12 ms·

Back in the 90ies, I stayed in the same hotel as a pro team who were racing in the Giro d'Italia. It was interesting to see their bikes: except for the GC guy,

by davidw 8y ago

Back in the 90ies, I stayed in the same hotel as a pro team who were racing in the Giro d'Italia. It was interesting to see their bikes: except for the GC guy, they were 'workhorses' - good components, and steel frames that, taken together, where not exactly featherweight. A nice bike certainly helps, but it's all about your fitness and strength.

gerbilly 8y ago
Rotating weight is the most important to minimize. If you can shave off 500g in your wheelset, it makes much more difference than shaving 500g off the frame or other 'static' component.
- jdietrich 8y ago
  In a punchy crit with constant accelerations, absolutely. For sustained efforts like time trials, it makes essentially no difference. Once you're up to speed, it's all aerodynamics, gravity and rolling resistance. Ondřej Sosenka actually used a weighted back wheel for his successful hour record ride, with the logic that it would act as a flywheel in the later parts of the hour and smooth out his ragged pedalling. Of course he did test positive for methamphetamine in 2008, which may have had something to do with breaking the hour record.
  - gerbilly 8y ago
    I guess I get my biases from mountain biking, where there is a lot more acceleration/deceleration going on.
  - gerbilly 8y ago
    It's interesting you mention rolling resistance because in mountain biking, cross country anyway, where there will be climbing on loose surfaces, you have to trade off rolling resistance of the rear tire against traction. If you over-inflate your tires, you'll have less traction. There's also the fact that during a tough climb on a trail with obstacles (roots rocks) you can't just power your way up, you have to maintain constant awareness of where the contact patch of your rear wheel is at all times, and modulate the power such that you deliver the most power where you have the most traction. Fail to do that on a rock or root and you'll blow the climb.

by davidw 8y ago

gerbilly 8y ago

Rotating weight is the most important to minimize. If you can shave off 500g in your wheelset, it makes much more difference than shaving 500g off the frame or other 'static' component.

jdietrich 8y ago
In a punchy crit with constant accelerations, absolutely. For sustained efforts like time trials, it makes essentially no difference. Once you're up to speed, it's all aerodynamics, gravity and rolling resistance. Ondřej Sosenka actually used a weighted back wheel for his successful hour record ride, with the logic that it would act as a flywheel in the later parts of the hour and smooth out his ragged pedalling. Of course he did test positive for methamphetamine in 2008, which may have had something to do with breaking the hour record.
- gerbilly 8y ago
  I guess I get my biases from mountain biking, where there is a lot more acceleration/deceleration going on.
- gerbilly 8y ago
  It's interesting you mention rolling resistance because in mountain biking, cross country anyway, where there will be climbing on loose surfaces, you have to trade off rolling resistance of the rear tire against traction. If you over-inflate your tires, you'll have less traction. There's also the fact that during a tough climb on a trail with obstacles (roots rocks) you can't just power your way up, you have to maintain constant awareness of where the contact patch of your rear wheel is at all times, and modulate the power such that you deliver the most power where you have the most traction. Fail to do that on a rock or root and you'll blow the climb.