Kogel's Ball Bearing Adventures
All the components in a bicycle ball bearing (how they interact with each other)
Radial ball bearings, the most common type in bicycle applications, have five components to them: balls, races, cages, seals, and lubrication. The quality of the ball bearing is determined by any single one of them. Ultimately, any one of these 5 components in your bicycle's radial ball bearings not optimized can lead to lower performance and have to purchase new ones sooner than expected. Especially if you don't use the right kind of lubricant for race day. The lesson here is whether you ride mountain, road, gravel, or a triathlon, take care of your bearings - and they'll take care of you.
5 ways to reduce drivetrain friction and why it is important
You can install all the fancy ceramic bearings in the world, but the effort is quickly lost if you do not pay attention to ALL parts of your drivetrain and how...
The lowest friction from ceramic bearings
Or: why we are not obsessed with building the lightest running bearings Reading any post about bearings in the cycling media, it seems that the quality of bearings is only...
Four benefits of ceramic bearings for bicycles
Let's face it: ceramic bearings are not for everyone. Some people still believe the durability of ceramic bearings is bad, some don't want to spend any money and some just...
Ceramic bearings vs. steel bearings. Which ones do you need?
If there is one thing we see a lot in comments sections about ceramic bearings, it is people claiming ceramic bearings do not offer benefits and are not worth their...
What is the cost of a ceramic bearing upgrade for bicycles? Part 2
In part 1 of this article we covered the cost of ceramic bottom brackets and wheel bearings. Today we will look at the derailleur pulleys and the cost of ownership...
Do oversized derailleur pulleys really help? Part 2
In part one of this post we analyzed oversized pulley systems and their effect on friction and shifting. Today we will look at their use in mountain bike setups and...
Do oversized derailleur pulleys really help? Part 1
Recently we have been receiving an increasing amount of questions about oversize pulley wheels. With the Ceramicspeed OSPW system and KCNC's being very visible in the market and recently Sram...
Terrain Lab: why Kogel Bearings believes in outdoor testing.
You may or may not have seen the #terrainlab pop up on our social media recently. The photos show our employees and athletes putting their Kogels to the test in...
What is the cost of a ceramic bearing upgrade for bicycles? Part 1
Ceramic bearing upgrades come in all shapes and sizes. First there are the different parts of the bike that can be upgraded, then there is a plethora of brands and...
What makes a good ball bearing a great ball bearing for bicycles? Part 1
Ball bearings are at the bottom of every spec sheet. They’re hidden in the bike, nobody is going to give you a thumbs up when you show up at the...
What makes a good ball bearing a great ball bearing for bicycles? Part 2
After discussing the bearing balls in our previous post, we will look further into the qualities that make a great ball bearing. This focus is on radial ball bearings, not...
