapers.

I've even thought about replacing the whole lot with a shimano alfine, fitted with external bottom bracket but then i'm not sure what the effect on chaninline etc will be.

any advice appreciated!
my canyon slx

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy19 ... AG0298.jpg

Comments

  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    There's quite a few of these BBs in that size Sq Tap - great company to deal with as well

    http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s110p0
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    There are loads of 103mm square taper BBs out there (I just bought a Sugino one to replace a Token one).

    Look at places like hubjub, velo solo, kinoko etc.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    I even have one on the shelf (tange seiki LN3922) they are available evrywhere. not hard to find at all.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • the_prophet
    the_prophet Posts: 426
    Thanks for the suggestions

    Would hardly say they are available everywhere thecycleclinic, have tried 3 different locals this weekend and all the bigger well known online shops none of which had a 103mm variety. Will give the above a check anyway.

    Any views on swapping everything out for external bb with say an alfine crank?
    my canyon slx

    http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy19 ... AG0298.jpg
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Well I am not sure how a commonly available BB is out of stock in your local shops. there are other single speed cranks available than the alfine.

    External BB have a more limtied life span than a square taper BB. for comuting I would only suggest square taper cranksets.

    so many to choose from too what crank length do you need and what chainring size?
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • the_prophet
    the_prophet Posts: 426
    no idea - but thats how it went. and after searching a few places on here before I posted, I got the same result.

    I've picked one up off ebay as temporary measure anyway, so should be sorted by mid week.

    thanks for posts
    my canyon slx

    http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy19 ... AG0298.jpg
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    If you're fitting an Alfine transmission, external BB would be a backward step in terms of reliability.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • spin_city
    spin_city Posts: 34
    the_prophet

    I have the same bike as you, well its predecessor the Genesis Skyline, and I've just bought a Sugino BB online from Graham Weigh Cycles without any problems at all. It's running a lot smoother now! HTH.
  • Masey1980
    Masey1980 Posts: 27
    Just about to replace the bb on my Ridgeback Solo and was pretty sure it was 68 x 110mm, can anyone confirm the axle length, without me having to take it apart?

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