Just hit 1,000 bottom bracket replacements and it made me think about the job

I was cleaning up my workbench last night and found my old logbook from when I started at the shop. I flipped through it and did the math, and I've swapped out over a thousand bottom brackets. That number hit me. On one side, it feels good. I can do a square taper, Hollowtech II, or a press fit GXP in my sleep now. It's a solid, repeatable skill that makes the shop money and gets bikes rolling fast. But on the other side, it's kind of a bummer. A huge chunk of those were on bikes less than five years old, just worn out from lack of care or cheap parts. It makes me wonder if we're just putting bandaids on a problem, or if this is just the nature of the trade now. Has anyone else hit a number like that and felt the same mix of pride and a bit of sadness about what it means?

2 comments

2 Comments

brooke_walker231mo ago

Man, that's the whole disposable bike culture right there.

harris.zara1mo ago

I get that, but it's more about people just not wanting to fix things.