Ceramic Bearings Vs Steel Bearings Road Cycling Wheels

Geometrically the contact points inner and outer dimensions and thickness between steel and ceramic bearings is the same so they are interchangeable.

Ceramic bearings vs steel bearings road cycling wheels.

The advantages of steel are not the only argument against ceramic bearings. The hubs can be optioned with ceramic kogel bearings on request. Ceramic bearings are used in industrial machines because they spin at 25 000rpm and there are significant advantages but a bike wheel only spins at say 300rpm so the differences compared to. The folks at enduro bearings argue that for bicycles the materials are far more important than abec ratings and that for most applications abec 3 and 5 are appropriate for all things bicycle.

So for safety reasons ceramic wheel bearings on bicycles are in fact almost always hybrid design meaning ceramic balls on steel races. What technologies will get them the largest gains for their money. Because ceramic bearings are rounder with a smoother surface and more uniform size friction is reduced and that can contribute to a less energy required to turn the cranks or spin the wheels. Cracking a race could stop a wheel from turning instantly and no good comes of wheels permanently locking up on a bicycle.

Quite a few wheel manufacturers state that the use of aftermarket bearings in their wheels voids the warranty. Gone are the days when ceramic bearings were a technology limited to the pro peloton. You choose your adventure we build the bearings to match. The ceramic balls are often silicon nitride or equivalent.

The wheels come ready to ride as a tubeless application out of the box with pre installed rim tape and valves and freehub spacers. Steel rings and ceramic balls are the gold standard for bicycle wheel bearings. Because ceramic races are more brittle than steel. More durable than high quality steel bearings.

As more and more of the cycling masses look to advanced technology formerly seen in use only by the pros the question arises of where the hard earned money of the average cyclist should be spent. Built specifically for road or off road use. This is mostly due to the additional time spent to perfect a quality ceramic ball. Steel bearings are commodity items that are composed of hardened steel balls and a steel inner and outer race.