from Rookie’s keyboard

Hello, fellas

Sometimes new isn’t always better. This is especially true when it comes to bicycle engineering. 

Let’s face it. The bicycle is inherently simple and meant to remain such unless you want to change its soul. That principle applies to the overall “mechanism” as well as the small systems found within individual components. 

Today, I will focus on one of those, namely the hubs a.k.a. the little engineering wonders allowing your wheels to spin at insanely high RPM. 

Truth be told, regardless of what you hear, it’s hard to beat the cup & cone system that bicycle hubs have used for decades. 

And one of the most obvious examples is that Shimano continues to rely on it despite all the new technology.

Why?

Simplicity

Cup and cone bearings are the symbol of simplicity. The result is a light and yet robust mechanism that is unlikely to fail.

Servicing is easy

Cup and cone bearings are not complicated to service. You need a couple of cone wrenches, grease, and new ball bearings in case the old ones are shot.

The procedure is not very complicated and doesn’t take a lot of time. The first session, however, could be a little frustrating. Persevere! It’s not that hard.

An Insanely Long Lifespan

If looked after, cup and cone bearings can last decades. I have hubs from the 70s that still work.

Microscopic Adjustments

You can make fine adjustments to the bearings by tightening or untightening the cone a tiny amount.

The goal is to come up with a setting that has non-perceivable axle play and a wheel that spins freely.

Some higher-end Shimano models (e.g., Dura-Ace) allow you to perform the aforementioned adjustment without tools.

Supreme Lateral Loading

One of the main reasons why Shimano continues to use the cup & cone system is the ability of the bearing to “displace axial and radial loads effectively”.

The outcome is smaller stress on the bearing system when the bike moves from side to side.

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Cup and cone bearings or cartridge bearings?

My answer is – cup & cone, but ultimately, it depends. 

When it comes to performance, a quality hub of either type will be enough for most people.

Still, cup and cone bearings have some notable advantages:

• Cheaper
• Easily Serviceable.

There are three stages of cup and cone servicing depending on the bearings’ state:

Degree 1: Degreasing and re-greasing of the hub (routine maintenance)

Degree 2: Degreasing, re-greasing, and replacing the worn bearings

Degree 3: Degreasing, re-greasing, and replacing the cones and the bearings

Cartridge bearings are not serviceable. When they fail, the user is expected to just pull them out and press in new ones.

In both cases, the procedure is not very complicated, but cartridge bearings require different tools.

The strong points of cartridge bearings are:

• Low maintenance

A cartridge bearing does not require any maintenance. You can occasionally clean the hub, but since the actual bearings are sealed in a cartridge, you can’t get to them. As a result, the hubs last longer without needing a service.

• No Need For Adjustments

Finding the right setting of a cup and cone bearing is fairly easy when you have experience, but some people would classify the procedure as annoying.

A sealed bearing does not require you to do any of that. It’s already pre-set to where it needs to be.

Popularity?

Cup and cone hubs are getting less popular (even when made by Shimano) for the following reasons:

• Cup and cone

Many wrongfully consider the cup and cone system old-school whereas cartridge bearings are seen as an upgrade. In practice, this doesn’t hold.

• Boring

Cup & cone hubs aren’t flashy, and some bike enthusiasts do not like that.

• Adjustments Required

As already mentioned, cup and cone bearings have to be carefully adjusted to operate as intended. 

If the cone isn’t sufficiently tightened, the axle around which the wheel rotates will have some play. As a result, the wheel will be unstable, the axle may bend, and the bearings could get damaged.

Conversely, if the cone is tightened too much, the bearings will drag against the races of the cups and the cones. If the ball bearings get damaged, it’s not a big deal as they’re easily replaceable. 

However, replacing the cups is often not worth the trouble.

TL: DR;

Cup & cone bearings just work. Learn how to adjust them (with patience) and enjoy light, cheap, and working hubs for decades. 

Until next time, 

Rookie