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Igus Inc., the leading developer of Energy Chain Systems ®, Chainflex ® cables and iglide ® plastic bearings, sets itself apart from the competition by catering to all customers, big and small. John Sweeley, an avid mountain biker, discovered this while trying to find an alternative solution for centered-steel and sintered-bronze bearings in his bicycle suspension.

Factory bearings on the bike had worn unevenly and failed after only six months of recreational riding. Sweeley started searching for a long-lasting, maintenance-free fix, but reached a dead end with the original manufacturer. While looking for a new bearings supplier, Sweeley contacted a current igus customer, Turner Suspension Bicycles, for advice. Turner recommended igus’ line of plastic bearings to solve Sweeley’s problem.

To Sweeley’s surprise, igus not only assisted in finding the right bearing to fit his needs, but also truly cared about an order totaling less than $45.00. Sweeley chose to install four pairs of iglide J bearings on his mountain bike and is extremely impressed with their superior performance against elements such as dust, water and mud. Iglide J offers many features, such as low wear against a variety of shaft materials, vibration dampening and low moisture absorption, all perfect for a mountain bike suspension.

Sweeley understands he may not be one of igus’ biggest customers, but knows his needs matter, never the less.

“I was pleasantly surprised I could place such a small order with a company as big as igus,” said Sweeley. “The sales people I interacted with were extremely helpful and the size of bearings I needed were readily available. I was curious about polymer bearings and am now sold on their extended life and cost-effectiveness.”

Sweeley intends to continue using iglide bearings on his bike in the future, but believes the bearings he is currently using have a lot of time left.

“I installed the iglide more than a year ago and haven’t touched it since. They are completely maintenance-free and work great.”

Sweeley feels confident recommending igus to anyone looking for plastic components. With iglide bearings, Sweeley is no longer preoccupied with repairs or failure and is able to enjoy what he truly loves—mountain biking.