What cost per extra 1mph on bike?

[IroningMan]

Using aerobars in traffic is as daft as riding a brakeless fixie.

I use my TT bike all the time - when the weather is good - for group rides: it's my 'nice bike' so I ride it when we get our nice bikes out.

[yellowjack]

I reckon this pair look like a couple of a berks.

http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/ncbm7/ive-never-...
http://img.youtube.com/vi/45GjR20sCFg/0.jpg

ewenm said:

Do people actually take The Rules seriously then?

I think some people may do.

It always amuses me at cafes and tea rooms favoured by cyclists, to try to work out who are the true believers in 'The Rules'. I usually read them simply for entertainment, or to try to work out why I got a scornful look from the chap on the 'Chinarello' with his cycling cap on under his lid. WTF? It may be one of your beloved 'rules', but, IMHO, riding a MTB helmet with a peak/visor makes you look like a lot less of a 'dick'.

Many of the things that we mortals do to make life easier on the bike are scorned by the 'Keepers of the Cog', such as saddle bags, and frame mounted pumps. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad these rules exist, but I won't be adhering to most of them any time soon.

[okgo]

So when you're just riding along with others, are you on the base bars or the extensions? It just seems like a terribly uncomfortable way to ride in a group who are on road bikes I imagine?

[dougc]

Someone once said "don't buy upgrades, ride up grades"

I think he won the tour a couple of times.

[Roman]

NitroNick said:

okgo said:

I didn't call him anything, just an opinion on people that use tri-bars to gain more speed on a club run/commute etc. Just seems pointless.

Its not elitism just an observation that most cyclists would probably agree with. Hell, its probably one of the 'rules' that people on here seem to cream themselves over.

Yes a TTT is different, but again the terrain is designed for that (usually) so its far more safe than the tts I see using tri-bars down embankment in rush hour.

I see people using tri bars on mountain bikes reguarly, do I think they look like a "berk" because of it?

I would!

Though to be fair, for all I know they could be training for an 'adventure' triathlon such as 'Race the Sun'.

As you say so long as people are out enjoying themselves and not riding dangerously it's not that important and I'd probably still say 'hi'.

[IroningMan]

okgo said:

So when you're just riding along with others, are you on the base bars or the extensions? It just seems like a terribly uncomfortable way to ride in a group who are on road bikes I imagine?

Base bars almost all the time; I use the extensions if the road allows and I'm on the front, but not otherwise.

And I probably use the extensions more often than my riding partners use their drops...we're a bunch of middle-aged weekend cyclists, not a club chain-gang.

Totally different matter if I'm on my own - then I'll use the extensions whenever the road allows.

[yellowjack]

dougc said:

Someone once said "don't buy upgrades, ride up grades"

I think he won the tour a couple of times.

Wasn't that this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVlkZVAw8Gc






Sorry.

[Comfortably Dumb]

BigBen said:

There was an implication of me being a berk or at least looking like one.

Rest assured I won't be riding down embankment at rush hour, going on a club run or a TTT (whatever the hell the last two are) with them so it's all OK.

Ben

Ben, I recognise your username and Atom from a Where to live in Cambrigdeshire thread last year. If you haven't moved since then there's a group of us that ride out from the bike shop most Sundays (meet at 9)

We're always looking for people to join us if you fancy an easy going 50 miler.

[BigBen]

Comfortably Dumb said:

BigBen said:

There was an implication of me being a berk or at least looking like one.

Rest assured I won't be riding down embankment at rush hour, going on a club run or a TTT (whatever the hell the last two are) with them so it's all OK.

Ben

Ben, I recognise your username and Atom from a Where to live in Cambrigdeshire thread last year. If you haven't moved since then there's a group of us that ride out from the bike shop most Sundays (meet at 9)

We're always looking for people to join us if you fancy an easy going 50 miler.

Yep I know about that ride and keep meaning to make it along, problem is usually a hangover at that time on a Sunday. I know the bike shop well it is where I got my bike and berk bars

Ben

[Comfortably Dumb]

BigBen said:

Yep I know about that ride and keep meaning to make it along, problem is usually a hangover at that time on a Sunday. I know the bike shop well it is where I got my bike and berk bars

Ben

Berk bars

Guess you're a fellow Merida rider then.

[dudleybloke]

ewenm said:

Do people actually take The Rules seriously then?

only rule 5 and 10.

[amnesia182]

A set of clip on TT bars. Biggest difference you can make for the money in terms of the amount of Watts needed to maintain a specific speed.

[BigBen]

Comfortably Dumb said:

Guess you're a fellow Merida rider then.

Yep, can't remember which one mind you.

[a boardman]

I am on a running/triathlete holiday and someone has said biggest help
1) helmet.
2) tri bars.
3) wheels.
4) bike.
The tri guys on a 120k bike ride tomorrow.

[a boardman]

I am on a running/triathlete holiday and someone has said biggest help
1) helmet.
2) tri bars.
3) wheels.
4) bike.
The tri guys on a 120k bike ride tomorrow.

[Talksteer]

Slaav said:

So, having been seen off by an admittedly much fitter chap on a sexy blingy bike at the weekend, I was wondering if i upgraded my bike to a blingy one, would that (and ignoring fitness improvements etc) give me an extra 1, 2 or 17 mph average speed?

So, get off my Allez triple on to (eg) a mid range carbon with 105 or Ultegra, would that extra (eg) £1500 give an extra 0.3, 0.9, 1.5 etc mph?

What do you reckon? Obviously, I am not simply trying to buy extra speed but just want to make my extra speed more 'attainable' and get up to approaching 20mph average if at all possible.....

Any ideas or pointers? (Aside from the obvious MTFU!)

Well this costs around £1800 but will let you go considerably faster..

http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/corsa.html

[Uriel]

^^ Some data here: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/article/how-aer...

[okgo]

I think a skin suit makes quite a lot of difference. I am finding it hard to believe that a TT bike is 20% quicker than a road, but I suppose they're measuring power.

Edited by okgo on Friday 12th October 10:20

[IroningMan]

okgo said:

I think a skin suit makes quite a lot of difference. I am finding it hard to believe that a TT bike is 20% quicker than a road, but I suppose they're measuring power.

Edited by okgo on Friday 12th October 10:20

I don't know - there's a very gentle descent I ride regularly where the same HR gives 25-26mph on the TT bike but only 21-22mph on the drops of my road bike in otherwise broadly similar conditions.

[okgo]

Well, I look forward to getting mine then if its so night and day