Making a Bike in Working Order Again
Free speed comes in many forms. Whether it'due south a downhill, a tailwind, or a fast bunch ride… Just kidding. We're talking about making you faster, and it's non past spending six months' salary on a new pair of carbon wheels.
From riding position to pocket-sized mechanical adjustments, here are eight like shooting fish in a barrel ways to add complimentary speed to your bike.
Get more than 'aero' by adjusting your position
The nigh pregnant speed upgrade that you can make is simple aerodynamics. No amount of weight savings can friction match the speed boost you get from improving your aerodynamics. Of grade, you tin purchase a more than aerodynamic bike frame and aero racing wheels, but those upgrades will cost you thousands of dollars.
Start with adjusting your saddle position and overall cycle fit, with the goal of being equally aerodynamic as possible. You lot don't need to contort yourself into the lotus position or anything like that - instead, aim for a position that improves your aerodynamics without being also aggressive so that it sacrifices your ability to put out power. For nearly people, that means hinging at the hips, having a back that is nearly parallel to the floor, and belongings your handlebars with your elbows bent at 90-degree angles. Information technology should look something like this:
A tucked position with elbows bent volition make you a lot more aero
(Image credit: Hereafter)
Adjusting your saddle summit is super simple, and it tin can exist done in the garage in a affair of minutes. In that location are a few dissimilar schools of thought when it comes to adjusting your saddle height, but my favourite (unproblematic) version is to employ your inseam measurement minus 10cm.
For example, if your inseam is 85cm, attempt setting your saddle elevation at 75cm.
Make clean your cycle
A make clean wheel is a happy wheel, say mechanics everywhere, merely it is also a fast one. With as of grit, grime, and clay your bike collects, you are losing speed and wasting watts. Studies take shown that a "dirty" chain can toll y'all 10-20w, which translates to one-2kph at race speed. Merely more than on that in a infinitesimal.
Go on it clean for faster riding
(Image credit: Hereafter)
A make clean wheel will make you faster, both physically and mentally. There is goose egg like the feeling of swinging your leg over a sparkling make clean wheel, donning a new pair of shoes and fresh kit.
Bike cleans tin can be equally simple every bit a wipe down or a quick rinse, and every bit thorough as a total-on power launder. To become the about out of your cleaning, brand sure to scrub the drivetrain and components, and especially the ones that spin. The most important function of cycle cleaning is to brand sure you have a…
Clean and lube your concatenation
The chain is where you lot transfer the power from the pedals to the bicycle, which also means it is the identify that you lot can lose the most power through drivetrain efficiency. To get rid of those lost watts, make sure you clean and lube your chain at least one time every couple of rides. Many experts and concatenation lube manufacturers say you should lube your concatenation before every single ride.
A well-lubed chain is an easy mode to ride faster - just don't go overdoing it
(Epitome credit: Future)
Lubing your chain is simple, and the entire procedure can be done in just a few minutes. Make certain to lube the inside of the concatenation without completely smothering it, and wipe off the backlog lube when yous're done.
Lower the bike's forepart terminate
At that place is always a debate amongst cyclists, whether a slammed stem is best for everyone. In my opinion, if (and, this is a big if!) you have the time and physiology to get used to it, and so a slammed stem is worth it.
A lower front end terminate will be more aerodynamic, just may non work for you if y'all're non comfortable and efficient
Lowering your bike'due south front end can (and usually does) go out your trunk into a lower and more aerodynamic position. As long every bit you can produce the same corporeality of power, you will always be faster if you can improve your aerodynamics.
A slammed stem - significant, the removal of excess spacers betwixt the stem and headset - is a quick and easy adjustment that tin can be done by near any at-habitation bike mechanic. The more spacers you remove, the more extreme the position modify volition exist, which means it will take you a longer fourth dimension to get used to information technology. All-time do is to lower the forepart end in increments, thus assuasive your torso time to conform and simultaneously go more than aerodynamic and flexible.
If y'all find that you lot're experiencing any neck, wrist or dorsum pain, or you're struggling to produce the same power in this lower position, back off, and enhance the stem and piece of work on your forcefulness and flexibility.
Accommodate your tyre pressure
There has been a lot said - and argued about - concerning tyre force per unit area in the last decade. In one case was a time when cyclists raced on 23mm broad tyres pumped up to 120psi. It's amazing that there weren't more crashes, really.
Nowadays, cyclists typically race on 25 to 28mm wide tyres at 80-90psi, going around 10-20psi lower if they're riding tubeless. The ideal tyre pressure for you lot depends on what kind of tyre you're running, the weather weather and your weight.
Get your tyre pressure ready upward right for a fast - and comfy - ride
(Image credit: Time to come)
Tubeless tyres are condign ever more popular, while tubulars are still a pop racing tyre. Clinchers are almost common for training, but more often than not because they are the cheapest and easiest to mountain and repair. And so how do y'all find the perfect tyre pressure?
It'southward highly weight-dependent only for a 70kg passenger, y'all can get-go around 80psi as a general benchmark. With a narrower 23mm tyre, yous tin endeavour 90-100psi, whereas a wider 28mm tyre should work well effectually sixty-70psi. In that location are a number of other factors to accept into consideration, but thankfully we've compiled them all in our post on what'south the correct road cycle tyre pressure?
Lighter riders should employ lower tyre pressures, while heavier riders should use higher tyre pressures. Also, make sure to lower your tyre pressure level in moisture conditions, as this increases the tyre's contact patch with the floor, giving you better grip in the corners and decreasing your risk of crashing.
Zipp wheels are now designed for wide tyres at lower pressures
(Prototype credit: Future)
Also check out the tyre force per unit area recommendations from your wheel manufacturer - Zipp for example recommends significantly lower pressures for its rims with hookless chaplet.
The end result of the best tyre pressure is speed, both on the flats, up the climbs, and ripping around corners.
Bank check rear derailleur adjustment
There are few things more than frustrating to a cyclist than skipping gears, and few moments more sketchy than skipping a gear in a sprint. Adjusting your rear derailleur will non only save your sanity, merely it tin also brand you faster.
Each part of your drivetrain (crank, concatenation, cogs, etc.) has a maximum efficiency where you lot are finer losing close to zero watts between the pedals and the wheel. Merely with every bit of dirt on the chain, or wear in your cogs, or skip in your derailleur, you are losing precious watts and speed.
Thankfully, small rear derailleur adjustments, which are all you'll need 99% of the time, are easy to practice and quick to solve. Y'all don't even need tools or a bicycle shop in most situations. Assuming your rear derailleur was originally prepare upwardly and aligned correctly, all the necessary fixing is a turn or ii of the barrel adjuster.
Check brake aligning
How many times have yous been getting dropped on a climb and you wait down to see if your brakes are rubbing? We've all been there, normally with crap legs and brakes that are fine. But every once in a while, those brakes are actually rubbing, and that completely kills your speed.
Make sure your brakes are properly adjusted to avoid rubbing
(Image credit: Time to come)
It is obvious plenty when your calliper brakes are rubbing, every bit you tin see them in contact with the rim. But present, there is a new style of brakes whose rubbing is a lot harder to spot: disc brakes. In fact, yous will probably hear disc brakes rubbing before you run across them rubbing. The faint metal grinding is quite distinguishable, and every bit of rubbing is shaving off speed.
In that location are many dissimilar ways to adjust disc brakes, including the literal hands-on approach of bending the rotor if information technology'southward out of true in i spot, or more than fine-tuned adjustments that have to practice with the hoses and brake tension. For more meaning disc brakes adjustments, information technology'south probably all-time to go to your local bike mechanic.
Remove excess weight
This ane is for the hill-climbing specialists, those that will go to farthermost lengths to shave a few extra grams. In some instances, that means literally shaving off parts of your bike such as the bar ends. But in other cases, it tin can be as simple as removing a bottle cage or front derailleur.
Chop the ends off your bars to relieve some weight
(Paradigm credit: Andy Jones)
If you are racing an uphill TT or going for a steep Strava KOM/QOM, you will accept a much better chance of success with a little less weight on lath. Every bit long every bit you don't need the extra bottle cage or derailleur, it is just unnecessary weight.
For those of yous wanting to go to the extremes - perchance you lot desire to effort a long and prestigious Strava KOM/QOM, or try your hand at Everesting - in that location are many other areas that y'all can salvage or remove weight. One brake (but not both), bar tape, gears, and drop bars can all be partially or completely removed in the name of saving weight.
Source: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/eight-simple-ways-to-make-your-bike-faster-for-free-197458
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