Serving both industrial and sports product markets, Denmark’s CeramicSpeed is committed to making the best bearings and gears on the market. The company recently partnered with the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Colorado to craft the most efficient bicycle drivetrain concept in history. And the result is pretty damn impressive.
The CeramicSpeed Driven Chainless Drivetrain employs 21 high-performance CeramicSpeed bearings to create a component that produces 49% less friction than the very best chain-and-derailleur drivetrain on the market. Unlike other supposed “chainless” drivetrains that simply replace a traditional chain with a flexible belt, the CeramicSpeed Driven operates through a unique carbon fiber shaft-driven bearing gear system that is similar to those that are common to automobiles. The bearings of the CeramicSpeed Driven Chainless Drivetrain transfer torque from the front ring through the drive shaft and onto the 13-speed rear cog in a process that promotes exceedingly low rolling friction and maximum longevity.