Not at all. This is my honest opinion. Are you being passive aggressive by any chance?
Better is defined differently in different scenarios. In this case, lighter, faster and therefore more efficient would be one definition.
Is it really 95% the Rider and 5% the Bike...
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Better is defined differently in different scenarios. In this case, lighter, faster and therefore more efficient would be one definition.
Citius
Guest
I don't even know what that means, sorry.
Lighter - it's a TT bike on a flat course. So weight is irrelevant.
Faster - please explain how a 'better' bike would be 'faster'?
swansonj
Guru
A "better" bike might have a laterally stiffer frame, thus deflecting less energy from the road; a smaller frontal area and, possibly, a lower drag coefficient, meaning less air resistance; and better quality bearings, and, particularly, tyres, meaning less rolling resistance.
I'm guessing that those factors could make several tens of percent difference between a cheap bike and an expensive bike; but only the odd percent or so extra difference between an expensive bike and a very expensive bike.
I'm guessing that those factors could make several tens of percent difference between a cheap bike and an expensive bike; but only the odd percent or so extra difference between an expensive bike and a very expensive bike.
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Clearly you did not read post #113. Please read and inwardly digest.
The tone of some of the posts in this thread so far is not what we would hope for and we would ask everyone to be civil.
Citius
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Do you even know what a 'laterally stiffer' frame is? Or how much less energy this would deflect? Or do you know how much difference 'better bearings' would actually make? No? So if the guy in the CW article had a better bike, maybe he would have won the national TT champs. On hang on, he already did...
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jonny jeez
Legendary Member
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Are we all still arguing?
Let me get this right, the basic points are that an old bike with its inherent oldness, is factually older than a new bike that is newer and, therefore a new bike cannot be compared to an old bike because its newness makes it un-old...ergo, to whit, ad nauseam, Cogito Ergo Sum, the old bike is older than the new one.
have I got that right?
so, sorry, what are we arguing about?
Let me get this right, the basic points are that an old bike with its inherent oldness, is factually older than a new bike that is newer and, therefore a new bike cannot be compared to an old bike because its newness makes it un-old...ergo, to whit, ad nauseam, Cogito Ergo Sum, the old bike is older than the new one.
have I got that right?
so, sorry, what are we arguing about?
Citius
Guest
Apparently, we are arguing about whether a better bike would be faster. Unfortunately, nobody can articulate what a 'better' bike actually is.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
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Prettier!
my new wheels are well pretty.
make fark all difference to my performance but make me glow with self satisfaction when I wear them. Also makes me feel smug when folk think my bike is worth more than bikes 3 times the quality.
WINNING!!
winjim
Straddle the line, discord and rhyme
A £1000 TT championship winning bike would be "better" at giving me a sense of achievement than would a £6000 bike under similar circumstances.
Citius
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Me too - but not to others apparently. Presumably, they think that if the bike cost twice as much, he would have gone twice as fast
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
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Especially if its prettier
Crandoggler
Senior Member
Holy shoot. I agree with you.Me too - but not to others apparently. Presumably, they think that if the bike cost twice as much, he would have gone twice as fast
swansonj
Guru
Yes, thanks, I do have a passably good idea of each of those things.Do you even know what a 'laterally stiffer' frame is? Or how much less energy this would deflect? Or do you know how much difference 'better bearings' would actually make? No? So if the guy in the CW article had a better bike, maybe he would have won the national TT champs. On hang on, he already did...
The point, albeit a rather modest one, where I was trying to offer some slight clarity is that the bike does make a difference even on flat riding where weight is less of an issue, but much more so at the lower end of the price/quality scale. By the time you're into, say, one-grand-plus bikes, spending more money will get you pretty marginal advantages. Worth doing if you're in a competitive setting where marginal advantages matter; worth doing if it makes you happier; but not worth doing if you're looking for big differences.
Citius
Guest
Great - if you know the answers to my questions, let's hear them? Your thoughts on 'better bearings' would be particularly welcome...
Crandoggler
Senior Member
I can answer that if you like?
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