Watts in the Bank (aka the school of marginal gains)

Aug 14, 2014 at 03:06 PM

14s is pretty nice in a 40K TT, but that's not what most of us are talking about right? I'm all for free speed and I'm getting into dialing it in (i.e. special/custom SPEED TEAM skinsuits). Let's just get it right contextually. Sometimes little things matter, other times it's the big things like VO2 max and your 20s effort. For the majority of the racing that we do, the latter carry much more weight.

Marc Bertucco

Aug 14, 2014 at 04:07 PM

My biggest takeaway here is that for TRULY FREE SPEED. I'm braiding my hair. Screw training. That burns calories that I have to replace with food that I buy.

Also, will be bringing my aero lid to GMSR...because I already bought that bad-boy years ago.

Unknown

Aug 14, 2014 at 07:30 PM

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David Yang

Aug 19, 2014 at 10:27 PM

Has no one mentioned the obvious? Short or shaved hair!

Marc Bertucco

Sep 12, 2014 at 02:18 AM

So...I've been thinking lately about something quippy that Jule's coach said to him about "moar watts."

Sleep more.

Hard to disagree. So I'm going to try harder to go to bed earlier than my usual "stay up until I pass out, because I need alone/quiet/down time after a full day with Peter" routine.

twoyacks

Sep 12, 2014 at 02:40 AM

I just read an article in Time called "The Power of Sleep"....sleep, that shit will make you faster than a new set of Zipps and any stupid looking bulbous helmet.

vlad

Sep 12, 2014 at 04:15 AM

I recently bought one of these.

http://www.withings.com/us/withings-aura.html

Game your sleep.

mugwump

Sep 13, 2014 at 04:07 PM

vlad said:

I recently bought one of these.

http://www.withings.com/us/withings-aura.html

Game your sleep.

Vlad,

There's an app that does much of hte same thing.

It's called Sleep Time. Just started testing it out--the lite version.

http://www.azumio.com/apps/sleep-time/index.html

vlad

Sep 13, 2014 at 04:36 PM

Let's race! Mine also has a sensor that detects movement and respiration and uses it to quantify the quality of sleep. As you can see I killed it last night/I was exhausted.

Jules

Sep 13, 2014 at 05:37 PM

@Wump how dos the app distinguish between people in the same bed?

mugwump

Sep 14, 2014 at 06:45 PM

Jules,

It uses the accelerometer, so obviously, the person(s) alongside you have the potential to throw it off. They claim accuracy, of course.

I"ve been trying solo on this trip. I'll try it at home shortly.

There is also Sleep Cycle and Power Nap apps. The latter you're supposed to put in your pocket.

The bigger question is: can either be precise enough, even with only one person in a bed?

The answer is...

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-babble/201310/sleep-cycle-app-precise-or-placebo

Still, it could be worthwhile if it gets you to consider how you sleep.

mugwump

Oct 14, 2014 at 03:14 PM

Optimal tire pressure. What is it, how to find it?

I came across this article on "tire drop" (difference in pressure between front and rear tires). It's a starting point

http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/TireDrop.pdf

Here is Lennard Zinn on the subject, with some commentary from Josh Poertner

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/tech-faq-more-on-fast-rolling-tires_210962

Jules

Oct 19, 2014 at 06:58 PM

Nice commentary on Aero vs Lightweight frames

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlz52XW6CMM#t=314

twoyacks

Oct 19, 2014 at 07:18 PM

which one is Adam?

twoyacks

Oct 26, 2014 at 05:49 PM

Today...in an attempt to kick start things this off season, I have removed my Rotor Q-rings and gone back to normal circles. We will see where this goes.

Jules

Oct 26, 2014 at 10:11 PM

twoyacks said:

Today...in an attempt to kick start things this off season, I have removed my Rotor Q-rings and gone back to normal circles. We will see where this goes.

Was thinking of exactly the same thing for 2015

twoyacks

Oct 27, 2014 at 12:16 AM

Jules you got to.....got tooooooooooooo......

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x27nmz_311-come-original_music

Ros Knopov

Oct 27, 2014 at 03:33 AM

Why all this Q-rings hate bros?

twoyacks

Oct 27, 2014 at 03:34 AM

Mine might go back on...knee pain will decide

Jules

Oct 27, 2014 at 01:31 PM

Ros Knopov said:

Why all this Q-rings hate bros?

No hate, just looking to change it up a bit. Been riding them for a couple of years and it's very constraining when I want to think about chainring options and it does mean that while I haven't dropped a chain in a race (touches wood) it does happen while training and it's one more thing to worry about.

twoyacks

Oct 28, 2014 at 01:38 AM

Oh Q-Rings....you knew I couldn't stay away for long...

twoyacks

Oct 28, 2014 at 01:38 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDWU2SR27g4

mugwump

Jan 27, 2015 at 09:01 PM

I decided to build up a set of training wheels with Sapim CX-Ray spokes. Got them on my Zipps, never built with them. They have a rep for being strong and light as well as aero. And, as Bontrager's axiom has it, they're not cheap.

Been poking around looking for data.

So far, this seems like the best test I've found.

http://www.novemberbicycles.com/blog/2013/1/22/aerodynamic-drag-of-lasers-vs-cx-rays.html

On a 20-spoke wheel with 38mm rim depth, they save 1-1.8w at 30mph.

Redbeard

Feb 03, 2015 at 02:45 AM

Will the greater number of spokes yield a higher savings, relative to round spokes? Or will the 28 spokes you're using, decrease the advantage?

To the wind tunnel!

Jules

Feb 04, 2015 at 04:26 AM

Will the greater number of spokes yield a higher savings, relative to round spokes? Or will the 28 spokes you're using, decrease the advantage?

To the wind tunnel!

You building one out back?

mugwump

Feb 19, 2015 at 04:35 PM

"Of all our research on tires, the most revolutionary finding is this:
Tire pressure has almost no effect on a tire’s speed. We did not believe
it at first, either, so we’ve tested it numerous times. It’s been
confirmed numerous times, with different methodologies."

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/the-tire-pressure-revolution/

Love to see what techies like Poertner and Rinard make of this.

JohnMalcolmson

Feb 19, 2015 at 05:56 PM

@mugwump If you're running clinchers is this a good argument for running 25mm Conti 4-Seasons? Supple casing, lower PSI + no flats.

David Yang

Feb 19, 2015 at 06:02 PM

They go into more nuance regarding higher v lower pressure on rough and smooth pavement and differences in clinchers and tubulars, supple and hard tires, and an "optimal" range where then it doesn't make too much of a difference if you go above or below certain thresholds in certain conditions. But I guess they didn't want to qualify their Big Statement with all those caveats.

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/tire-pressure-data-and-details/

I mean this chart may not show huge differences in power requirements, but using Rubino Pros as an example, there is a near 5watt difference from 80-95psi. I believe they suggested this was tested on "rough" or older pavement and smooth pavement would yield different results.

mugwump

Feb 19, 2015 at 06:36 PM

@mugwump If you're running clinchers is this a good argument for running 25mm Conti 4-Seasons? Supple casing, lower PSI + no flats.

trying to justify your decision?

It's probably a good bit more complex than they show. We're going fast, so the way the tires interact with the rims might be measurably different (expect that many teams and their sponsors have tested tire/wheel combinations in the wind tunnel).

The width does add weight at the end of the wheel, so at lower speeds that could be measurably different, too.

As for no flats, that's overselling benefits. Less likely to pinch flat for sure, but still able to flat. Though the more supple the casing, the faster you'll go regardless. Zipp just debuted some clinchers that test great. Not sure how they last though.

JohnMalcolmson

Feb 19, 2015 at 10:14 PM

@mugwump

Of course I am biased!

Agree that heavier tire = more rotational weight at the circumference for sure, but are you suggesting that weight interferes with rolling resistance? It must at some point, but 40 grams? Wouldn't the downside of a 4-season vs a lightweight supple tire be accelerating that +80 grams in an attack or a sprint?

My standing argument against lighter tires for NYC racing (stop rolling your eyes) is if you list how many races you DNF'd or missed on a result because of a puncture and no wheel support, what do you get? If the evidence says rolling resistance isn't affected by riding wider, more comfortable and puncture resistant tires => no-brainer. To date I've never had a puncture in the four seasons I've ridden 4-seasons.

If we believe the data above, it tells us we should be looking elsewhere for marginal gains, like a tire with low roll + superior aerodynamics. Bontrager is offering a wheel/tire combo they claim offers 40 second savings in a TT for example.