Why is it that when Ceramic bearings comes up...

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

Moderators: robbosmans, Moderator Team

Post Reply
User avatar
arcspin
Posts: 266
Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:00 am
Location: SWEDEN
Contact:

by arcspin

Hi,
What is it when ceramic bearings comes up in a thread there are almost a compact negativity for the product ?
but...we can go in lengthy debates about what chain run smother or how many teeth the rear derailleur should have or what tire or tire pressure that have the lowest rolling resistance.
Also, we can debate on the topic of weight all they long, with no regards on how that would affect the performance on the bike... but when it comes to ceramic bearings...

If a gram is a gram shouldn't a watt be a watt ???



Best regards,
a climbers delight...SCOTT ADDICT Ltd
http://arcspin.wordpress.com/my-bike/

Camp Mallorca
http://www.campmallorca.se

Skillgannon
Posts: 3635
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:17 am
Location: A bigger rock in the Pacific (AUS)

by Skillgannon

Possibly because some of the figures presented - like Cees's data from ~6 months ago, suggest that the gains involved in ceramic bearings dont come in as watts, but from memory, something like 0.14 for a full bike fitout of ceramic bearings.

For the cost, it doesn't seem to be the most effective decision unless you've crossed every other box.
This board would be a nicer place if everyone would take themselves less seriously.

I almost miss Mr Search...

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
TheFatGuy
Posts: 505
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:41 pm
Location: St Petersburg Florida

by TheFatGuy

Also, drivetrain friction is your #2 cause of drag on the bike (aerodynamics being 1). Finding a chain that rolls smother because it's longer/ pulleys are bigger and therefore the chain has more leverage against them/ etc will be of realistic gain.
This board would be MUCH nicer if everybody would just chill out.

User avatar
gregclimbs
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:18 pm
Location: slc, ut
Contact:

by gregclimbs

Skillgannon wrote:For the cost, it doesn't seem....


coming from anyone on this forum where people can spend more than $6/g saved...

...seems a futile argument.

:D

g

User avatar
arcspin
Posts: 266
Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:00 am
Location: SWEDEN
Contact:

by arcspin

This is interesting because we can argue that a larger pulley will make a realistic gain in less friction and ceramic bearings will not.

I find this intriguing, can anyone show numbers on friction with different pulleys.
And when I come think of it, is there data out there about friction on different brands of chains and how much watts saved using one or the other?

not to divert the topic that I started :lol:
a climbers delight...SCOTT ADDICT Ltd
http://arcspin.wordpress.com/my-bike/

Camp Mallorca
http://www.campmallorca.se

User avatar
CharlesM
Posts: 5759
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:37 am
Location: Phoenix Arizona

by CharlesM

There's still assumtion on some topics. with Ceramics, there's a bit more info... And because there's more info, more people know what the potential gain is or isn't (notwithstanding having someone sitting in your garage for an hour before you ride spinning your wheels and special lube).

Sure we spend dollars on things that in one fashion or another seem like wastes of money. some of the money wastes are more well defined than others though.

User avatar
arcspin
Posts: 266
Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:00 am
Location: SWEDEN
Contact:

by arcspin

Well said Pez,
Yeah, I read about that, the idea of having someone "warming up" your bearings before a race is just crazy :lol:
a climbers delight...SCOTT ADDICT Ltd
http://arcspin.wordpress.com/my-bike/

Camp Mallorca
http://www.campmallorca.se

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



mzagorski
Posts: 1082
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2004 12:06 am
Location: A Scotsman on rock in the pacific
Contact:

by mzagorski

What about warming up bike tires... Like Formula 1? I wouldn't say no to some umbrella girls on the start line 8)

Post Reply