CeramicSpeed Launches BB Alpha: A New Standard in Bottom Bracket Durability and Performance
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CeramicSpeed has unveiled its new BB Alpha bottom bracket range, poised to replace all existing models and redefine the brand’s offerings with a focus on longevity and simplified specifications. The overhaul isn’t centered on pushing the boundaries of ceramic speed, but rather on maintaining renowned efficiency while considerably enhancing durability.
Reader question: what is the primary focus of the new BB Alpha bottom bracket range?
The primary focus is on longevity and simplified specifications, while maintaining efficiency.
Pro-Level Testing & Real-World Validation
The BB Alpha has undergone extensive, year-long testing by professional cycling teams, remaining largely under the radar even from keen observers. Teams including Soudal-Quickstep, UNO-X, and Israel-premier Tech utilized the new bottom brackets during the Tour de France, while off-road riders from PAS Racing – including Traka 360 winner Tobias Kongstad – and several supported MTB teams also put the units to the test.
Reader question: Which professional cycling teams tested the BB Alpha?
Teams including soudal-Quickstep, UNO-X, and Israel-Premier Tech tested the BB Alpha.
Streamlined Design & Increased Price Point
The new range will retail for $429 / €389, representing an increase in price compared to previous CeramicSpeed models. However, this investment is backed by a lifetime warranty, and a move away from the previous ‘coated’ race option – which added $100 for purported lower drag and extended life – towards a single, standardized specification per unit.
Reader question: What is the warranty for the new BB Alpha range?
the new BB Alpha range comes with a lifetime warranty.
Engineering a More Robust Bottom Bracket
CeramicSpeed states the design wasn’t driven by the need to address existing issues, but rather a desire for continuous improvement. the core of the upgrade lies in a new, hardened stainless steel bearing race, offering “extraordinary corrosion protection” across the entire range. the internal race has also been redesigned to provide increased support for the bearings, improving thier ability to handle preload.
Reader question: What is the core of the upgrade in the BB Alpha?
The core of the upgrade is a new, hardened stainless steel bearing race.
The bearing seals have also undergone a notable transformation. Light contact seals – balancing efficiency with protection – are now employed,with the back of each seal reinforced with stainless steel. According to the company, this results in a “500% increase in protection,” though a detailed breakdown of this figure remains unavailable.
Reader question: What type of seals are used in the BB Alpha?
Light contact seals are used in the BB Alpha.
Further enhancing protection, the bearing dust covers (or ‘hats’) have been redesigned through 28 iterations. Constructed from POM (Polyoxymethylene) plastic, these covers now sit flush with the bottom bracket cups, maximizing shielding against contaminants. The bottom bracket cups themselves are crafted from 7075 aluminium, with material removed to achieve a 10% weight reduction across the range. A BSA Shimano road test unit, for example, weighs in at just 80 grams.
Reader question: what material are the bearing dust covers made of?
The bearing dust covers are made of POM (Polyoxymethylene) plastic.
Rigorous Testing: beyond Human Limits
CeramicSpeed subjected the BB Alpha to over 1,000,000 kilometers of testing in both laboratory and real-world conditions. Perhaps more strikingly, the units endured repeated max-test loading at 3,000 watts for seven consecutive hours. While acknowledging that sustained output of 3,000 watts is beyond the capabilities of even elite cyclists, a technical representative explained the rationale behind this extreme testing protocol.
Reader question: How many kilometers of testing did the BB Alpha undergo?
The BB Alpha underwent over 1,000,000 kilometers of testing.
“We made some calculations; we took the top 1% riders and found that the top ones will push approximately 1,700W for short bursts,” the representative stated. “We then multiplied that number by 1.8 to compensate for the uneven power distribution throughout the pedal stroke.”
Reader question: What was the rationale behind the extreme testing protocol?
The extreme testing protocol was designed to simulate the stress of peak power exertion during specific points in the pedal cycle.
the brand further clarified that the 1.8 multiplier accounts for peak power exertion during specific points in the pedal cycle, and the seven-hour duration reflects cumulative stress over thousands of kilometers. “if a rider pushes 1700 watts, this will only be for approx 30 minutes in 50,000km, so when we multiply it by 1.8, we are pleasant it can last, with some margin, plus our tests ran for 7 hours when only 30 minutes were required.”
Ultimately,CeramicSpeed believes the BB Alpha is engineered to withstand far more than the average cyclist can produce,emphasizing that proper care and maintenance remain crucial for maximizing service life and value.
