Mar 17, 2017 | By Julia
Danish bike company CeramicSpeed has just gone public with its newest luxury bike part. Created in collaboration with custom frame builder Mosaic Cycles and high-end wheel manufacturer ENVE, CeramicSpeed’s new 3D printed hollow Titanium Oversized Pulley Wheel system left cycling fans salivating at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show last weekend.
For those unfamiliar with the Danish function-meets-luxury bike brand, CeramicSpeed is world renowned as a leading supplier of ceramic bicycle bearings. Founded by Jacob Csizmadia 17 years ago, the Danish company quickly made a name for itself with its unique application of NASA bearing technology to high-quality bikes geared towards professional racing.
CeramicSpeed is also well known for its expensively priced merchandise, which is generally unaffordable for recreational bikers, but remains highly sought after by racers around the world.
That being said, the Danish bike company’s newest product is no different: CeramicSpeed’s beautifully handcrafted jockey wheels might break the bank – the 3D printed titanium part is priced at a whopping $1,700 or €1,500 a piece – but the cycling company’s beautiful pairing of handcraftsmanship and state-of-the-art technology has already been turning heads.
Featuring an organic design inspired by Denmark’s national flower, the marguerite daisy, the impressive pulley wheels are made from 100% 3D printed titanium. The result is a jockey wheel that’s 10% lighter than its aluminum counterparts, that still boasts twice the durability.
Close inspection reveals a very impressive job pulled off by CeramicSpeed’s in-house R&D team, which effectively combines the smooth arches of the Danish daisy with the hollow yet incredibly strong architecture of a grain straw. The unique pattern of the 3D printed pulleys draws heavily on the Danish tradition of quality, but with a strong emphasis on functionality and top performance.
The innovative pulley wheels are also cleverly compatible with all CeramicSpeed OSPW systems, and fitted with handmade high-end, coated CeramicSpeed bearings to ensure low friction.
At the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, CeramicSpeed unveiled its new wheel system as part of a beautifully handmade, bespoke racing bike. The full titanium frame was custom-built by Mosaic Cycles, whereas the fork, stem, seat post and wheels were manufactured by ENVE. The wheels included ENVE’s carbon road hubs, which were finished off with the CeramicSpeed bearings. This impressive new bike also featured the first CeramicSpeed outboard headset offering, alongside the Oversized Pulley Wheel System outfitted with 3D printed hollow TItanium Oversized Pulley Wheels. The whole package was topped off with a fresh UFO Racing Chain.
The jockey wheels alone will retail for $1,700. Whether CeramicSpeed will think to lower the potentially-prohibitive price point at a later date remains to be seen, but as one of the only brands currently marketing a 3D printed pulley wheel system of this caliber, the Danish bike brand is likely in no real rush to offer competitive pricing. For now, the 3D printed Titanium bike part will be reserved for professional racers and high-end cycling aficionados.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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