whats people’s take on this?
https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/01/28/myth-4-stiffer-frames-are-faster/
https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/01/28/myth-4-stiffer-frames-are-faster/
Frame stiffness article .....
- Thread starter Huggis
- Start date
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Racing roadkill
Guru
I like what they say about tread patterns on tyres. The amount of breath I’ve wasted trying to explain what they have there, to people, is imense. It’s good to see someone else ‘getting it’.
Racing roadkill
Guru
[QUOTE 5179093, member: 45"]That "myth buster" is an advert for Compass tyres. Whoever they might be. They don't argue what you argue about tyre tread, nor do they speak facts. For example there's no statement on the sweet spot for their claimed "interlocking".[/QUOTE]
Tedious.
Tedious.
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Well that's 5 minutes i will never get back.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
gcn did an article where they looked how frame flex put power back as the pedal was unloaded.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Both sides of that argument are hokum. Within the limits of the extreme, it matters little either way.
deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
I saw that a couple of weeks ago and it sort of answered the question I'd asked myself when I saw stiffness as a selling point a little too often: you put watts into the bike, where else can they go? Immediacy is what you lose, not power.
Without watching the video (baby is asleep) I can't comment on the specifics, but I don't see why in principle it can't be lost in friction/heat/etc. If you push your bike pedal and part of that force goes to bending the rear triangle instead of turning the rear wheel, then the frame flexes back again when your pedal force relaxes, how does the release of that stored energy translate into forward motion? Having your rear wheel going in any direction other that straight ahead doesn't seem like it is going to help
What did GCN say?
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Don't fret about GCN. They have all the scientific methodology of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle studying fairies.
Shortandcrisp
Über Member
If you’ve ridden a bike(s) for more than ten years (not continuously I hasten to add), you’ll know that frame material/compliance/stiffness (whether laterally, vertically, horizontally or three dimentially) makes feck all difference to how fast you ride in the real world.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
I had a Pace frame for a bit - with the square tubing, which was harsh as fark in the saddle. It didn't feel like it had any compliance at all. It was like cast iron. But because the square tubing had limited torsional rigidity compared to a round tubed bike, the bottom bracket used to swing about like a hammock. I'm not fast but I am heavy and when I stood on the pedals I'd have to compensate at the bars because the back wheel would actually change direction! Did it go any slower as a consequence? I do not know.
I did some further research into this. RoadBIKE.de have tests where they measure frame stiffness at various points on the frame. My 2006 Roubaix is about 20% less stiff (88N/mm) at the B.B. than my current 'Good’ bike (105N/mm) yet feels like the power transfer is better.
A podcast on cycling tips had the top engineer from Cannondale saying the 'sweet spot' for most riders would be 60 N/mm.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/cyclingtips-podcast/id1117221239?mt=2&i=1000385901611
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
The same Cannondale that fitted their bikes with such tripe as Lefty forks and Girvin Flexstems?
