If you were to pick one or two of the most important things about enhancing your current road bike, what would they be?
My main concern for my next race is improving my bike time. What do you think would help?
Thanks.
If you were to pick one or two of the most important things about enhancing your current road bike, what would they be?
My main concern for my next race is improving my bike time. What do you think would help?
Thanks.
What is your current bike setup?
Here are a few things if you don't already have this-
Getting yourself into an aero position is going to help your time the most so if you don't already have clip-on aero bars for your road bike you might want to make that your first upgrade. Good wheels will make a huge difference as well but that will be an expensive upgrade. A good set of race tires will help you out as well.
[QUOTE=CAcyclingFAN]
Getting yourself into an aero position is going to help your time the most so if you don't already have clip-on aero bars for your road bike you might want to make that your first upgrade. Good wheels will make a huge difference as well but that will be an expensive upgrade. A good set of race tires will help you out as well.[/QUOTE]
Some people tend to think "well, if I just had Dura Ace or Campy Record I could go soo much faster" Ya might go a little faster, but the thing listed by CAcyling fan are really the best you can do.
Good tires are the cheapest upgrade, especially if you go through ebay, and really help your rides performance. Not quite as nice as new set a wheels, but if your bike is currently sporting wire bead tires, pretty much any kevlar bead will feel great and weigh a TON less.
And make sure that if you have aero bars, or are going to get them, that they are appropriate for your bike's geometry. A road bike will need a smaller aero bar than a tri bike, due to body position. A proper body position will help your times a lot. [url]http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/bikefit.html#Anchor-44867...
1. Great bike fit. If you weren't professionally fit on the bike, nothing you add is going to improve your output.
2. Excellend body composition. If you have even 5 pounds to lose, it will go a long way towards making you a faster cyclist (less of you to haul around).
3. Power measuring device. To get faster, well, go faster. However, power meters measure you true output, regardless of heart rate or weather conditions.
If you have all of this, then it's time to look at things like upgrading components.
YMMV