Buying a new wheelset - any benefit to ceramic bearings?

Thanks Chris - it would be a difference of a couple hundred dollars and I've just read that the ceramic bearings have a longer lifespan than steel ones, which also tips the scales a bit. 

I may just bite the bullet and go for it. 

What made the decision for me to not worry about them was when I read on HED's own website that they will never make wheels with them.  When you take that statement from them, and add in that the HED tri-spoke is generally viewed as one of the fastest wheels out there, I have to think that I can save the $100 per wheel, or whatever, and still do plenty good.

What about if they're maintained properly?  I've also read this:

What are the cost of ownership benefits do ceramic bearings bring?
The relative hardness of ceramic bearings results in increased durability over comparable steel bearings. Ceramic material does not rust, unlike steel, meaning exposure to moisture is less of a concern, particularly for full ceramic bearings. They require less lubrication and do not suffer from pitting.

However, there is a risk of chipping, particularly where they are located in areas that are susceptible to water or grit ingress. So whilst ceramic bearings can last between 5 and 20 times longer than steel bearings it is important that they are fitted and maintained correctly. If so, Jonathan Day says that the increased wear resistance means that an initial investment in ceramic bearings should be paid back over time.

I honestly don't have an answer.  When I was struggling with the same decision last December, I made it as far as stumbling across what HED had to say, and I figured that if one of the biggest names and best performers in aero wheels won't bother even offering it as an upgrade, then I can live without them - and I didn't bother to look beyond that.   

I have FLO's with steel bearings, and I can tell you one thing after a very long season filled with a LOT of racing on them... those things just spin forever.  

Lol - good to know! 

Does anyone have an idea on why they cost so much?  Is it that expensive to manufacture ceramic bearings?

I've never considered ceramic bearings simply because of the cost and I haven't heard anyone say that they can increase speed at the same rate as other $100ish upgrades can.  Everytime you see a thread about "what should I upgrade on my bike"...ceramic bearings never makes the list.  I really have no idea about them...maybe they should make the list?  In my uneducated mind, it's like choosing between a $10 plastic bottle cage and a $60 carbon cage. 

No idea, but when I was asking my LBS about that swapping over DA, and how much it would cost to replace the DA, he said (and this is a guy I trust, ex pro - which may be a good or bad thing, LOL) that if I were spending $$$ (about $600 to do a full ceramic BB), he'd advise ceramic --  BB and pulleys -- over going DA.  I guess it comes down to drive train friction?

The pulleys in my Shimano Ultegra derailleur are ceramic.  I think that's just how they make them...they only cost about $20.  They spin like crap compared to the pulleys on my SRAM Rival RD on my road bike.  I asked my mechanic about it and he said that's just how Shimano pulleys are.  I ordered another pair just in case they were shot and the ones I got in the mail spun the same way.  If I flicked it with my finger maybe it spun around one rotation before stopping.

Maybe they're just poor quality ceramic?  My mechanic told me not to worry about it.  I would love to know if these pulleys make a difference...if anyone actually knows.  It's always bothered me a little and I would like to place some blame on them. 

But more to the point of this thread...ever since I've spun these "ceramic" pulleys...I have found it hard to believe that the material itself is actually "better."  Maybe it's more about how a bearing is made rather than what it's made out of?

This is a decent article:

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Bearing_Breakdown_2822.html

It is pretty cool that the ceramic upgrade through Flo helps to support buying bikes for kids in need.

Shane

Thanks for the article Shane - very informative (though even as the author put it - somewhat boring at the beginning) and I particularly liked the Spaceballs reference in there. 

The short version of the article seems to be if you WANT ceramic, make sure they are the highest grade ceramic and not ones that are then housed in steel. 

I'll have to ask Jon & Chris what they use before ponying up any extra dough, even if I really do like the idea of the bikes for kids project.