Coke Can vs. Ceramic Speed – Aero OSPW Face-Off
Ceramic Speed is somewhat concerned by a new entrant into the niche market for aero Over-Sized Pulley Wheels (OSPW) as the €739 price tag for their latest pulley wheel and carbon cover is significantly undercut by a bit of cut-up coke can.
An unnamed, senior exec at Ceramic Speed was quoted as saying, “!£$”£%%, we didn’t see that coming.”
The competing derailleur cover comes from Simon Warren, author of 100 Climbs, who got this novel idea whilst sipping his favourite carbonated beverage at a book signing in his local WH Smith book store. “What if I just cut it and bent it a bit?” he mused. Sure enough, a bit of cutting and bending was all that was needed to fashion what is likely to be 2022’s most novel cycling invention.
Provenance
Ceramic Speed worked with Simon Smart (Drag2Zero) for 2 years of wind tunnel testing but Simon Warren scoffed at the expense and knocked up his caffeine-inspired invention in about 30 minutes in his shed.
Technical Specs – OSPW Aero vs A Bit of Coke Can
| Ceramic Speed | Bit of Coke Can | |
| Upper Pulley Wheel | 13-tooth | Compatible with existing pulley wheel with a bit of bending |
| Lower Pulley Wheel | 19-tooth | Compatible with existing pulley wheel with a bit of bending |
| Hand-built Ceramic Speed Bearing | Yes | No |
| Life-Time Warranty | Yes, on some models | No |
| Wind Tunnel Testing | Yes (2 years) | No |
| Shimano 9250 Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Shimano 8150 Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Shimano 9000 Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Shimano 8000 Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Number of available finishes/colours | 1, Carbon | 1, Red |
| Price | € 739 | < €1 |
Claims
Ceramic Speed claims that “a pro rider [can save] 2.5 seconds during a 25km time trial ridden at a quick 50km/h pace, while a competitive age-group triathlete riding at 30km/h will save 1 minute and 15 seconds over a full-distance IRONMAN.”. Simon Warren claims his invention should save about 1 watt (maybe).
Opinion
The €1 price tag from Warren seems reasonable. I was a little disappointed with his choice of Coke as my TT bike is blue and would better suit a Pepsi can.
More: www.ceramicspeed.com
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Coke and pepsi? Amateurs! You use a part of a beer can of your favorite brew!!
And you can even change them for local brews on holidays for that extra cred with the locals!
Coke Aero?
Diet coke ?