An apparatus and a method are provided for an offset tie rod joint for vehicle steering systems. The offset tie rod joint comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing that is disposed in an opening of an offset housing. A threaded shank fixedly coupled with the offset housing is received by a steering rod. The opening is displaced from a longitudinal axis of the threaded shank by a distance that provides clearance between the offset housing and a spindle assembly during articulation of the spindle assembly during steering. A rear backstop and a front snap-ring in a groove retain the casing within the opening. A bore extending through the ball receives a bolt that fixates the ball between parallel prongs of the spindle assembly. A misalignment spacer on each side of the ball provides clearance for rotation of the ball within the offset housing.

A bicycle rolling-element bearing assembly includes an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring, a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the outer bearing ring and the inner bearing ring and rotatably supporting the outer bearing ring relative to the inner bearing ring, and a lubricant reservoir, configured as a first cage, for storing and dispensing a lubricant, the first cage including bridge elements extending between the rolling elements and at least one side ring connecting the bridge elements.

A bicycle rolling-element bearing assembly includes an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring, a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the outer bearing ring and the inner bearing ring and rotatably supporting the outer bearing ring relative to the inner bearing ring, and a lubricant reservoir, configured as a first cage, for storing and dispensing a lubricant, the first cage including bridge elements extending between the rolling elements and at least one side ring connecting the bridge elements.

A bearing for a bicycle has an outer collar, an inner collar, and an annular gasket. The outer collar is made of self-lubricating material. The inner collar is made of self-lubricating material and is mounted rotatably in the outer collar. The annular gasket is mounted between the outer collar and the inner collar, abuts with corresponding surfaces of the outer collar and the inner collar, and is made of a material having a hardness harder than a hardness of the materials for the inner collar and the outer collar.

In one example, a structure for attaching a wheel to one of a frame of a motorcycle or a bicycle may include an axle having first and second opposing end portions and supporting a wheel, a left axle support collar structure configured to support the first opposing end portion of the axle, and a right axle support collar structure configured to support the second opposing end portion of the axle. A first bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure, and a second bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure. The axle rotates relative to the frame.

A bearing retaining element for bicycle headset bearings includes a basic element which, in a mounted state, at least partly surrounds a steerer tube. The basic element retains a clamping element which also, in the mounted state, at least partly surrounds the steerer tube. Further, a clamping member in particular configured as a grub screw is provided which acts upon the clamping element for clampingly fixing the clamping element to the steerer tube.

In one example, a structure for attaching a wheel to one of a frame of a motorcycle or a bicycle may include an axle having first and second opposing end portions and supporting a wheel, a left axle support collar structure configured to support the first opposing end portion of the axle, and a right axle support collar structure configured to support the second opposing end portion of the axle. A first bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure, and a second bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure. The axle rotates relative to the frame.

A bearing cup for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly is disclosed. The bearing cup comprises an annular body having a radially outer substantially cylindrical surface portion configured to be coupled with the frame of the bicycle and a radially inner substantially cylindrical surface portion defining a housing seat for a bearing. A plurality of ribs extend radially inwards from said radially inner substantially cylindrical surface portion. The plurality of ribs are configured to be coupled with interference with said bearing. In another embodiment, a bicycle bottom bracket assembly is disclosed that includes the aforementioned bearing cup and a bearing configured to be housed inside the bearing cup.

A bearing structure for a shaft includes a shaft on which a male thread section is formed and a concave section recessed inside in a radial direction is partially formed in a circumferential direction thereof, a cylindrical holder in which the shaft is disposed, a bearing attached between the shaft and the holder and configured to rotatably support the shaft at an opening side thereof at which the holder is open, a thread engagement member having a female thread section threadedly engaged with the male thread section and a flat surface section crossing the circumferential direction of the shaft and formed on an outer circumference thereof, and coaxially threadedly fastened to the shaft from the opening side, and a locking member having a convex section fitted into the concave section and an engaging section engaged with the flat surface section, and partially locked to the shaft and the thread engagement member.

A bicycle bottom bracket assembly having a rotational central axis includes a support member, a bearing unit and a radially inward force reducing structure. The support member includes a hanger mounting portion and a bearing mounting portion. The bearing mounting portion is configured to be at least partly positioned within a hanger part of a bicycle frame. The bearing unit includes an outer race, an inner race and at least one roller element disposed between the outer and inner races in a radial direction with respect to the rotational central axis. The outer race is fixed to the bearing mounting portion of the support member. The radially inward force reducing structure reduces a radially inward force being transmitted to the bearing unit.