Elvedes bearings: Optimise the performance of your bike with quality bearings
Elvedes bearings: Optimise the performance of your bike with quality bearings
Description
In the world of cycling, bearings play a crucial role. With various sizes and types available, finding the right replacement bearing for your bike can sometimes be a challenge. Fortunately, Elvedes has curated a comprehensive range of bearings to make this search as easy as possible.
Versatile bearings
Many cyclists now rely on industrial bearings in their workshops. The main advantage of these bearings is that they can be replaced as a whole unit when worn out, unlike the cup and cone bearings that are still commonly used in wheel hubs. This makes servicing parts with industrial bearings much less labor-intensive. Elvedes offers nearly all bearing sizes used in the cycling industry for wheel hubs, rear suspension pivot points, headset and bottom bracket bearings. These bearings are manufactured according to Elvedes specifications from high-quality bearing steel, ensuring smooth operation and long service life. It's often the small details that matter, and Elvedes bearings come generously filled with water-resistant grease and strong rubber seals.
MAX bearings: taking performance to the max
One of the major advantages of Elvedes bearings is that most industrial bearings are also available in a MAX version. While a MAX bearing may look the same from the outside as a standard industrial bearing, the difference lies in the interior. In a MAX bearing, the space between the inner and outer race is completely filled with balls, providing a larger contact surface. In a standard industrial bearing, the balls are separated by a cage, which, although effective, may not be the best choice for certain applications.
When to choose a MAX bearing?
In principle, a MAX bearing can be used in any application. The concept behind MAX bearings is reminiscent of what was done years ago with cup and cone systems, where the original ball retainer was replaced by loose balls to provide smoother rotation over a longer period. While this principle still works well, MAX bearings now also offer improvements in a world where industrial bearings are becoming increasingly popular.
In the cycling industry, MAX bearings were initially used primarily as pivot points for rear suspension systems. These pivot points are often compact and have only a few degrees of rotation. To provide maximum support for these compact bearing dimensions, a MAX bearing is the best choice. But this also applies to other bearing dimensions available in a MAX version. After being serviced with these bearings, the part will remain smooth-running for much longer. A prime example of this is modern wheel hubs.
The performance segment of cycling strives for lightweight, stiffness, and aerodynamics, which has led to the production of beautiful wheels that ride great until the bearings fail. Unfortunately, modern hub designs leave little room for larger bearing dimensions. Compact bearings with small balls are often not up to the loads that such lightweight, stiff wheels must bear. For these applications, a MAX bearing is the perfect solution.
Elvedes MAX bearings, like their industrial bearings, are made from high-quality bearing steel, resistant to heavy loads. For extra durability, they are equipped with strong rubber seals on both sides and filled with water-resistant grease.
Maintenance is essential
There is a misconception that industrial bearings are maintenance-free. Despite Elvedes' choice of high-quality grease and seals, anything that rotates requires some form of maintenance. It is therefore wise for professionals and cycling enthusiasts to inspect their bearings regularly. Elvedes offers a convenient hook set in its range, as well as the right bearing grease. With this hook set, the rubber seals can be removed precisely without damaging them. This allows you to assess whether the bearings are sufficiently lubricated inside and whether maintenance is required.
A bearing that becomes less smooth over time and is lightly contaminated can be cleaned with a degreaser that is not harmful to both the bearing metal and the other materials connected to the bearing. Once everything is clean again, a new amount of bearing grease can be applied with the Elvedes grease gun. The rubber seals should also be cleaned before reinstallation. To avoid damaging the rubber and keep it supple, it is recommended to use a mild solution of a biological cleaner. The rubber seals can be precisely reinstalled using the round, non-pointed part of the hook set.
In conclusion, Elvedes has transformed the cycling experience with its extensive range of industrial and MAX bearings. These bearings are designed to optimize the performance and durability of essential bike components. And remember: even the most reliable bearings need some attention from time to time.
Bearing guide
In the Elvedes catalog, a table is included to easily find the correct type of bearing based on the inner diameter, outer diameter, and width. It also provides the corresponding Elvedes industrial bearing or MAX bearing part number for easy replacement.
