Press fit bottom bracket

[HB2210]

Hi there,

Can anyone tell me if it's worth paying the extra money to get a ceramic bearing bottom bracket? - in the midst of getting a bike built and need a push fit bottom bracket - is it worth paying the extra? Or what difference is there between the two? I'm not in any clubs and don't take part in any races, just love cycling and I am trying to put the best I can afford on this bike.... Even if it takes several months to get the money together.

Cheers

Hazel

 

[slug56]

I'm surprised no one's taken the opportunity to turn this into a steel vs. ceramic debate. I've been asking myself the same question as I'll shortly be investing in a new bike build. A few hours of Googling suggests that a bearing's grade (steel or ceramic) is more important than the material it's made from. A few comments (albeit from ceramic bearing manufacturers!) insist that they're the bee's knees and others claim their ceramic bearings don't last as long as steel ones. Personally as much as I find ceramic alluring, especially after several steel bearing failures, I'm not sure I can justify the price difference.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

People I know who've used ceramic bearings say they feel super smooth compared to steel, I've no idea on the longevity of them however.