A bicycle contains at least ten bearings :

• In the wheel hubs,
• In the cranksets,
• In the steering.

Road and mountain bikers, as well as demanding bicycle dealers, are looking for sturdiness, reliability and performance.

Bearings have to cope with the cyclist's weight, any shocks caused by the vagaries of the road, and rotation speeds of up to 100, 120 rpm for cranks and 400 rpm for wheels.

With the passage of time and the often particular conditions of use (muddy terrain for mountain bikers, for example), wheel or crank rotation can lose fluidity, and the headset can slip; you can feel the balls catch when you move your handlebars.

Replacing the bearings will not only restore smoothness, but also prevent damage to other components. You'll regain a little performance, but above all a lot of riding pleasure. Riding pleasure, speed gains: that's what we call efficiency gains ????

Several brands compete in the bicycle bearings market. The best-known is SKF, which offers high-performance bearings at low prices. eNDURO bearings are specially developed for the cycling world. These 2 brands are available on the 123Roulement website.

What about ceramic bearings ? 

Since the advent of ceramic bearings, the world of cycling has been in turmoil. Some claim that ceramic bearings can increase power by 5%, others by 3km/h ?

There are no scientific studies to confirm these gains, but manufacturers are emphasizing the undeniable qualities of these bearings: less friction, longer life, less maintenance, better power transfer, better shock resistance...

2 types of ceramic bearings exist: all-ceramic or hybrid (bearing rings are steel).

You'll find over 300 ZEN, SKF, ENDURO or GENERIQUE references on the 123Bearing.com website.