Ceramic Vs Steel Track Spikes

First and foremost ask your coach what spikes you should wear.

Ceramic vs steel track spikes.

Traditionally the maximum allowable spike length for outdoor tracks is 7mm and indoors is 5mm especially the wooden boards. Deciding on which type of track spike to use can improve results and influence training methods. On the other hand the flavor profile resulting from steel burrs is greatly improved when one uses non espresso roasts. A ceramic bearing is also harder than steel bearings up to 30 which improves durability and they also don t rust so less maintenance should be required.

It is possible to find cheap ceramic or steel bearings on aliexpress or ebay i trust those the same way i trust the 30 carbon handlebar for mountain bikes that is advertised on the next page. These were meant to not puncture the track but rather compress the surface with the energy returning back to to the sprinter. Carbon ceramic brakes work through the same mechanism as standard disc brakes but the discs themselves are made from a very different material through a complex process. Rather than cast iron or steel carbon ceramic brake discs are made from a composite material.

Steel balls cannot reach the same smooth and roundness due to the material properties and therefore the polishing process is similar but a lot shorter. The only difference among metal spikes on the bottom of a sprinter s shoes used to be the length. A couple of the spikes had visible wear on them tips were worn down and lost about a mm in length after the meet and there was no pavement involved so these may wear faster than solid steel spikes. They still check spike lengths at track meets especially big meets with control areas so prepare to have a 2nd set handy with a spike wrench or better yet a second pair of spikes with smaller needles.

Most sealed ceramic bearings are actually hybrid ceramic bearings which combine a steel race with ceramic ball bearings. Steel studs are sold in a variety of widths comparable to dimensional lumber sizes lengths and metal stud gauges the lower the gauge number the thicker the steel. Christmas xmas tree spikes. Steel ceramic titanium alloy.

Various spike options pyramid these classic spikes can be used for track and cross country and perform well on grass and rubber. You anchor the top and bottom to steel track of matching width which only comes in 10 ft. Some event directors will only allow certain spikes on their track particularly if the track has been resurfaced or is comprised of a state of the art material. He will definitely be using the ceramic spikes for track season next spring.

The biggest difference only comes when we consider espresso and non espresso roasts. When in doubt go with these.