Speed tweaks

[J4CKO]

Was struggling last week, Christmas lay off I thought but no, front brake was binding (disk).

Spent a bit of time on it at the weekend fettling, put my old brakes on, pumped the tyres up by an additional 10 PSI, got rid of a panniers worth of crap so am on the one so a weight and aerodynamic improvement

Definitely felt faster this morning, going to make a point of seeing whether I can leave more stuff like my towel at work, its a pain in the arse carrying all that stuff. I am thinking that next year some more aerodynamic clothing might help, just need a more aerodynamic body first.....

Any other tips for gaining a mph or two ?

 

[Twiggy]

Go clipless if you haven't already, it can add a fair bit of speed, though you'll feel more tired and achy at first whilst you get used to pulling up as well as pushing down.

Never stop turning those cranks whilst you are moving.

But no other suggestions really.

 

[Amanda P]

Fit a computer on your bike.

Watch the speed readout (not all the time, sometimes you need to look where you're going). Try to make your current speed greater than average speed at all times (except maybe when waiting at traffic lights).

Since doing this raises the average, you gradually get faster and faster.

Up to a point.

 

[HLaB]

narrower/ slicker tyres perhaps.

 

[4F]

Any other tips for gaining a mph or two ?

Pedal faster

 

[Origamist]

Apart from getting fitter by putting in the miles, you could also try to minimise your frontal profile by flattening your back a bit. If your bars are level or higher than your saddle try lowering them...Wind resistance is the enemy of speed...

 

[hackbike 666]

No wonder im slower I have loads of junk on my bike.

Plus point...no booze in over a month now.

 

[biking_fox]

Start drafting other vehicles. Buses are good, lorries are better, cars are hard!

Changing your tyres is the single biggest improvement you can make. 23s are fine on the road even with potholes, though you can go down to 19s....

Get a faired recumbent.

 

[hackbike 666]

Start drafting other vehicles. Buses are good, lorries are better, cars are hard!

Changing your tyres is the single biggest improvement you can make. 23s are fine on the road even with potholes, though you can go down to 19s....

Get a faired recumbent.

I don't because I want to minimise p*nct*res.I use 25's.

SO im not going to be much faster.

Was struggling last week

Same here.

 

[BentMikey]

Apart from getting fitter by putting in the miles, you could also try to minimise your frontal profile by flattening your back a bit. If your bars are level or higher than your saddle try lowering them...Wind resistance is the enemy of speed...

My bars are almost as high as my head, I must be doing it wrong!

 

[J4CKO]

Due to my winter route I am using huge 37 mm cross country tyres at the moment, normally on 28 mm Conti slicks but I cant see the potholes enough and do a few bridleways, I suppose on average they dont affect the speed as I dont need to be so choosy and can go quicker off road.

As for the get fitter, Im trying !