Tagesarchiv: 30. Oktober 2008

Bike weight vs. bike aerodynamics

This is an interesting technical presentation from Cervelo, discussing the importance of bike weight and bike aerodynamics. I hope the link works on your PC, otherwise check here, „Col de la Tipping Point.“

The company’s conclusion in a nutshell:

„Let’s look at the 2007 Etape du Tour, held on one of the toughest stages of the Tour. Our model predicts a time of 8h00m35s (including turns, stops and group riding) for the aero bike. This is 35 sec faster than the light bike with the same 250W rider – despite the very hilly course.“

My conclusion:

„At the average 30 minute duration JCRC race, a better bike would bring an advantage of 2 to 3 seconds. This will probably not be enough to close the two minute gap between myself and the second last rider (unless, Stephen Coady attends).“

Still, I love my Cervelo. As I loved my Cannondale.

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Eingeordnet unter 2008, Cervelo Soloist, Mob

Carbon Failures

After the Cervelo Wolf SL fork product recall, I became somewhat interested in failures of carbon frames and other bike components. Is carbon the equivalent to kryptonite [superman] or just shitty plastic [Asako]? Well, the boring answer might lie inbetweeen, but the cycle industry certainly did a good job of marketing material which is essential plastic, as a high-quality wonder-thing called carbon, given it a totally different image.

One has to be aware that carbon bikes are not made foreever and that sudden failure cahracteristics are different from steel and aluminium. Cozy Beehive and other blogs have some interesting notes about carbon component failures.

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/10/inspection-of-daves-carbon-fiber-road.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/10/easton-ec-90-slx-handlebar-failure.html

http://lagunacycleryshop.blogspot.com/2008/07/ronscrashed-colnago.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/09/broken-kestrel-rt700-frame.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/09/ax-lightness-daedalus-seatpost-failure.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/08/wolf-sl-fork-failure-2.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/06/zipp-b2-handlebar-failure.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/05/wolf-sl-fork-failure_28.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/05/broken-fork.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/04/corey-colliers-destroyed-cannondale.html

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Yokkaichi Race Photo Update

Some photos, courtesy of Allschrott from the miserable weather, miserable place JCRC Yokkaichi race. Plus Ciclo performance chart (not miserable).

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Eingeordnet unter 2008, Mob