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Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost?
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Mulen
Apr 29, 12 21:54
Post #1 of 11
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Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost?
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So, having read heaps of "not-worth-it" posts here, I am still curious on the Ceramics.
Hence, my questions is not "if ceramics" but rather what is the full monty in a Ceramics Bearing setup and what would it set me back?
Looking on various websites I see different configurations, but IŽd like more insights into "best ST practices" :)
I run a dead-fast Argon 18 E118 with Di2, a Reynolds Disc and a Reynolds 66mm front. Thanks a bunch in advance.
Tom
Thomas Rohde, Coach - Out of Bubblegum
http://www.outofbubblegum.dk
Record10Carbon
Apr 29, 12 21:59
Post #2 of 11
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [Mulen]
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Your net gain in time will be +/- 3 seconds over 112 miles.
Spend the money on a swim coach.
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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?
Faster.Motor
Apr 29, 12 22:29
Post #3 of 11
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [R10C]
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Save money and replace your normal bearings more often. Get a coach. Buy some shoes.
Record10Carbon
Apr 29, 12 22:33
Post #4 of 11
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [Faster.Motor]
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What is funny is how many people think that there are bearings made just for bikes. Every bearing I have ever seen in a bike has that, and other uses. Ceramic bearings for instance are great at 150,000rpm when it is 600F out. Sure, they "feel" cool spinning them, that is however not under load. Used to see tons of guys take all of the grease out of their racing 608Z bearings in their rollerblades...felt faster than them bearings with all that pesky grease in em. But hey, we are Tri folks, we gots ta slice hairs.
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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?
Mulen
Apr 29, 12 22:36
Post #5 of 11
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [Faster.Motor]
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Sweet and very bright answers - the question is not "if" ceramics, but "what and how ceramics" ... fairly simply I guess.
But alas - feel free to let all your Ceramics anger out here too - thereŽs plenty of space :)
Thomas Rohde, Coach - Out of Bubblegum
http://www.outofbubblegum.dk
Philosoraptor
Apr 29, 12 22:50
Post #6 of 11
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [Mulen]
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"what and how" eh?
You give me your money and I'll kick you in the nuts. But then you will really wish you had harder balls.
Record10Carbon
Apr 29, 12 22:58
Post #7 of 11
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [Mulen]
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Used to be bolts....SRP made Titanium, Aluminum and fancy anodized bolts to make your bike lighter - ceramic bearings in most uses are the new SRP bolt kit. If you feel cooler, great. If you enjoy it, great. One thing is for certain, your wallet will be lighter and there are plenty of people who will take your old bearings and ride their muddy steel bearing bike to beat you in a race.
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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?
Mulen
Apr 29, 12 23:55
Post #8 of 11
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [R10C]
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Funny. You say the word "Ceramics" which aparently provokes a sudden "I am too smart to buy that"-reaction...
Thomas Rohde, Coach - Out of Bubblegum
http://www.outofbubblegum.dk
wickert
Apr 30, 12 1:55
Post #9 of 11
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [Mulen]
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Haters gonna hate; fortunately, it is possible to concomitantly get a coach, train hard AND buy ceramic bearings :) . It wasn't very high up on my priorities list (watts saved per unit $ is fairly low: expect to save a fraction of a watt per bearing set, see below), but, having covered a number of other items, I went with ceramic derailleur pulleys and considered ceramic BB bearings for my new TT bike (unfortunately, they were back-logged for many a week, so I'm running steel for the moment). I've lost races for 3s, and won for less than 2s, and in this realm, a smooth (besides, obviously, clean, well-oiled and properly adjusted) drivetrain never hurts. If you're looking for every possible watt out there (marginal gains - it all adds up!), why not?
The full monty would be jockey pulleys, bottom bracket and wheels. Ceramic pulley sets go for under $100; a ceramic bottom bracket will cost you maybe twice as much. Maybe Reynolds offers a ceramic upgrade kit, many wheel manufacturers do; it should cost somewhere in that range, too.
Finally, for reference:
Quote:
We've read FSA's lit, which claims that the bearing maker SKF tested ceramic-bearing pulleys and had the Danish magazine Cykel Magasinet repeated the test. Both found that Dura Ace pulleys consume .78w at 500rpm, ceramic pulleys consume .06w. 500rpm was chosen because that's what a pulley might spin if you're pedaling in the big ring.
(from
Competitive Cyclist's review of Ceramic Speed Pulleys
)
Quote:
"Every rotating item on Contador's bike spins with an almost impossibly low amount of friction that puts even the best box-stock machines to shame. Flick the drivetrain backwards and the crank spins as if there's no chain attached; spin a derailleur pulley on its own and it whirs silently; lift the front end and the wheel oscillates almost perpetually like a powered metronome; and most impressively, even the nearly inertia-free Speedplay Zero pedals will whirl for a couple of seconds if you nudge one with your finger.
What's the secret? (...) Full-ceramic bearings are a safe bet ..."
(from
Bike Radar's Speedy bearings for Alberto Contador
)
Cheers,
Ricardo Wickert |
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- Germany | My sporadically updated blog:
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Bmanners
Apr 30, 12 3:52
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Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [Mulen]
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I did the ceramic pulley and bb bracket with ceramic. Am i fast enough to warrant them probably not but they needed replacement and the prices were right. I went with fsa ceramic BB and KCNC ceramic pulley's. Ironwolf gave me the ceramic pulleys for almost nothing and and another ST'er sold me a new ceramic BB for less then a new standerd fsa Mego exo. So figured WHY NOT!! Figure when it is time to change bearings in the race wheels i will do the same. There are different grades of ceramic bearings . Safe bet is to go with a proven company to reap benefits. If not might as well go with Phil wood, Chris King or other well known steel bearing guys. They are awesome too. I have a set of wheels with Phil Wood hubs from the seventies that still spin like they were put together yesterday!!
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Mulen
Apr 30, 12 4:55
Post #11 of 11
(807 views)
Re: Ceramic Bearings - what do I need and at what cost? [wickert]
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Ricardo - awesome, thanks a bunch, just what I needed.
If a $400 upgrade is worth 4 seconds in an Olympic or 60 seconds in an IM, will leave that to other threads! Funny enough I also already considered a coach and I think I already do train hard, but thanks again for the reminders.
Thomas Rohde, Coach - Out of Bubblegum
http://www.outofbubblegum.dk
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The New Specialized Wind Tunnel
Will this be a game changer for Specialized, in both sales and product design, or will it not move the sales and design needle versus those in Specialized's competitive set?
Yes, Game Changer
Minor move forward
Won't budge the needle
