Q&A

The benefits of ceramic bearings in the wheels

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Parent Category: Q&A

Category: Q&A Technique

Published on Friday, 16 July 2010 08:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Dear Editor,
known in your beautiful analysis of many pro teams bike that they take the wheels with ceramic bearings. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this solution? Why are only used on a limited number of models of wheels? To have a slide wheel is it preferable to focus on using these wheels bearings?

Dear reader, thanks for the compliments.
The ceramic bearings are not a technique new in this season, although they are slowly making headway. FSA and Campagnolo/Fulcrum are companies that believe more in their adoption and driving, including through the provision to the Teams. The high cost is the main limitation to their spread. The ceramic bearings have the advantage of less friction than conventional steel, and therefore the wheel smoother on equal terms. Theoretically, ceramic bearings, then, weigh less and have a longer life than steel, but it's true that weight gain is very minimal, in proportion to the increase cost, while it is more difficult to estimate the increase in duration the same. Their effectiveness I have no doubt, because by myself have made a test just replacing the bearings and finding a smoother equal to all other components. In reality, then the smoothness of a wheel depends on other factors such as the rigidity of the hubs, the dimensional accuracy of all its components, the mounting system of rays and their tension, the kind of circle adopted and so on . The combination of all these factors, when well implemented, leading to a wheel light and smooth, where the ceramic bearings may be an additional element of performance improvement. For this are taken only on high-end wheels, saw their price is preferable to focus on other technical aspects that allow a more substantial improvement in tire performance while consuming less against a loss. Wheel high range are now a must, but for the average range is preferable to focus its other aspects (such as hubs, stiffness, weight, quality of steel bearings taken, etc..) For better performance and a good price. In conclusion, if the good is to have ceramic bearings on a wheel on the whole very good, you should have excellent steel bearings, on top of a wheel, that the ceramic bearings on a wheel mid-level.