4 ms·

This post feels very dismissive of pro cycling, aerodynamics engineering, and what TFA is about. Any pro cyclist is going to use drafting, a low body weight, an

by wyre 4y ago

This post feels very dismissive of pro cycling, aerodynamics engineering, and what TFA is about. Any pro cyclist is going to use drafting, a low body weight, and have high fitness regardless if they are racing on gravel or not. An upgrade of only 3% for a pro cyclist could be the difference in making podium or not. Long distance gravel cycling is a relatively new sport and technology and engineering is still in its infancy. There is only minimal design crossover between a fully aero triathlon bike designed for going 112 miles as fast as possible, and a bike ridden for 350 miles by a top finisher at a race like Umbound XL. Jan Heine isn’t even trying to sell you aero parts. Maybe tires, a journal subscription, or some nice looking parts, but his brand doesn’t sell aero parts. His website doesn’t even offer the aero fairings he used, nor HS r contact info for the framebuilder that built the bike he raced.

prmoustache 4y ago
In fact there are already some changes in the way gravel is raced and there have been some waves in recent races. When reaching an optionnal resupply/refill point it used to be the case that if the leading 4-5 riders were calling for a pitstop the whole group would stop and wait for anyone to take food and drinks. Now some riders will decide they carry enough and not wait for those that decided on carrying less and stop more often and some additionnal strategy is being put in place. Also some elite riders are calling for a ban of aero handlebars, at least for the fastest ones who fight for the win, in the ground of safety reason. Many stopped using aero bars to set an example but others despite agreeing on the safety issue will continue to use them until a rule is set in place to ban them because they don't want to give up any possible advantage.
ben7799 4y ago
He is most definitely trying to sell you parts. Just not aero parts, and this whole article is partially marketing to tell you a bunch of the aero parts don't really matter, so you should buy his parts instead, and use his tires, etc, etc.. And he of course conveniently ignores all this stuff makes about 1/10th the difference rider fitness makes. He is a very fit/accomplished racer, at least he controls that variable, he does most of the test riding himself.

by wyre 4y ago

prmoustache 4y ago

In fact there are already some changes in the way gravel is raced and there have been some waves in recent races. When reaching an optionnal resupply/refill point it used to be the case that if the leading 4-5 riders were calling for a pitstop the whole group would stop and wait for anyone to take food and drinks. Now some riders will decide they carry enough and not wait for those that decided on carrying less and stop more often and some additionnal strategy is being put in place. Also some elite riders are calling for a ban of aero handlebars, at least for the fastest ones who fight for the win, in the ground of safety reason. Many stopped using aero bars to set an example but others despite agreeing on the safety issue will continue to use them until a rule is set in place to ban them because they don't want to give up any possible advantage.

ben7799 4y ago

He is most definitely trying to sell you parts. Just not aero parts, and this whole article is partially marketing to tell you a bunch of the aero parts don't really matter, so you should buy his parts instead, and use his tires, etc, etc.. And he of course conveniently ignores all this stuff makes about 1/10th the difference rider fitness makes. He is a very fit/accomplished racer, at least he controls that variable, he does most of the test riding himself.