Durability of ceramic bearings?

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

We've been seeing increasing evidence of ceramic bearings not being all that
durable. Just wondering if others are experiencing this, or if it's not an
issue because ceramic bearings are only going onto "race" bikes & wheels
that don't get too many miles etc.

Cracked cases (in full-ceramic, not hybrid) and generally crunchy operation
after not all that many miles seems relatively common. To me, for $200,
something ought to last for awhile.

So what are others seeing? Thanks-

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom bracket/wheels?
Regular steel bearings were fine.

Magilla

Quoted message said:

Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom bracket/wheels?
Regular steel bearings were fine.

Magilla

Pretty much in complete agreement with you on that one. There's a
theoretical advantage for the bottom bracket (because ceramic bearings don't
deform under pressure), but virtually no reason at all to use them in a
wheel.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

"MagillaGorilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

We've been seeing increasing evidence of ceramic bearings not being all
that durable. Just wondering if others are experiencing this, or if it's
not an issue because ceramic bearings are only going onto "race" bikes &
wheels that don't get too many miles etc.

Cracked cases (in full-ceramic, not hybrid) and generally crunchy
operation after not all that many miles seems relatively common. To me,
for $200, something ought to last for awhile.

So what are others seeing? Thanks-

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom bracket/wheels?
Regular steel bearings were fine.

Magilla

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom
bracket/wheels? Regular steel bearings were fine.

Magilla

Pretty much in complete agreement with you on that one. There's a
theoretical advantage for the bottom bracket (because ceramic bearings
don't deform under pressure), but virtually no reason at all to use
them in a wheel.

Don't they color coordinate with Assos clothing better than steel?

--
Bill Asher

William Asher said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote innews:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom
bracket/wheels? Regular steel bearings were fine.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Magilla

Quoted message said:

Pretty much in complete agreement with you on that one. There's a
theoretical advantage for the bottom bracket (because ceramic bearings
don't deform under pressure), but virtually no reason at all to use
them in a wheel.

Don't they color coordinate with Assos clothing better than steel?

--
Bill Asher

They could just sell the sticker for $200, then nobody has to get
their hands dirty.

Joseph

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Quoted message said:

Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom bracket/wheels?
Regular steel bearings were fine.

Magilla

Pretty much in complete agreement with you on that one. There's a
theoretical advantage for the bottom bracket (because ceramic bearings don't
deform under pressure), but virtually no reason at all to use them in a
wheel.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

I honestly don't think ceramic bearings are harder or smoother than
steel. That grittiness you feel is those bearings breaking down under load.

Magilla

Quoted message said:

William Asher said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote
innews:31p%j.2594$jI5.6

[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom
> bracket/wheels? Regular steel bearings were fine.

Quoted message said:

> Magilla

Quoted message said:

Pretty much in complete agreement with you on that one. There's a
theoretical advantage for the bottom bracket (because ceramic
bearings don't deform under pressure), but virtually no reason at
all to use them in a wheel.

Don't they color coordinate with Assos clothing better than steel?

They could just sell the sticker for $200, then nobody has to get
their hands dirty.

Could I make money by custom installing the sticker for $350?

--
Bill Asher

William Asher said:

Quoted message said:

William Asher said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote
innews:31p%j.2594$jI5.6

[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom
>> bracket/wheels? Regular steel bearings were fine.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> Magilla

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Pretty much in complete agreement with you on that one. There's a
> theoretical advantage for the bottom bracket (because ceramic
> bearings don't deform under pressure), but virtually no reason at
> all to use them in a wheel.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't they color coordinate with Assos clothing better than steel?

Quoted message said:

They could just sell the sticker for $200, then nobody has to get
their hands dirty.

Could I make money by custom installing the sticker for $350?

--
Bill Asher

You could if you were the only one who had the "special" adhesive.

tf

MagillaGorilla said:

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

We've been seeing increasing evidence of ceramic bearings not being all that
durable. Just wondering if others are experiencing this, or if it's not an
issue because ceramic bearings are only going onto "race" bikes & wheels
that don't get too many miles etc.

Quoted message said:

Cracked cases (in full-ceramic, not hybrid) and generally crunchy operation
after not all that many miles seems relatively common. To me, for $200,
something ought to last for awhile.

Quoted message said:

So what are others seeing?  Thanks-

Quoted message said:

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom bracket/wheels?
   Regular steel bearings were fine.

Magilla- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, but ceramic bearings are laterally stiff and vertically compliant.

Scott said:

MagillaGorilla said:

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

We've been seeing increasing evidence of ceramic bearings not being all that
durable. Just wondering if others are experiencing this, or if it's not an
issue because ceramic bearings are only going onto "race" bikes & wheels
that don't get too many miles etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cracked cases (in full-ceramic, not hybrid) and generally crunchy operation
after not all that many miles seems relatively common. To me, for $200,
something ought to last for awhile.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So what are others seeing?  Thanks-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Quoted message said:

Why would you pay $200 for ceramic bearings in a bottom bracket/wheels?
   Regular steel bearings were fine.

Quoted message said:

Magilla- Hide quoted text -

Quoted message said:

- Show quoted text -

Yes, but ceramic bearings are laterally stiff and vertically compliant.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sounds like a failing male member.
Best,
Bill Black

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

We've been seeing increasing evidence of ceramic bearings not being all that
durable. Just wondering if others are experiencing this, or if it's not an
issue because ceramic bearings are only going onto "race" bikes & wheels
that don't get too many miles etc.

Cracked cases (in full-ceramic, not hybrid) and generally crunchy operation
after not all that many miles seems relatively common. To me, for $200,
something ought to last for awhile.

So what are others seeing? Thanks-

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

One of the reason you've been taken in by ceramic bearings is because
you've also been taken in by riders who claim they weren't doping.

You're gullible and you don't realize that people in this sport will lie
to make money - whether it's cyclists or companies.

Stop swallowing.

Take care,

Magilla

On May 28, 11:00 am, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

We've been seeing increasing evidence of ceramic bearings not being all that
durable. Just wondering if others are experiencing this, or if it's not an
issue because ceramic bearings are only going onto "race" bikes & wheels
that don't get too many miles etc.

Cracked cases (in full-ceramic, not hybrid) and generally crunchy operation
after not all that many miles seems relatively common. To me, for $200,
something ought to last for awhile.

So what are others seeing?  Thanks-

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Agree Mike. We sell few(like 2 or 3 pulleys) but have installed more
than a couple, brought in by customers. First, the 'action' of these
don't seem any smoother, better than 'normal' BBs, pulleys and hubs
after installed. In the hand test reveal the same, they don't feel any
different. After little use, they seem to get gritty quickly, perhaps
by poor/reduced sealing to try to make them 'feel' smoother when used.
What is amazing is the $ some people have spent for these and the hype
presented by some online cycling websites about what an amazing
upgrade these 'are'. Real world doesn't seem to match the 'news' of
these.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com said:

On May 28, 11:00 am, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

We've been seeing increasing evidence of ceramic bearings not being all that
durable. Just wondering if others are experiencing this, or if it's not an
issue because ceramic bearings are only going onto "race" bikes & wheels
that don't get too many miles etc.

Cracked cases (in full-ceramic, not hybrid) and generally crunchy operation
after not all that many miles seems relatively common. To me, for $200,
something ought to last for awhile.

So what are others seeing?  Thanks-

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Agree Mike. We sell few(like 2 or 3 pulleys) but have installed more
than a couple, brought in by customers. First, the 'action' of these
don't seem any smoother, better than 'normal' BBs, pulleys and hubs
after installed. In the hand test reveal the same, they don't feel any
different. After little use, they seem to get gritty quickly, perhaps
by poor/reduced sealing to try to make them 'feel' smoother when used.
What is amazing is the $ some people have spent for these and the hype
presented by some online cycling websites about what an amazing
upgrade these 'are'. Real world doesn't seem to match the 'news' of
these.

I wonder about how they'd really work as a derailleur pulley for another reason:
the upper one (at least on Campy) has some side-to-side float built into it. The
ceramic bearing ones don't. I think you'd have to have the spacing on the gears and
the derailleur adjustment perfect with the ceramic pulleys or any (alleged) gains
from the nifty bearings would be nullified by the chain scrub.

--
tanx,
Howard

Whatever happened to
Leon Trotsky?
He got an icepick
That made his ears burn.

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Howard Kveck said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com said:

On May 28, 11:00 am, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

We've been seeing increasing evidence of ceramic bearings not being all that
durable. Just wondering if others are experiencing this, or if it's not an
issue because ceramic bearings are only going onto "race" bikes & wheels
that don't get too many miles etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cracked cases (in full-ceramic, not hybrid) and generally crunchy operation
after not all that many miles seems relatively common. To me, for $200,
something ought to last for awhile.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So what are others seeing?  Thanks-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Quoted message said:

Agree Mike. We sell few(like 2 or 3 pulleys) but have installed more
than a couple, brought in by customers. First, the 'action' of these
don't seem any smoother, better than 'normal' BBs, pulleys and hubs
after installed. In the hand test reveal the same, they don't feel any
different. After little use, they seem to get gritty quickly, perhaps
by poor/reduced sealing to try to make them 'feel' smoother when used.
What is amazing is the $ some people have spent for these and the hype
presented by some online cycling websites about what an amazing
upgrade these 'are'. Real world doesn't seem to match the 'news' of
these.

I wonder about how they'd really work as a derailleur pulley for another reason:
the upper one (at least on Campy) has some side-to-side float built into it. The
ceramic bearing ones don't. I think you'd have to have the spacing on the gears and
the derailleur adjustment perfect with the ceramic pulleys or any (alleged) gains
from the nifty bearings would be nullified by the chain scrub.

--
                              tanx,
                               Howard

Whatever happened to
                        Leon Trotsky?
                        He got an icepick
                        That made his ears burn.

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Agree. Float on index systems is essential.