The performance tag has no wiki summary.
26
votes
13answers
2k views
Why do cyclists shave their legs?
Why do cyclists shave their legs? Is it because of wind resistance?
15
votes
1answer
642 views
Relative efficiency of different commute bike setups
My interest is in long distance commuting (e.g. more than 50 km a day) and the relative efficiencies of different commute bike setups (e.g. drop bars vs flat bars, fenders vs no fenders, panniers vs ...
14
votes
2answers
4k views
Explaining the effects of frame geometries
I asked about buying a bike here, and someone asked on my behalf about test-riding a bike before buying.
My question is, what should I know, or should have known, about the sizing or 'geometry' of a ...
12
votes
3answers
678 views
Should I eat breakfast before or after morning ride?
I am planning to do some (1-2 hours) base training rides in the morning before work. Should I eat something before the ride?
From my knowledge, there should be enough glycogen in muscles to power me. ...
11
votes
15answers
685 views
What's the best way to track your performance?
I was checking some options to track my performance (kms/hr, distance, altitude, etc...), I do MTB and city biking. The first choice is a nokia based tracker (http://www.sports-tracker.com/), I love ...
10
votes
4answers
549 views
Are there any scientific studies proving the benefits of clipless pedal systems?
Has there been done any scientific studies that proves that clipless pedals actually improve pedaling efficiency etc. over flat pedals? Clipless pedal enthusiasts are quick to say that you must use ...
10
votes
4answers
462 views
Extra power needed uphill for weight increase
How much does weight mean when going uphill?
Let's say I'm going up a mountain with 1000 m of elevation and it's quite steep: 10%. Let's also say I can maintain 250 watts. If I add 1 kg of weight to ...
9
votes
8answers
3k views
How does a bike's weight affect the overall experience of owning it?
Naturally, carrying a light bike up the stairs is much more enjoyable compared to a heavier bike. Are there any other aspects of a bike which are affected by its weight?
For example, would the weight ...
9
votes
4answers
595 views
How can one maintain cycling fitness as one ages?
As I approach my mid-50's, I'm looking forward to a few more decades of cycling if all goes well. How can one avoid and/or mitigate age related issues in order to maintain cycling fitness?
I've ...
8
votes
4answers
526 views
Will stretching make me slower?
I have heard rumors that (excessive) stretching can hurt cycling performance. Specifically, stretching one's hamstrings and/or quadriceps supposedly reduces sprinting power. Is there any factual basis ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Can I get smaller tires without changing my rims?
I currently ride a hybrid that came with 700x32c tires. Can I swap out a narrower tire without changing the rims, or do rims only fit a specific size of tire? How small can I go before I have to buy ...
7
votes
6answers
1k views
Will changing from a touring bike to a racing bike improve my energy level?
I'm 50 and have been cycling for years, but only 25 mile rides and indoor training. I've been training for 8 weeks, adding 5 miles a week to my big ride, but at 60 miles it is taking me 4:20 and I ...
6
votes
2answers
331 views
How to significantly lower HR[avg] while improving performance output
On my Saturday's ascent race I was riding 181bpm HRAVG and saved some power for the last km where my HR peaked at 190 (which is my highest ever recorded HR at my 37 years or age). I felt rather normal ...
5
votes
5answers
249 views
What subtle factors affect performance in unsubtle ways?
As a non-professional biker who commutes on a bike daily I've been noticing that some factors that I didn't think would make much difference in how fast I go or how quickly I get tired have a much ...
5
votes
1answer
234 views
Maintaining an old bike properly
I have a 6 years old bike, I got it when I was 9. It's a great bike, however I've always had the problem of maintaining it properly. I have a few questions which I hope to get answered here. Before ...
5
votes
3answers
725 views
What are the 'easiest' ways to determine functional threshold power?
I recently picked up a powertap and have done a fair bit of riding around and a few races now with it on, so I've started to get familiar with some of the numbers. I would like to figure out what my ...
4
votes
2answers
974 views
How do half link chains perform for long term use?
i was wondering if there is anyone with a Rohloff hub riding half link chains for longer. OK, the hub isn't essential it's just a single speed chain, so experience from anyone who rides more than the ...
3
votes
6answers
384 views
Age-specific information for cyclists
I was reading a discussion (Cycling: mashing versus spinning) in which someone commented ...
In the big picture, winning against
other age-groupers is pretty
unremarkable.
... which implies ...
3
votes
4answers
766 views
How to warm up / stretch and cool down?
I'm starting to ride again after a couple of years of not doing any sports at all. I dimly remember some stretching exercises back from school, but I don't know if I'm doing it right at all.
Instead ...
3
votes
4answers
365 views
How does stiffness affect experience and performance?
I see many mountain bike reviews and articles discuss the stiffness of frames, forks, wheels and other components.
Here are some questions which cross my mind:
What is the definition of stiffness?
...
3
votes
1answer
220 views
How much does nipple choice affect wheel weight/stiffness?
Would I be a fool to replace the nipples on a Dura Ace 7900 C24 wheelset with a set of DT Swiss anodised alloy nipples, in the interest of aesthetics? I want the bike to look nice, but don't want to ...
3
votes
1answer
492 views
Gary Fisher Kaitai suffers from handlebar wobble at moderate speed with 10lbs on rear rack
I have a Gary Fisher Kaitai, their low-end hybrid. I use the bike for commuting so I have a rear rack and typically carry between 5 and 12 lbs back there. When I get up to moderate speed ...
3
votes
1answer
246 views
DIY computational fluid dynamics for aerodynamics?
Has anyone experimented with using consumer 3D software to do CFD-like aerodynamics simulations?
Specifically, I was thinking:
Setup the bike on a trainer (with rider)
Take a series photos, and ...
2
votes
1answer
619 views
Where can I buy a Bianchi Pista Concept?
I would like to buy a Bianchi Pista Concept 2005...2009 like this one:
http://velospace.org/node/24912
Where can I find this bike in London, UK? And what should I check before buy it?
Also, How ...
1
vote
2answers
109 views
warm up without bike
Next weekend I'll participate in a relay triathlon (1100 mts. swim, 7 kms. run and 13 kms. MTB). I'll be doing the bike section, which is the last. Bike needs to be at the boxes area an hour before ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Choosing a foldable 20" bike: Schwinn S2280 vs. Citizen Bike Miami
At the moment, I'm in the market for a foldable 20" bike, for commuting purposes. I've done my research, and have found two appealing models:
Schwinn S2280
Citizen Bike MIAMI
Which of them would ...
0
votes
1answer
362 views
Lighter bike for climbing [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the effect of adding weight to a wheel vs adding it to the frame?
Do lighter wheels make a significant difference when climbing or would a lighter frame do the ...
