Gravel riding exposes bottom brackets to conditions road systems rarely encounter, and Campagnolo designed the Pro-Tech sealing system specifically to handle mud, water, and grit infiltration. The system uses dual barriers: an external sealing ring that blocks contaminants at the frame interface, and an internal fiberglass-reinforced polyamide sleeve that prevents contamination from traveling through the spindle channel. This layered approach addresses the reality that single-seal designs eventually allow fine particles to work past the barrier during sustained exposure to wet or muddy conditions.

The cups thread into English standard bottom bracket shells measuring 68 millimeters wide with 1.37-inch diameter threads at 24 threads per inch. Installation requires Campagnolo's UT-BB120 tool or equivalent, and the cups mate with the stainless steel bearings that come pre-installed on Ekar cranksets rather than housing bearings themselves. This outboard bearing configuration places larger diameter bearings outside the frame shell where they're easier to service when the time comes, and the bearing size contributes to stiffer spindle support compared to smaller bearings pressed into cups.

The Pro-Tech system matters because bearing contamination doesn't announce itself with sudden failure. It develops gradually as abrasive particles mix with grease and accelerate wear on the bearing races. By the time you feel roughness in the pedal stroke, damage is already done. The external seal intercepts mud and spray before it reaches the bearing interface, while the internal sleeve handles the finer dust that works its way through frame cable ports and vent holes. The fiberglass reinforcement in the polyamide sleeve provides structural rigidity that prevents flex under pedaling loads, which keeps the seal interfaces tight.... Read More