Ceramic bearings

Brian1
Brian1 Posts: 595
edited September 2009 in Workshop
Just been to my LBS to buy some tyres and he was asking me if I would like to upgrade the bearings in my Fulcrum Racing 1's and jockey wheel to ceramic.Apparently this is worth about 18 watts.Is this worth doing?

Comments

  • gundersen
    gundersen Posts: 586
    well if you need an extra light on your bike - go for it.
  • pliptrot
    pliptrot Posts: 582
    18 watts amounts to around 10% of what most of us can produce - I'd be careful taking advice from someone who thinks hubs and jockey wheels consume this. I guess they'd get quite warm? Well adjusted, clean bearings in light grease will be close enough without the silly money, and the claims from the makers of most ceramic stuff are a load of old cod.

    Remember that Campag put journal bearings in their jockey wheels for a long time, until they realized there was money in the word "ceramic" (Ironically the sleeves used in those journal bearings were ceramic). Now, the difference between journal bearings and ball bearings in steel is likely to be far more than the difference between ball bearings in steel and ball bearings in ceramic material.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    He was testing you out, to see if you're suggestible enough to buy some really expensive snake oil. You start them off on the ceramic bearings, and then...
  • bobpzero
    bobpzero Posts: 1,431
    ...say at least the bike wont burst into flames if you go really really fast :lol:
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Meh.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Ceramics are the future
    I like bikes...

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  • Brian1
    Brian1 Posts: 595
    I,ll take that as a ,NO, then!
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    18 watts, more like 1.8...
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    Monty Dog wrote:
    18 watts, more like 1.8...
    At a push.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    OK, 0.18 then?
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    I have ceramic bearings in certain places on my bike. They either came with the parts or in the case of my BB bearings - bought them special. Only because they last longer and are more durable. Not for energy savings.
  • captainsnappy
    captainsnappy Posts: 19
    Not worth the $ IMO.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    captainsnappy wrote:
    Not worth the $ IMO.

    If you know where to get them from they aren't too bad -

    e.g. Ceramic bearings for Zipp wheels, 20 quid.

    http://www.ortechceramics.com/store/prodDetail.asp?recordID=318&orderID=

    That said, for the amount of pressure put on them and the rpm I don't really see why they are important. I have them in bits of my drivetrain but that's because, well, it was made like that...
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    NapoleonD wrote:
    captainsnappy wrote:
    Not worth the $ IMO.

    If you know where to get them from they aren't too bad -

    e.g. Ceramic bearings for Zipp wheels, 20 quid.

    http://www.ortechceramics.com/store/prodDetail.asp?recordID=318&orderID=

    That said, for the amount of pressure put on them and the rpm I don't really see why they are important. I have them in bits of my drivetrain but that's because, well, it was made like that...

    I had ceramic bearings in my Mavic wheels - but they felt SO rough and I had so many problems with them that I went back to the stock ones. Problem solved. I wouldn't touch my Zipp ones...

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