Buying your performance on the bike!!

[jamix]

Assuming one doesn't have the cash to desire purchasing a Triathlon / TT bike, if you've already purchased an aero-helmet, aero-bars and rim wheels, what are some other **relatively cheap** ways in which your bicycle performance can be purchased???

My thought is to purchase a Skin suit; Do these even work? Do typical "tri-suits" replicate the performance of a skin suit?

Other options might be;

-clip on bike shoes
- wheel-disc cover (similar to a disc wheel, but cheaper)
-Oval chain ring


I'm not asking anyone to research the validity of the above items, but if this list is incomplete what else could possibly help??

[HCcD]

Proper bike fit ....

More structured and consistent training ....

Practice, practice, practice, in particular to the 4th element ... Transitions .....

quick laces for running shoes ...

[jamix]

Proper bike fit ....

More structured and consistent training ....

Well I might take you Euro-Sport dudes up on the "Proper Bike fit" option, but you can forget about the consistent bike training

[turd ferguson]

lose weight

more extensive manscaping

fill your tires with helium instead of air

[Jwolf]

How about train?

Frankly the whole idea of "buying speed" is a big turn-off for me in triathlon. If you're not gauging your performance and improvement based on your own internal factors, then what's the point?

[Mark.AU]

You can't buy training so ill ignore that...

Meh on the fit - it'll make a very small difference assuming you're already comfortable.
Bigger meh on the skin suit - practically no measurable difference at the level you're riding at.

In order;
Disk cover - $100 and worth every penny.
Clipless peddles - depending on what you buy, some $100s but again worth every penny for better power transfer
Fast tires properly fitted and appropriately inflated - $100
Well maintained bike to reduce power losses through drive train inefficiencies - free

That'll do for now.

[bnn]

You can't buy training so ill ignore that...

Meh on the fit - it'll make a very small difference assuming you're already comfortable.
Bigger meh on the skin suit - practically no measurable difference at the level you're riding at.

In order;
Disk cover - $100 and worth every penny.
Clipless peddles - depending on what you buy, some $100s but again worth every penny for better power transfer
Fast tires properly fitted and appropriately inflated - $100
Well maintained bike to reduce power losses through drive train inefficiencies - free

That'll do for now.

+1

[Mark.AU]

Frankly the whole idea of "buying speed" is a big turn-off for me in triathlon. If you're not gauging your performance and improvement based on your own internal factors, then what's the point?

Don't look at it so much as buying speed, look at it more as minimizing power transfer losses. It ALWAYS comes down to the engine anyway.

[jamix]

You can't buy training so ill ignore that...

Meh on the fit - it'll make a very small difference assuming you're already comfortable.
Bigger meh on the skin suit - practically no measurable difference at the level you're riding at.

In order;
Disk cover - $100 and worth every penny.
Clipless peddles - depending on what you buy, some $100s but again worth every penny for better power transfer
Fast tires properly fitted and appropriately inflated - $100
Well maintained bike to reduce power losses through drive train inefficiencies - free

That'll do for now.

Thanks for the input Mark

Given the popularity of "bike fitting" I'm surprised at your response. Would paying a specialist to provide me with fast and appropriately inflated tires be worth more bang / buck than a bike-fitting would??

When I get the time I guess I'll have to google the disk cover and clipless peddles option. Hopefully there is some research to support use of those items.

[HCcD]

Proper bike fit ....

More structured and consistent training ....

Well I might take you Euro-Sport dudes up on the "Proper Bike fit" option, but you can forget about the consistent bike training

If you decide to accept the invitation to join the Team in 2013, once the invitations are sent out later this week, Jamie, you may be able to get a proper bike fit when you bring your bike in for a full tune-up, etc ...

[turd ferguson]

Frankly the whole idea of "buying speed" is a big turn-off for me in triathlon. If you're not gauging your performance and improvement based on your own internal factors, then what's the point?

Welcome to cycling

[jamix]

Proper bike fit ....

More structured and consistent training ....

Well I might take you Euro-Sport dudes up on the "Proper Bike fit" option, but you can forget about the consistent bike training

If you decide to accept the invitation to join the Team in 2013, once the invitations are sent out later this week, Jamie, you may be able to get a proper bike fit when you bring your bike in for a full tune-up, etc ...

I'll definitely be doing the "tune-up" option as my race-bike hasn't had one in the entire 10+ years or so that I've had it

As for the "bike-fit", hmmmmmm, can anything be "fitted" other than just the "seat-height"

[HCcD]

Proper bike fit ....

More structured and consistent training ....

Well I might take you Euro-Sport dudes up on the "Proper Bike fit" option, but you can forget about the consistent bike training

If you decide to accept the invitation to join the Team in 2013, once the invitations are sent out later this week, Jamie, you may be able to get a proper bike fit when you bring your bike in for a full tune-up, etc ...

I'll definitely be doing the "tune-up" option as my race-bike hasn't had one in the entire 10+ years or so that I've had it

As for the "bike-fit", hmmmmmm, can anything be "fitted" other than just the "seat-height"

clip-less pedals, for sure ....

A full drive-train flush, as well as new chain, and new cabling etc., should allow you to feel a lot smoother, in itself ...

If I recall, you added aerobars to your road bike last summer ... How comfortable were you while on the bars? besides seat height, there is also moving seat location (front/back) also adjustments to the stem, and your handlebars, etc ....

[CinC]

To me it sounds ridiculous that you would have an aero helmet but not clipless pedals, but whatever

[HCcD]

To me it sounds ridiculous that you would have an aero helmet but not clipless pedals, but whatever

He got a great price on the helmet, literally stole it, imo ...

Clipless pedals would also likely require proper bike shoes ...

[jamix]

To me it sounds ridiculous that you would have an aero helmet but not clipless pedals, but whatever

As Andy said, I got a deal I couldn't refuse. And I've been reading that clipless shoes won't make me faster, but are just more safe........

Anyway, here is what I've been reading recently

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/b ... equipment/

Interesting stuff! And it looks like Mark might be wrong about getting a skin suit

Andy.......

Your aero-bars fit great . We'll see about the bike-fit. Right now all I'm thinking of doing is getting the tune-up from you guys and cutting out a circular piece of disposable cardboard, to use as a "disc cover"

[ROW]

To be brutally honest you are too slow to even worry about all of this right now. Work on your pedal stroke and train, train, train. Shorter intervals to build power, and some tempo to hold your power. Maybe once your are holding over 20 miles per hour in a triathlon I would worry about time savers..

[Mark.AU]

Nope, I'm not wrong on the skin suit; that site compares a skin suit to regular bike shirt and shorts; you asked about comparison to tri suit.

Nope, not wrong on bike fit; you have a road bike on which fit is far less critical than on a TT bike because of frame geometry (and a bunch of other stuff that I'm not going to go into).

Nope, not wrong on clip less peddles; peddling clip less allows for far more power transfer through the bottom of the stroke through the upstroke than is possible with clips.

The site you linked to is all about competitive TTing and TT bikes and is for riders who can TT 40k in 48 minutes; you're not in that world Jamie. The greater the velocity, the greater the benefit from all the aero gizmos and although ROW was a bit indelicate in how he put it, he's right inasmuch as you don't go fast enough to get much benefit from many of the tips listed on the site you linked to.

YMMV.

[Ironboy]

How about train?

Frankly the whole idea of "buying speed" is a big turn-off for me in triathlon. If you're not gauging your performance and improvement based on your own internal factors, then what's the point?

Like Mark, I don't see it that way either. Consider your first race and the bike you used. You have to agree that on a better bike, even given your fitness and training, you would have likely had a better bike leg.
At some point there are diminishing returns, but you don't want the bike to be a factor, exactly like you state, you want the performance to reflect you ability and not be adversely affected by poor hardware.

[Jwolf]

How about train?

Frankly the whole idea of "buying speed" is a big turn-off for me in triathlon. If you're not gauging your performance and improvement based on your own internal factors, then what's the point?

Like Mark, I don't see it that way either. Consider your first race and the bike you used. You have to agree that on a better bike, even given your fitness and training, you would have likely had a better bike leg.
At some point there are diminishing returns, but you don't want the bike to be a factor, exactly like you state, you want the performance to reflect you ability and not be adversely affected by poor hardware.

Yes, that's a better way to look at it.

[MINITEE]

To me it sounds ridiculous that you would have an aero helmet but not clipless pedals, but whatever

Dang... ya beat me to it...

And... fwiw, there has been a fair bit of wind tunnel research that proves you get just as much gain from an aero helmet as you do from race wheels... for about 10% of the price...

[trixiee]

Train and tweek the engine riding the bike. This is where you will gain the most.
Single leg drills, sprints, hills, cornering skills, proper shifting skills - all of these take practise and consistency to get the bike to go faster.
That, and losing any excess weight. (says the kettle to the pot )

[Mark.AU]

To me it sounds ridiculous that you would have an aero helmet but not clipless pedals, but whatever

Rereading this morning; this comment stood out - and was referenced by a couple of others too - as I'm wondering why it's ridiculous? If Jamie is on a limited budget, even if he bought new, an aero helmet is much less cost than clip less peddles and bike shoes by about half and perhaps gains a greater power transfer/saving benefit (I don't have any data on that, it might be less but it's still significant). That's what I'd do too, actually.

[HCcD]

To me it sounds ridiculous that you would have an aero helmet but not clipless pedals, but whatever

As Andy said, I got a deal I couldn't refuse. And I've been reading that clipless shoes won't make me faster, but are just more safe........

Anyway, here is what I've been reading recently

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/b ... equipment/

Interesting stuff! And it looks like Mark might be wrong about getting a skin suit

Andy.......

Your aero-bars fit great . We'll see about the bike-fit. Right now all I'm thinking of doing is getting the tune-up from you guys and cutting out a circular piece of disposable cardboard, to use as a "disc cover"

I thought that the key word here was "affordable" ways to help improve your bike performance ??

Bunch of critics around here .. as part of the Euro-Sports.ca running team, Jamie, when you get your bike tune-up and ready to go, there should not be any additional costs to you, to ensure that your current set up is to your needs ...

Having said that, are you, or rather, were you, how long are you now able to sit in your aerobars, during those Olympic bike splits?

And, yes, from your purchases last season from Andy's Warehouse, I believe that Jamie received the best bang for his $$bucks$ to improve both his swimming and cycling times ... and, clipless pedals and shoes may be the next option to consider ...

[jamix]

To me it sounds ridiculous that you would have an aero helmet but not clipless pedals, but whatever

As Andy said, I got a deal I couldn't refuse. And I've been reading that clipless shoes won't make me faster, but are just more safe........

Anyway, here is what I've been reading recently

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/b ... equipment/

Interesting stuff! And it looks like Mark might be wrong about getting a skin suit

Andy.......

Your aero-bars fit great . We'll see about the bike-fit. Right now all I'm thinking of doing is getting the tune-up from you guys and cutting out a circular piece of disposable cardboard, to use as a "disc cover"

I thought that the key word here was "affordable" ways to help improve your bike performance ??

Bunch of critics around here .. as part of the Euro-Sports.ca running team, Jamie, when you get your bike tune-up and ready to go, there should not be any additional costs to you, to ensure that your current set up is to your needs ...

Having said that, are you, or rather, were you, how long are you now able to sit in your aerobars, during those Olympic bike splits?

And, yes, from your purchases last season from Andy's Warehouse, I believe that Jamie received the best bang for his $$bucks$ to improve both his swimming and cycling times ... and, clipless pedals and shoes may be the next option to consider ...

Yes lots of critics, but that's okay because I asked everyone for their opinion

Really no additional cost for the "fit"! I'll definitely do it when I come in for the tune-up then

After a couple months of practise, I can stay in the aero position for 20km no problem. With that said, in the past two years at Early Bird (which takes place in May and has a 24km bike course), I could stay "aero" for about 17-19 km, before having to periodically sit-up to relieve sore back muscles. I'm not sure how I'd do in a 40km ride, as I have never even attempted to ride "aero" for that distance.