I’ve done it again - I just spent way too much money for a bike part.  But I just had to, the way people are talking about ceramic bearings, they’ve been credited with everything from wattage savings and increased life to weight loss and curing cancer.  While I’m pretty sure they won’t cure cancer, I could certainly use all of the other proclaimed benefits.

I had a real hard time getting my hands on FSA’s ceramic bottom bracket for the K-Force crank I’ve been using.  No one seemed to have them in stock for more than 20 seconds and FSA just laughed when I called.  Finally, I was able to buy one and install it in my tri bike.

As you know from reading reviews on TgR, we don’t have high tech equipment to test bike gear – we just use the stuff like normal triathletes.  So I have no idea if these ceramic bearings actually save any wattage.  I was even making fun of myself while installing them – telling my friends they would all soon be crushed by the new-found speed liberated by my $190 bottom bracket.

Oddly though, after a few miles, I noticed how smooth the bottom bracket felt; it was turning very easily with noticeably less friction.  Could it be that there really is a difference?  For me, there is enough of a difference just having that silky smooth feeling – if I’m saving watts that’s just icing on the cake.  Besides, it is a very posh piece of gear and if that’s all it takes to put an extra smile on my face, I think its money well spent.

At least that’s what I’m going to keep telling myself and at this point in my preparation for Ironman Florida, I’m grasping for anything that might help.

Mark