are ceramic bearings really worth the expense??

For invisi-bling and racing, potentially.

lighter, harder, smoother, less heat, less friction = less power robbed + longer lasting than steel.

but seem spendy to me, unless you are ultra elite. $300 for wheel bearings, another $200 for the BB.
Plus you gotta be running some high end stuff to be there.

I read from FSA that a Record BB spining at 100rpms @ 400w consumes 0.6W and the ceramic bearings would consume 0.02W <for what it's worth>

I have no idea for what that's worth.

if you're trying to be faster there are many many things you should consider doing before worrying about ceramic bearings. ride more and do structured workouts, do some weight training, eat better. all of this will make a far more significant impace than ceramic bearings for just about anyone.

+10

If your wheels spin at 10,000+ rpm, then yes. Otherwise, no.

I think that's a bit much.

Ceramic bearings, to me, are just an order of magnitude above any other blingy part, like Phil Hubs or NJS pedals.
Yea, there is a difference, whether the cost of upgrade is worth it or not to you is a personal decision.

If you're fast enough to need ceramic bearings, you're fast enough to have someone else to pay for them.

And if you need NJS parts you're a Japanese Kierin racer?


FWIW, ceramic bearings can be obtained at significant discount on Ebay if you know your bearing part#.
I like ceramic bearing hubs allright, but I would never pay retail for them.

exactly.

key word is "need"

I guess "need" has very little to do with any of this.

never does...

If you've ever gotten your hub bearings immersed in a huge puddle and then the balls and races started to rust up, you'd know the answer to your question.

By the way, if anyone is paying $300 per wheel bearing, I can get them for you for $300 per wheel. Of course, if you go to www.bocabearings.com, you can probably get them for like $200 for both wheels.

Once you switch to the hybrid ceramics and you get the bearings wet, the ceramic balls will polish out any corrosion trying to attack your races.

Here's a couple of articles that may be of interest to the OP:

https://www.insidetri.com/portal/news...sp?item=105635

https://www.insidetri.com/portal/news...sp?item=105984