CeramicSpeed

ITA Road - Coated

While not seen in quite the same frequency as in years past, some Italian bikes still use the tried-and-true threaded Italian bottom bracket standard. We've never hidden our preference of threaded shells over press-fit versions as we've come to enjoy less creaking and popping as well as easier installs and better durability. If you're building up a bike with an Italian shell or looking for some drag reduction and a smoother drivetrain, install a Coated ITA Road bottom bracket from CeramicSpeed and enjoy the ability to go faster and ride further with less effort. The Coated version features a metallic coating on the bearing races, making them even harder and smoother, for a further increase in durability and a reduction in drag.

Reducing friction not only saves watts, letting you ride faster with less effort, it helps the component last longer. The Danes at CeramicSpeed are downright obsessive in its quest to reduce friction which is why it offers bottom brackets for almost every standard on the market. And if you loathe friction as much as the crew at CeramicSpeed and want to optimize your bike to go as fast as it can, upgrade your bike with one of its bottom brackets and enjoy reduced friction as well as better resistance to contamination and corrosion. The Coated version also extends the warranty an additional 2 years over the standard version for a total of 6 years.

Compared to steel ball bearings, CeramicSpeed's balls resist corrosion, which is in part responsible for why bearings start to feel gritty as they age as well as causing the bearings to run hotter which reduces the lifespan of the component. CeramicSpeed balls are also much harder than standard steel balls. Apply enough pressure to a steel ball and it will crack under load while under that same load the CeramicSpeed ball won't flinch, maintaining the exact surface finish and roundness which could affect spinning smoothness. Meanwhile, these non-round and rough ball bearings create increased friction and begin to quickly wear down the steel bearing races.

CeramicSpeed is able to achieve such high marks because it uses the highest quality Grade 3 Silicon Nitride for its bearings. Don’t be fooled into thinking that all ceramic bottom brackets bearings on the market are the same. In testing, CeramicSpeed claims its balls are 15% harder, can take 99% higher loads, and are more than 100% smoother than other ceramic balls typically used on the market. Included with the bottom bracket are dustcovers, special grease for maintenance, and a sticker sheet.