Installed my ceramic bearing
06-21-07, 08:07 AM
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Installed my ceramic bearing
Yep, installed them in my Neuvation R28 SL2 wheels included freehub body. Seem pretty nice.
06-21-07, 08:37 AM
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how did you feel after you installed them?
Do you feel more confident now speaking in front of large groups?
Do you feel more confident now speaking in front of large groups?
06-21-07, 08:41 AM
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feel pretty good because a hole punch and a hammer was required on the non-drive side rear wheel to get the old bearing out. For $60 for the whole set, I felt it was worth a try.
not shy about the large groups part.
not shy about the large groups part.
Originally Posted by Curt Kurt
how did you feel after you installed them?
Do you feel more confident now speaking in front of large groups?
Do you feel more confident now speaking in front of large groups?
06-21-07, 10:11 AM
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I have yet to read any reviews of ceramic bearings for usage by the common man that make me come to any conclusion other than you just threw away $60.
06-21-07, 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by ryanspeer
I have yet to read any reviews of ceramic bearings for usage by the common man that make me come to any conclusion other than you just threw away $60.
06-21-07, 10:37 AM
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does that prevent someone from throwing down $1600 for a Campy Record group or $1000+ for Dura Ace? Does the "common man" need those too?
Originally Posted by ryanspeer
I have yet to read any reviews of ceramic bearings for usage by the common man that make me come to any conclusion other than you just threw away $60.
06-21-07, 11:15 AM
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From article:
"Additionally, the increase in terminal velocity provided a 22m lead in just 55 seconds of coasting down a hill. "
"Additionally, the increase in terminal velocity provided a 22m lead in just 55 seconds of coasting down a hill. "
06-21-07, 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by NoRacer
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06-21-07, 11:28 AM
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once again more slowly:
does that prevent someone from throwing down $1600 for a Campy Record group or $1000+ for Dura Ace? Does the "common man" need those too?
Dude, it's $60. get over it. If you don't want to spend $60, don't. People spend more than that here on stuff I see no value in either but I don't say it in their threads.
does that prevent someone from throwing down $1600 for a Campy Record group or $1000+ for Dura Ace? Does the "common man" need those too?
Dude, it's $60. get over it. If you don't want to spend $60, don't. People spend more than that here on stuff I see no value in either but I don't say it in their threads.
Originally Posted by bdcheung
He's not a "common man", he's an elite triathlete sponsored by BMC.
06-21-07, 12:35 PM
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Have fun with those.
Arctic grease will make a bigger difference I suspect, not that I would notice a bigger infitismaly small difference.
Arctic grease will make a bigger difference I suspect, not that I would notice a bigger infitismaly small difference.
06-21-07, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Rutnick
once again more slowly:
does that prevent someone from throwing down $1600 for a Campy Record group or $1000+ for Dura Ace? Does the "common man" need those too?
Dude, it's $60. get over it. If you don't want to spend $60, don't. People spend more than that here on stuff I see no value in either but I don't say it in their threads.
A pro who rides his bike for a living will notice any and every little variance in their bike's characteristics. They need every little advantage they can get with reduced friction, blah blah blah. You and I are NOT pro's, and as such, $60 for one measly set of wheel bearings which will provide little measurable benefit to either of us strikes me as a ripoff. Marketing genius, but a ripoff nonetheless.
06-21-07, 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Rutnick
does that prevent someone from throwing down $1600 for a Campy Record group or $1000+ for Dura Ace? Does the "common man" need those too?
06-21-07, 01:08 PM
#16
Portland Fred
Originally Posted by bbattle
There's a huge difference. Other cyclists can actually see those über-bling wheels AND hear those freewheels from a mile away.
06-21-07, 01:19 PM
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From that article:
Bull****, compared to the weight and force they support the weight and centrifugal force of the bearings is negligable.
Bull****.
Typical ball bearings are around 1/4" in diameter or smaller. Increasing hardness and modulus would translate to such a microscopic difference in deformation you would never notice. When caked in grease, or made out of stainless steel nothing will rust.
Yet the bearing races are still the same steel they always used to be so why would they last longer? Pitting of the races can still occur which from my experience with 20 and 30 year old bikes that are poorly maintained is more common than bearing degredation.
From those quotes alone I have lost all confidence in whoever it was that wrote that.
the balls are lighter and therefore have a lower centrifugal force during rotation, thus, reduced bearing wear
Ceramic improved bearings are much harder, stiffer internally (which translates externally), and they do not oxidize
Typical ball bearings are around 1/4" in diameter or smaller. Increasing hardness and modulus would translate to such a microscopic difference in deformation you would never notice. When caked in grease, or made out of stainless steel nothing will rust.
In terms of longevity, I don't want to delve into all the reasons why ceramic material in bearings makes them last longer; you just have to trust me. I will mention again that the material of ceramic is much harder and less dense than steel (If diamond, which is harder and lighter than ceramic, was as cost-effective as ceramic, we would probably see that material used instead). Both these qualities work together to provide a much longer lasting bearing system. Ceramic may be more costly at the initial purchase, but ceramic bearings may save you money in overall maintenance and replacement costs.
From those quotes alone I have lost all confidence in whoever it was that wrote that.
06-21-07, 01:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Hocam
From those quotes alone I have lost all confidence in whoever it was that wrote that.
__________________
"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
06-21-07, 01:52 PM
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Compared to the cost of the bike and the price some people just pay for tires, $60 is nothing. I just wanted to give it a try. It's no big deal to me.
Maybe in a year, all wheels or most high end will come with ceramics standard. The price has to come down.
Maybe in a year, all wheels or most high end will come with ceramics standard. The price has to come down.
Originally Posted by ryanspeer
if it helps for you to type more slowly, then that's fine.
No, the common man does not "need" them in the least. Dura Ace or Record won't magically make you or me a measurably better rider/racer in any noteworthy way in comparison to Chorus, Ultegra, etc.
Lighten up pal. If it sounded like I was taking some personal stab at you (I'm not), then I apologize. All I'm saying is that from what I'VE read, ceramic bearings are horrifically overpriced in relation to their cost of manufacture, the benefit received by using them, etc. $60 for one set of wheel bearings is a lot of money by my standards and probably most people's standards. If you've got $60 laying around waiting to be spent, then more power to you - I hope you receive benefit by using the bearings. Personally though, I view ceramic bearings as being just about the last upgrade that I or most other cyclists would ever do to their bikes in comparison to other upgrades.
A pro who rides his bike for a living will notice any and every little variance in their bike's characteristics. They need every little advantage they can get with reduced friction, blah blah blah. You and I are NOT pro's, and as such, $60 for one measly set of wheel bearings which will provide little measurable benefit to either of us strikes me as a ripoff. Marketing genius, but a ripoff nonetheless.
No, the common man does not "need" them in the least. Dura Ace or Record won't magically make you or me a measurably better rider/racer in any noteworthy way in comparison to Chorus, Ultegra, etc.
Lighten up pal. If it sounded like I was taking some personal stab at you (I'm not), then I apologize. All I'm saying is that from what I'VE read, ceramic bearings are horrifically overpriced in relation to their cost of manufacture, the benefit received by using them, etc. $60 for one set of wheel bearings is a lot of money by my standards and probably most people's standards. If you've got $60 laying around waiting to be spent, then more power to you - I hope you receive benefit by using the bearings. Personally though, I view ceramic bearings as being just about the last upgrade that I or most other cyclists would ever do to their bikes in comparison to other upgrades.
A pro who rides his bike for a living will notice any and every little variance in their bike's characteristics. They need every little advantage they can get with reduced friction, blah blah blah. You and I are NOT pro's, and as such, $60 for one measly set of wheel bearings which will provide little measurable benefit to either of us strikes me as a ripoff. Marketing genius, but a ripoff nonetheless.
06-21-07, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Rutnick
Compared to the cost of the bike and the price some people just pay for tires, $60 is nothing. I just wanted to give it a try. It's no big deal to me.
Maybe in a year, all wheels or most high end will come with ceramics standard. The price has to come down.
Maybe in a year, all wheels or most high end will come with ceramics standard. The price has to come down.
It's all about Pride of Ownership
06-21-07, 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by charliekeri
It's all about Pride of Ownership
06-21-07, 03:38 PM
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most of the comments I get here is probably why I wouldn't want to ride with many people from this site.
Originally Posted by CastIron
I own a ceramic toilet. Does that count?
06-21-07, 03:42 PM
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60$ is reasonable compared to some of the upgrade kits out there. i don't have ceramic bearings but i will say when i went to some cup and cone record hubs the difference was unbelievable compared to other wheels i've had. they feel like they could roll forever when i coast on the flats. when another friend tried them his first and only comment was how ridiculously smooth the hubs felt.
i have no idea how much ceramic bearings cut down hub drag, but if i could make the average cartridge bearing hub feel like some campy records i wouldn't think twice(for that price).
i have no idea how much ceramic bearings cut down hub drag, but if i could make the average cartridge bearing hub feel like some campy records i wouldn't think twice(for that price).
06-21-07, 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by bdcheung
That would be Ryan Ignatz, who has a B.S. in sports medicine and a Masters in Exercise Science. So that's where he gets all his physics know-how.
Makes sense.
06-21-07, 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Rutnick
most of the comments I get here is probably why I wouldn't want to ride with many people from this site.