Drillium will live on in the hearts and minds of those that truly believe (that teeth are expendable body parts and losing them is reducing an extra gram from your face).

Jules said:

I've heard of some crazy-ass stuff to save weight but carving out the centers of freehub splines to save weight has to be top of the list...!

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/08/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq-saving-freehubs-aero-is-everywhere_418864

Yeah, I have a set of Shimano wheels with the freehub splines being actually carved out or more specifically molded to be narrow strips of material with open space in between. They are honestly not the most confidence inspiring wheels. I do prefer my Neuvation, and Enve freehub bodies far more.

David Yang said:

Drillium will live on in the hearts and minds of those that truly believe (that teeth are expendable body parts and losing them is reducing an extra gram from your face).

Don't recommend drilling holes in aluminum parts. I drilled holes to internally route brake cables on my bars. Handle bar snapped going around corner @ 8 years later. Fatigium. 

So long as it isn't yellow....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ga75iuBb6Q

Interesting wind tunnel study on Speedplay Zero Aero pedals vs. Zero's
conclusion: Aero saves 3-5w over Zero.

https://ero-sports.com/index.php/whatsmoreaero/93-tested-speedplay-aero-zero-pedals

mugwump said:

Interesting wind tunnel study on Speedplay Zero Aero pedals vs. Zero's
conclusion: Aero saves 3-5w over Zero.

https://ero-sports.com/index.php/whatsmoreaero/93-tested-speedplay-aero-zero-pedals

That sure sounds like a lot

This reminds me to pick up some aero shoe covers...

^ I would note that Bradly Wiggins did extensive aero testing before his hour record last year, and he chose to use the Speedplay Zero Aero pedal.

JohnMalcolmson said:

^ I would note that Bradly Wiggins did extensive aero testing before his hour record last year, and he chose to use the Speedplay Zero Aero pedal.

Agreed.  And the head of Speedplay assembled the pedals himself, finding the lightest, smoothest pieces.

However, 3-5w is pretty big.  While I know feet are always in the wind, it seems a bit high to me.  

Even with that doubt, if you need an extra set of Speedplay pedals anyways, it might be a good idea to go with the aero Zero.

In that marginal gains realm, I'm considering separately ordering the aero base plate for the aero Speedplay cleat.  The weight penalty can't be more than a gram or two, it will last a long time as I use the stainless shim between the cleat and base plate, and if it's more aero even in the tiniest, it will pay off.

wasn't sure where to post this, but found it pretty interesting: 

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/article/best-performance-road-tires-lab-tested-49101/

anecdotally, I found the conti gp4000s and vittoria corsa to feel pretty similar resistance-wise (which makes sense seeing as the test had them within .3w of each other), with the latter inspiring far more confidence in corners. 

My schwalbe pro one tubeless tires topped the charts! 

And are available with your redbeard discount...  

@SebastianVidal Not sure how much confidence you should have on the "feel" test—data-obsessed Team Sky got fed up with cornering crashes, tested all tires and switched to Conti. 

well somebody just hocked a lugee in the soup of marginal gains

perhaps we should change the name of this thread to "marginal gains = rubbish"

http://www.eurosport.com/cycling/blazin-saddles-bradley-wiggins-slams-rubbish-marginal-gains_sto6106372/story.shtml

twoyacks said:

well somebody just hocked a lugee in the soup of marginal gains

perhaps we should change the name of this thread to "marginal gains = rubbish"

http://www.eurosport.com/cycling/blazin-saddles-bradley-wiggins-slams-rubbish-marginal-gains_sto6106372/story.shtml

twoyacks said:

well somebody just hocked a lugee in the soup of marginal gains

perhaps we should change the name of this thread to "marginal gains = rubbish"

http://www.eurosport.com/cycling/blazin-saddles-bradley-wiggins-slams-rubbish-marginal-gains_sto6106372/story.shtml

I think if we have any thread dedicated to the 'genius' of Dave Brailsford, that should be changed to '=rubbish'

    le hmmmmm

Hmmm, so you're saying it's not the aerodynamics...

For the folks looking to further refine their TT position, a company called Stac has a virtual wind tunnel.
You get an app for your phone to take pictures of yourself on your bike, and then you send it in.  They create a virtual 3D model of you on your bike and then run CFD  on it.

www.stacperformance.com/vwt

I’m surprised this hasn’t been done before. Still surprised they can spit the results back to you faster tho.
#thatswhatthecloudisfor

cross-posting... Defeet are selling a sock that they say saves 8 watts at 48kmh in the tunnel. If true that's a very good watts per $ purchase. Quickstep are using them this season. Right now they're only offering black or white colors, have asked rep to keep us posted re custom order.  
https://defeet.com/collections/evo/products/evo-disruptor-6-white

@JohnMalcolmson
I checked my files and the fastest park/Floyd race I have ever done was 26mph (41 km/h). Will we really get the benefit ? Also for the aero gains these socks are that ridiculous mid-calf length. Proper cycling socks should only be 1.5" above the ankle and WHITE.

These changes to cycling standards are freaking me out. First it was concealed brake cables, then clipless pedals, then helmets and now long socks. Where will it end ? :-)

ian ellis said:

@JohnMalcolmson
I checked my files and the fastest park/Floyd race I have ever done was 26mph (41 km/h). Will we really get the benefit ? Also for the aero gains these socks are that ridiculous mid-calf length. Proper cycling socks should only be 1.5" above the ankle and WHITE.

These changes to cycling standards are freaking me out. First it was concealed brake cables, then clipless pedals, then helmets and now long socks. Where will it end ? :-)

Motors. It ends with motors.

ian ellis said:

@JohnMalcolmson
I checked my files and the fastest park/Floyd race I have ever done was 26mph (41 km/h). Will we really get the benefit ? Also for the aero gains these socks are that ridiculous mid-calf length. Proper cycling socks should only be 1.5" above the ankle and WHITE.

These changes to cycling standards are freaking me out. First it was concealed brake cables, then clipless pedals, then helmets and now long socks. Where will it end ? :-)

Don't freak out Ian, human civilization is on track to end in 2050.

@ian ellis
@JohnMalcolmson

First, the savings seem a bit on the high side, at any speed.  Love to understand how it could be possible.

Second, chances are that the savings don't vanish at slower speeds, just are smaller.  It's possible that the savings at greater at higher speeds.  

On the one hand I'm super geeked out about the improvements. On the other I shudder to think about the amateur race crashes with people trying to emulate it.

https://cyclingtips.com/2019/09/caleb-ewans-sprint-position-is-the-best-so-why-isnt-everyone-using-it/

Really this video should come with a #wormholealert there is a lot here, and #obv a lot more behind it

https://youtu.be/lwrCrU4KG-I

Ceramic bearings? Not so fast... (see what I did there?)

https://youtu.be/o7iZVfSDbiA

haha, so I can see you've discovered Hambini!

one of biggest takeaways by far from all his videos is that bearing seals will have a much bigger impact than anything else -- that is, a steel bearing with a good non contact seal will roll smoother and have less friction, than a high quality expensive ceramic bearing with a contact seal.

We were talking sprint stuff today, and got onto skills.  That is, skipping the focus on power and/or heart rate and instead putting a focus on efficiency.

This is a good time of year to mix things up by trying to get better at improving pedal stroke, improving bike handling skills, getting more comfortable on the bike.  So if you're lacking motivation or want something new to do or just want to improve those things, devote a ride or two a week to these things.

If you're not looking forward to another park ride, resolve to work on pedaling.  Do a lap at 40-50rpm, do another lap completely out of the saddle, in whatever gears allow you to keep pedaling.  Sit when you typically stand, stand when you typically sit.  Instead of high-gear sprints, do low-gear sprints, and do them downhill.  

Crossers, work on cornering on loose stuff--I like going to ballfields and trying to do ever faster and tighter turns on the infield.  Do a ride where you warm up, do 5-10 minutes of dismounting every 30 seconds, then ride home.  

If you want to ride, but don't want to get dressed for cool weather, do cadence drills inside.  ride a low gear, and progressively increase cadence.  1 minute at 70rpm, then 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 120, 110, 100, 90, 80, 70, and back up.  Do it from the tops, the hoods, the drops.  

Make up your own, mix them up, keep it fun and different.