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CeramicSpeed acquires Ultrafast Optimization’s “World’s Fastest Racing Chain”

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CeramicSpeed Ultrafast Optimization worlds fastest bicycle racing chain

Friction Facts, an independent testing lab in Boulder, CO, has switched ownership of their UltraFast Optimization subsidiary to CeramicSpeed, the makers of lustworthy ceramic bearing upgrade bits that make everything roll smoother and faster.

The acquisition connects the spinny parts most commonly rolling on their bearings with a specially treated chain that claims to save an additional 2-5 watts for approximately 200 miles (320km) of use. Why just 200 miles? It has to do with the treatment used to reduce friction.

That treatment also gives them their ghostly white color. The first step is to break in the chain and clean it thoroughly. It’s then waxed, which is the primary source of friction reduction. The last step is a coating of Teflon powder, which they claim removes another 0.25 watts of frictional losses from the chain…and gives it that white color.

CeramicSpeed Ultrafast Optimization worlds fastest bicycle racing chain

It’s designed for dry weather use only. Water and mud will wear the coating off too quickly. Once the coating does wears off, they’re just like any other chain and can be used until it wears out. Normal lube (or, hey, how ’bout a wax lube like Squirt?!?) should keep it running smooth and quiet for the rest of its natural life.

Retail is €95 to €129 depending on model, and they offer SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo chains in 10 and 11 speed versions, along with extra pins/links to connect them. They also have KMC chains and SRAM XX1 chains available with the optimization treatment. Considering the retail cost of top level chains from these brands, it’s not a bad way to prep your bike for the big race. After all, they say even a one watt savings can be the difference between winning and losing.

CeramicSpeed.com

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Archer Swift
Archer Swift
9 years ago

OMG REALLY WHAT A BOS.
More black magic smoke and mirrors and not cheap.
Just go get some paraffin wax for a few bucks and melt it all over your chain.
Such total BS its totally unbelievable. I wounder what CeramicSpeed paid for this company.

Lluis
Lluis
9 years ago

Come on!

Teflon on the chain sides will do nothing. At the end, chain is a component that requires friction to perform.

What a rip off.

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

At least something on the drivetrain saving a watt is probably a real savings, unlike a lot of the ‘watts saved’ from aero improvements which depend upon the perfect yaw angle of the wind during a 40km time trail.

Still probably not worth that price, but at least it’s real.

Dave B
Dave B
9 years ago

One more example of “a fool and his money”.

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

It may be worth that price if that white powder was another substance.

Groghunter
Groghunter
9 years ago

Sometimes, the fun of Bikerumor is seeing what kinda crap people are hawking to gullible rubes.

Mc1oo1
Mc1oo1
9 years ago

“Lemme tell you something you might not know Joe Roegan… i ride bikes”-Tyrone Biggums

PTymn Wolfe
PTymn Wolfe
9 years ago

Would this work for Gravel Grinding? What if the special coating wore off short of 200 miles leaving some race participants left with riding a regular chain? If I saved 2-5 watts with this chain, should I change my gearing? What is the best gear combo for grinding gravel?

Dockboy
Dockboy
9 years ago

I wonder how much they break it in?

CXisfun
CXisfun
9 years ago

“they say even a one watt savings can be the difference between winning and losing”

“They”, who? Who says that?

tom
tom
9 years ago

CXisfun – beat me to it!

Gabe
Gabe
9 years ago

i wonder how it compares to Shimano sil-tec? Which happens to be a lot cheaper

Eric.nm
Eric.nm
9 years ago

Wow. Just wow…

Morecore
Morecore
9 years ago

200 miles in dry conditions sounds pretty close to lab conditions, under which there is negligible difference in chain efficiency between lube types or even lube at all (Spicer et al. 2001).

How close is the theoretical gain reported to the accuracy of testing measurement?

Don’t forget big rings are better regardless.

References

http://www.ihpva.org/HParchive/PDF/hp52-2001.pdf

Ron Wright
Ron Wright
9 years ago

The guy who created this chain made a business of testing friction in drivetrains. He sold reports for pretty cheap on lubes, pulleys, different brands of chains, etc. (Velo News published his results on lubes.) He developed this chain and published his results. I believe it is absolutely legit. If getting one more watt makes the difference between being in the money in an IronMan or winning a national championship, then maybe, just maybe, it is worth the cost above the Dura Ace chain it was originally based on.

JBikes
JBikes
9 years ago

@ Matt –
And that substance would probably increase your output by more than 2-5 in 200 mile ride!

charliej
charliej
9 years ago

Everyone should buy this, not just frightened guys with spandex stretched over their guts. Ceramic dust needs to cover the landscape!

endurobob
endurobob
9 years ago

Ever since CeramicSpeed tried selling ceramic headset bearings claiming a “noticeable improvement in steering stiffness and increased power output” I have completely lost all respect for them.

Andre
9 years ago

how about Kashima coated chains? good idea? wonder if their website gets custom orders
http://www.kashima-coat.com/

Mike
Mike
9 years ago

But what will I do with my super cool Campagnolo chain tool?

captain derp
captain derp
9 years ago

for the price of this chain, you could get about 2 months worth of EPO.

just sayin’

Jami
Jami
9 years ago

Devils advocate. I would say that at least the way the chain is treated can be passed onto other chains. Teflon powder and wax treatment to existing chains could prove to be a new-ish way of lubing your chain for long rides in dry conditions? But really, I like the KMC DLC chain if I’m going to spend that much money.

ifbikes
ifbikes
9 years ago

I have to agree that this chain is way overpriced. However, I can’t disagree with waxing a chain. I bought wax from Molten Speed Wax as well as their teflon powder. I ‘m not crazy about the powder. But the waxed chains are really nice. They probably spin the easiest for 200 miles (which is what this advertises) but the wax treatment is good for at least 600 miles. Waxing 2 chains at once and swapping them with a quick link means you are only treating chains every other month or so. Between waxing the chains you have a super clean drive train that never needs lubing or cleaning. So I’d never advocate for buying this chain, but I would advocate for waxing chains yourself.

WV Cycling
WV Cycling
9 years ago

Did the paraffin wax, Teflon Powder AND graphite powder mix two years ago on all three of my bikes.

Covered the cassette and chainrings too. Most flaked off, but I had reduced chainwear and rust in the winter! Was completely worth the goodwill crock pot and $10 worth of supplies.

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
9 years ago

At least this is no more failure prone than a standard chain, unlike those “race day only” aluminum cassettes. I’m still a little put off by a chain that looks like a powdered doughnut and have no use for a short lived speed boost, so I’ll stick to to my gold KMC.

ylvis
ylvis
9 years ago

(deleted)… i know of a few people right now that would actually buy it and says it helps

EPO Forever
EPO Forever
9 years ago

“captain derp – 05/06/15 – 8:06am

for the price of this chain, you could get about 2 months worth of EPO.”

Really? I need to find a better supplier. Or maybe I’m using too much?

EPO Forever
EPO Forever
9 years ago

Actually it’s not EPO or fast chain, it’s both. EPO gets you watts, fast chain saves you watts. But so far, there’s no need to micro-dose the chain treatment.

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