Sea Otter: 2009 bikes herald crank design revolution BB30 take-over sounds death knell for threaded bottom brackets Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Whatsapp Share on Reddit Email to a friend By James Huang Published: April 23, 2008 at 3:30 am It may be sooner rather than later that the BB30 standard replaces threaded shells. James Huang The bottom bracket itself is simple. FSA comprises just bearings, snap rings & spacers. James Huang Cannondale was the first to use BB30 but it now looks like a pioneer not a technical outlier James Huang Among the BB30 adopters is Jamis who showed off a BB30-equipped sample of its Xenith SL road frame. James Huang The shell is larger, but bore tolerances will still need to be tight for good bearing life. James Huang The BB30 shell is 68mm wide and contains the bearings, so pedal spacing can be brought back down. James Huang Kona showed off this BB30-equipped full-suspension machine. James Huang The larger diameter shell won’t allow for the broad down tubes & wide chain stays of some designs John Stevenson Van Dessel jumped aboard with its updated Rivet carbon road frame & Gin & Trombones ‘cross bike. James Huang Jamis also took BB30 off-road with this version of its popular Dakota. James Huang FSA is 100 percent on board with BB30 and will offer seven compatible models next year. James Huang Mountain bike versions will have a threaded collar for preload; road versions use a wave washer. James Huang FSA also displayed a BMX crankset that complied with the BB30 standard. James Huang BH wasn’t at the BB30 presentation but this Connect frame proved it’s playing with the idea, too. James Huang BH’s top-end G4 was proudly hanging from a scale at Sea Otter. James Huang And what did it weigh, you wonder? Not much. James Huang The G4 is also set to get even lighter courtesy of a new seatpost clamp designed by Rotor. James Huang Cannondale highlighted the effectiveness of integrated system design with its new Rize trail bike. James Huang The overall suspension layout is roughly similar to that of the Scalpel. James Huang The upper shock mount is bonded to the top tube. James Huang Asymmetrical chain stays are joined by a substantial-looking bridge. James Huang The Cannondale Moto offers 160mm of travel but supposedly weighs under 13.6kg (30.0lb). James Huang The Moto’s carbon front triangle deserves much of the credit for the impressively light weight. James Huang The single pivot rear triangle is made of welded aluminum. James Huang The linkage is cleverly designed such that the carbon frame is always in tension, not compression. James Huang The team-issued MonaVie Cannondale Scalpel is decked out & ready to roll. James Huang Titus brought its Isogrid concept off-road with this sharp-looking prototype. James Huang The top & down tubes are titanium & carbon fiber, internally reinforced for strength & rigidity James Huang Titus is also playing with BB30 on this prototype. James Huang An integrated seatmast is an odd feature on a mountain bike, but it looks trick & might save weight James Huang