CeramicSpeed OSPW Aero derailleur upgrade is even faster

CeramicSpeed’s Giro-proven OSPW Aero adds reduction in aerodynamic drag to the reduced drivetrain drag of their popular oversized pulley wheel derailleur upgrades. By effectively replacing their standard oversized cage with a aerofoil carbon shroud, CeramicSpeed OSPW Aero tucks their same machined 13/19T alloy derailleur pulleys and smooth-spinning ceramic bearings out of the wind.

CeramicSpeed OSPW Aero derailleur upgrade is even faster

c. CUBE, photos by Alessandro Volders – CyclingMedia Agency

We already got a good up-close look of the new CeramicSpeed OSPW Aero setup on Grand Tour breakout star Biniam Girmay’s Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert team Cube bikes ridden for a Giro d’Italia stage win & multiple podium spots. And now CeramicSpeed has made OSPW Aero official claiming, “the world’s fastest pulley wheel system just got faster”!

CeramicSpeed OverSized Pulley Wheel upgrades have been decreasing drivetrain friction on the road since 2015, and have been relentlessly copied by many companies looking to offer the same performance gains. Free watts have never been cheap.

But now, CeramicSpeed claims another performance leap with the addition of aerodynamic gains on top of reduced friction gains, developed together with renowned aero expert Simon Smart of Drag2Zero.

Tech details

c. CeramicSpeed, Silverstone Wind Tunnel photos by Ewan Thacker

Over 2 years of iterating in the wind tunnel with Smart, CeramicSpeed ended with a new carbon-reinforced polyamide cage structure that wraps around their existing “mechanically optimized” low friction ceramic bearing & pulley design. In between, they found more aero solutions that compromised drivetrain efficiency, so returned to their “sweet spot” proven OSPW mechanical internals, with 4 spring tension adjustability settings.

CeramicSpeed admits that this is marginal gains territory, claiming the pulley wheel upgrade represents only “about 1% of the total system drag” of the bike and rider, and sits within a turbulent area of airflow coming of the crankset, pedal & rider’s foot. Ultimately wind tunnel testing suggests that the new OSPW Aero reduced aero drag by 40% over a standard OSPW, or 60% over a stock derailleur.

c. CUBE, photo by Alessandro Volders

They say that translates to “a pro rider saving 2.5 seconds during a 25 km time trial ridden at a quick 50km/h pace, while a competitive age-group triathlete riding at 30 km/h will save 1 minute and 15 seconds over a full distance Ironman” compared to a stock derailleur setup.

c. CUBE, photo by Alessandro Volders

Biniam Girmay rode his OSPW Aero road setup to a stage win, a second place, two 4ths & 2 5ths at this year’s Giro before taking the leader’s jersey. So certainly it didn’t hurt him.

CeramicSpeed OSPW Aero – Pricing, options & availability

c. CUBE, photo by Alessandro Volders

The new CeramicSpeed OSPW Aero sells for 739€ and is only available in the top-tier coated ceramic bearings option, which includes a lifetime warranty on the bearings. Much as we anticipated, that’s a bit more pricey than the standard OSPW, adding about a hundred and fifty bucks.

Shimano 12sp, Shimano 11sp, SRAM AXS 12sp

OSPW Aero is available to order now direct from CeramicSpeed, with three options that allow compatibility with Shimano 9250/8150, Shimano 9100/8000, and SRAM Red/Force AXS  derailleurs. All three options are in stock, and start shipping out to consumers starting today.

CeramicSpeed.com