Technical Progress in Road Bikes

[fossyant]

I have an early six carbon it's very much a dog - got slated in the reviews. But I've used it as an audax bike and it's been great. Countless centuries, 400k, c2c lejog etc.

Only downside is the limited tyre clearance 25mm.

Compared to my focus izalco 2012 it's a tank.

Which I thing is mainly due to the standard modulus carbon and thick radiator paint!!

25c is plenty. A real bike. You dont want these old people's 35c tyres you know. Any more than 25c is a mountain bike.

 

[rogerzilla]

My fastest bike, quite consistently, is a 1951 Holdsworth with a random steel fork (its original fork is too flexible and the front brakes rub on climbs). It has big clearances and quite a long wheelbase. Not what you'd expect.

My guess is that certain geometries squeeze out a few extra watts in biomechanical efficiency.

 

[cougie uk]

My fastest bike, quite consistently, is a 1951 Holdsworth with a random steel fork (its original fork is too flexible and the front brakes rub on climbs). It has big clearances and quite a long wheelbase. Not what you'd expect.

My guess is that certain geometries squeeze out a few extra watts in biomechanical efficiency.

Didn't team GB (re) introduce big clearances in 2012 - less turbulence or something.

 

[Moon bunny]

they have been brilliant with me on warranty claims.

If they were really-really brilliant you wouldn’t know how they were with warranty claims, because you would never have to claim.

 

[Alex321]

25c is plenty. A real bike. You dont want these old people's 35c tyres you know. Any more than 25c is a mountain bike.

Tell the pro-peleton that

Many are racing on 28mm nowadays, and for races such as Paris-Roubaix or cobbled stages in the TDF, were going as wide as 32mm.

 

[DCBassman]

25c is plenty. A real bike. You dont want these old people's 35c tyres you know. Any more than 25c is a mountain bike.

You don't have any teeth left, do you?

 

[simongt]

On modern techno bikes, didn't a lass recently finally beat Beryl Burton's 12 hour record by a mere 3% or so - ?
Bearing in mind that Beryl was riding a chromo frame road bike of the day and ordinary cycle clothing and the record beater was riding a modern, full techno carbon fibre road bike and wearing aero clothing and bash hat.
Progress - ?

 

[vickster]

Shows how extraordinary Beryl was as an athlete regardless of the equipment

 

[Arrowfoot]

Specialized sued two of it former employees for trade secrets and breach of employment contract. After spending $2m in legal fee and they were awarded $1 dollar.

Yes, 20 over years history of suing anything that moves. The price premium is for branding and the bikes are indeed decent.

 

[vickster]

Specialized sue two of it former employees for trade secrets and breach of employment contract. After spending $2m in legal fee and they were awarded $1 dollar.

Yes, 20 over years history of suing anything moves. The price premium is for branding and the bikes are indeed decent.

Need to cover their legal losses

 

[cougie uk]

By comparison Trek sound really nice and look after their employees.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Tell the pro-peleton that [25c is plenty]
Many are racing on 28mm nowadays, . . . .

Are you guessing this? Or just taking @fossyant 's bait?
If not, what do you think the mode (or median) width of tyre being ridden in La Vuelta is? I suggest its 25mm (as on tyre wall).
Above what percentage does "many" ring your bell.
Edification: https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/specials/grand-prix-5000-comparison (edited quotes below)
1) At the same air pressures, wider tyres have a lower rolling resistance
2) at the same (higher, tests done at 100psi) air pressure, a bigger tire will provide a less comfortable ride than at "recommended air pressures".
3) At "recommended air pressures" (more or less the 15% tire drop air pressures) the tables are turned and a wider road bike tire will have a higher rolling resistance. The higher rolling resistance of the bigger tire is because it provides more comfort at the 15% tire drop air pressure. When all tires are adjusted to the same comfort level, rolling resistance is nearly the same (delta = 0.2 watts max) for all sizes of the GP 5000.

 

[Grant Fondo]

On cruddy uk road surfaces 28's make more sense to me, in fact i probably prefer 32's in winter.

 

[cougie uk]

On cruddy uk road surfaces 28's make more sense to me, in fact i probably prefer 32's in winter.

Yes my winter bike has 32 and it just ploughs through bad roads.

My summer bike on 25s is a lot more sensitive.

My next summer bike will have bigger clearances.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I ride 28s at the moment and have ridden 25s before. To be perfectly honest I'm not sure I could tell the difference. 3mm is a bit fine for my backside to detect.

I'd have a go at bigger tyres if my bike had the clearance, but it doesn't, and I'm not about to buy an entire bike purely in order to try out a tyre size.