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Gaining time with a...
 

[Closed] Gaining time with a top end road bike

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[#6469484]

Would having a £6000+ 1.5-2kg lighter roady give me 5mins over, say 50miles?


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 6:57 pm
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what do you ride now

how long does it take you now

how hard are you trying


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:00 pm
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No, defo 10 mins fasterer


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:01 pm
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Absolutely, probably moar!


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:04 pm
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If you're currently running, yes.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:05 pm
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The only reason I'm getting my arse handed to me in road races is lack of carbonz, if I had moar I'd win, no doubt.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:06 pm
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I just upgraded from a £1.5k bike to a £4k one and my Strava times up climbs have tumbled for two reasons:

1. It's lighter, but I don't think the kilo I lost is so much the cause as...
2. It's better at getting the power on the deck while remaining a bit compliant for longer rides.

So, yes, I think so.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:06 pm
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Only if you clean it with GT85..


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:07 pm
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3. I'm riding a 4 grand bike - better put some effort in


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:08 pm
 DezB
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You'd also be more attractive to wimmin


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:09 pm
 dyls
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I would say yes. I gained a couple of minutes over a 20k route by having a lighter carbon bike.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:09 pm
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Buy a 3 grand bike, spend the other 3 on coaching...


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:11 pm
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2. It's better at getting the power on the deck while remaining a bit compliant for longer rides.

Stiff and vertically compliant? ZOMGoffferz!


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:13 pm
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DezB - Member
You'd also be more attractive to wimmin

and blokes

#equalityforum


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:16 pm
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Buy one of your mates a £1500 scooter and get him to motorpace you for 50 miles..


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:16 pm
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bikes just over 8kg , I am 85kg

50 miles undulating, 3000ft climbing, takes about 2.40-2.50 depending on a couple of route choices

I'm trying maybe 80% but drops off the last 10 miles or so


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:17 pm
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edit


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:19 pm
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i don't want a new bike, i'm just curious i guess


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:21 pm
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Buy a 3 grand bike, spend the other 3 on coaching...

Ha! Yes, that as well. Except it's more to do with having nothing to blame for the slowness.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:22 pm
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Why do you need to save 5 mins? If you really want to know then you need to know your power and cda, you can then spend some time with Aerolab etc..


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:23 pm
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what sort of a question is that?

because thats 5 mins more time i get in the pub.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:26 pm
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because thats 5 mins more time i get in the pub.
Now that's a good reason..


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:29 pm
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how about we forget the time constraints i seem to have put on myself and say

"with reference to the original post, how much quicker would i be" ?


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:29 pm
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Would having a £6000+ 1.5-2kg lighter roady give me 5mins over, say 50miles?

Maybe as a placebo effect.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:30 pm
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ok what about a [b]free[/b] 7kg bike say


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:31 pm
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Is the bike red?


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:33 pm
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One of my riding buddies has a ~£10K Parlee. It's very, very bling. I can say I notice him being any quicker particularly than when he on his ordinary bike..... although that is an Sworks 🙂


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:34 pm
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no its green


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:34 pm
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Probably slower then.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:36 pm
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I saw a woman on a Dogma at th weekend and she looked like she'd been dropped and was going very slowly


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:41 pm
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bikes just over 8kg , I am 85kg

50 miles undulating, 3000ft climbing, takes about 2.40-2.50 depending on a couple of route choices

So you're looking at losing 2% of your total weight and wondering if that will make you 3% faster?


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:41 pm
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SESSION 1
do you set off with 2 full bottles? if so, drink a pint of water before leaving, and have a 500ml bidon only half full during your ride
there you go, 1 kg lost, I'll give you this first coaching session FOC 🙂

SESSION 2
Do you come home feeling quite tired but spiritually refreshed? in that case you're not pushing yourself hard enough, don't come back if you aren't on the verge of cramps and spewing. There you go, session 2 FOC as well 🙂

being sensible, a nice new bike is a great thing, don't be ashamed to buy one if you can afford it, but purchase and speed are not caused by each other


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:44 pm
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^^ that'll do.

end of discussion.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 7:54 pm
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Why does price come into it?

My 8kg Giant Propel# with aero frame, wheels, helmet and skinsuit is about 0.5-1 mph faster (for the same power) than my 7kg Giant Defy without the accouterments. That's for races of 30-60 miles.

You are realistically looking to save one water bottle. Being fitter means you won't need to drink the second bottle anyway 😉

#And the new RED bartape makes it even faster. In fact, it is the fastest speed/pound so far 8)


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 8:01 pm
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You will use less watts to maintain the same speed (all else being equal) on the lighter bike.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 8:22 pm
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I would say yes. I gained a couple of minutes over a 20k route by having a lighter carbon bike.

bollocks

as they say, its not about the bike

[URL= http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y394/dansipods2/ScreenShot2014-09-08at212109_zps6b879834.pn g" target="_blank">http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y394/dansipods2/ScreenShot2014-09-08at212109_zps6b879834.pn g"/> [/IMG][/URL]


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:22 pm
 DanW
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You can only lose time with a red, light bike. FACT 😀

So the video basically says dropping 1kg of weight from either the bike or body is worth 0.025W/kg (assuming the 8% incline I guess). For a pretty average 70kg person that is a massive saving of 1.75W. Basically, within the error of the Powermeter used and treadmill speed accuracy too, i.e. pretty insignificant.

I did my own quick tests with 3 climbs of a 1km hill with a really nice, constant 10% gradient and smooth tarmac, first with 4kg of bottles in a bag, then without any extra weight. There was only an average difference of 6W (and around the same number of seconds) which isn't much more than the measurement error of the Stages crank and natural variability (changing the average cadence by 1rpm made a bigger difference to the average power output over the climb- i.e. get fitter and push 1rpm faster rather than lose 4kg off you and the bike).

My take is that in theory there are gains to losing weight off the bike but these are small in reality and, just like the video said, most people can lose much more from themselves and even these larger savings are a very small % change for the average mincer/ MAMIL. 20km climbs for pros racing for seconds, maybe but in the real world most the bike is hardly the weakest link for most people. Light bikes are awesome though 😳


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:28 pm
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Hmm funny thing is losing weight off self is free whilst losing weight off bike is £££££
And everyone seems to want to go the ££££ way.

I think training an motivation are worth more IMHO


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:40 pm
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My road bike was £250 second hand and consequently it is very slow, so yes at least. Lets say I bought an £8k bike, thats a massive 64X faster than mine. I'm in.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:41 pm
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I bought an expensive carbon bike and it made me faster...
1. I figured that if I rode a £3k bike slowly I'd look like an ATGNI MAMIL so I'd better get fit and ride it properly!
2. It's a gorgeous bike to ride so I ride it lots and stay out longer... and so I'm fitter.

It does feel a lot more efficient at putting out whatever my legs can put in (compared to my steel winter bike for instance) but I've not quantified this in any scientific manner.

So yes, buying a better bike may well make you faster, but £6k seems excessive to me - £2.5/3k would seem to be enough to buy you a good frame with a lightweight group IMO


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:44 pm
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jontykint - Member
I am 85kg
Lose some weight, you fat knacker.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:47 pm
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I'm going to see if I can borrow one of the lads lightweight bikes next weekend.

Do people not carry a tube/pack/tool etrc to save bike weight?

Does it make a difference how you carry it? E.g on bike or on person in jersey?


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:47 pm
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Good post danw.

1kg of weight from either the bike or body is worth 0.025W/kg (assuming the 8% incline I guess). For a pretty average 70kg person that is a massive saving of 1.75W

I'm about that weight and more than that (2-3W?) goes into my dynamo hub if the light's on .. can't say it feels like I speed up much when I turn it off. But I do 'feel' it and that's what counts at times. Bikes are very much about feel, it's just that sometimes it's made more 'scientific' so it can be presented neatly.


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:57 pm
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You might save some time but it'll be minimal. Basically 2kg saves around 2 minutes up Alpduez according to this link. I doubt you'll be climbing a hill such as this.

[url= http://www.training4cyclists.com/how-much-time-does-extra-weight-cost-on-alpe-dhuez/ ]Link[/url]

An aero bike will probably save you more. And Id say the the difference between a 6k bike and a 3 k one weighing close to UCI limit would be virtually nil. Youd be better making sure your tyres are pumped up...


 
Posted : 08/09/2014 9:59 pm
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