35
votes
Accepted
Why do racers follow the leader in a curve rather than take the shortest path?
I have trouble imagining that the benefit of drafting is so high it outweighs the advantage of cutting it short and continuing straight.
Believe it. Drafting can reduce the power needed to maintain ...
- 10.4k
31
votes
Which is faster, going all out then burning out, or steady pace all along?
I don't have the time to give a full answer at the moment, but I'll upvote a full answer and delete mine. The short incomplete answer is that you're better off pacing yourself relatively evenly. The ...
- 13.8k
21
votes
Why do racers follow the leader in a curve rather than take the shortest path?
The 'leader' creates this path because they don't want other people drafting them. They want to either break the draft and create a gap (probably to attack) OR have others come around them and take ...
- 18.2k
20
votes
How can I reach upto Olympic level competitions?
There's no way we can answer this question for you. The people who reach elite-level competition in cycling have extraordinary natural gifts, dedicate enormous time and effort to training (20+ hours ...
- 28.6k
19
votes
Which is faster, going all out then burning out, or steady pace all along?
There is an article on Runners World that asked somewhat the same question, do you start fast or do an even pace? The general conclusion is that elite runners tend to start faster than their eventual ...
- 3,263
15
votes
Accepted
How come pairs are slower than solo riders at the Transcontinental Race?
I expect that the three main contributors are:
The solo riders are just stronger. There's more glory in the solo win so, if you are strong enough to, say, come in the top five on your own, it's ...
- 16.9k
15
votes
Why do racers follow the leader in a curve rather than take the shortest path?
The shortest path isn't all that much shorter. Your original calculation of 57% more distance in the curve assumes that the lead rider does semicircle loops, actually moving perpendicular to the road ...
- 599
13
votes
How can I reach upto Olympic level competitions?
It is mostly too late indeed, unless you are already a world class or at least national-level athlete in a different sport - like Primož Roglič who was a ski jumper. Human bodies need the right level ...
- 15.4k
13
votes
Why are endurance bikes so bulky or wide nowadays?
Second moment of area increases with distance to the power of 4.
This means a tube with a wide diameter and thin walls is much stronger against bending or torsion than a narrow tube with thick walls ...
- 25.8k
12
votes
Touring vs race bike
Don't buy a €3K first bike! Instead, split your budget and get one for <1K. There are plenty of good advice here already (my vote goes to randonneur-type bike), and each of the suggested types can ...
- 1,028
11
votes
Why are endurance bikes so bulky or wide nowadays?
I disagree that Endurance bikes look "huge". Taking your example of Canyon, the current model of the endurance has very slender tubes by modern standards.
However there are a number of ...
- 18.2k
11
votes
Accepted
Minimize puncture risk during race. Should I change the tyres?
Those small cuts in the rubber tread are normal and you get them quickly after a few kilometers. I just regularly make sure that no objects are embedded in the tyre since they can dig deeper over time....
- 25.8k
10
votes
How come pairs are slower than solo riders at the Transcontinental Race?
Consider two quite strong riders. One is an amazing climber and the other descends at ludicrous speeds. They ride over a col together. They go up at the pace of the slower climber, and come down the ...
- 55.9k
10
votes
Accepted
Is there a reason why it was said that the distance between the seat tube and the rear wheel should be as small as possible on a road bike?
The distance will depend on the tyre width you choose for the stage on that day. Today's road bikes allow a wider range of tyre widths partially thanks to the adaption of disc brakes. For time trial ...
- 15.4k
10
votes
Is there a reason why it was said that the distance between the seat tube and the rear wheel should be as small as possible on a road bike?
This hasn't necessarily always been about aerodynamics, although it can be. There have been bikes with super-short chainstays for a long time; the most extreme example is the Rigi Bici Corta, which ...
- 28.6k
9
votes
Minimize puncture risk during race. Should I change the tyres?
There is a level of judgment call that goes into this question, but there are also two metrics that are most telling in making it: how round the tire looks in profile and how much tread thickness is ...
- 80.1k
8
votes
How much does it cost to race in the Tour de France?
It's hard to come up with an exact number, but you could likely get a team in for $10 million dollars or slightly less. The figures I have seen for "average" budgets are usually around $20 million. ...
- 9,928
8
votes
Accepted
Under what circumstances is a domestique a rebel (or even a traitor)?
The role of van Aert was precisely to win stages. He was not an ordinary domestique at all, at least not in flat and classic-like stages. He was doing supporting role in mountain stages and when the ...
- 15.4k
7
votes
Accepted
what is the average weight of a male professional cyclist?
Here is a site with a chart that lists pro cyclist's height and weight ranges.
Source credit is http://www.wenzelcoaching.com/blog/cycling-body-weight-chart/
- 86
7
votes
Do pros ride with 1X configuration on some courses?
Yes, they sometimes do (or at least announce/intend to), here are two examples:
This is the 3T Strada that Aqua Blue Sport will ride in 2018, making
the Irish-based squad the first pro cycling ...
- 5,679
6
votes
Accepted
Which upgrades are required for participate in cycle race?
You can ride any bike in a race, provided it's in good enough working order to get you over the line.
Regarding gears, it looks like the cost to add derailleur style gears may be prohibitive, as I ...
- 437
6
votes
Accepted
Expected time in cycling race
Ballpark would be ~2 hours, possibly down to 1 hour 45 minutes. If you set a mental goal of "sub 2 hours" then you'll be on track.
You will be astonished by the "wind suck" produced simply by being ...
- 120k
5
votes
Accepted
Learning to listen to my body and stop over-exercise
Learning to listen to your body equates to developing discipline in your training. Changing the type of exercise can help you give specific muscle groups rest but you can still exercising without the ...
- 732
5
votes
Accepted
When in a UCI race, does the helmet have to be to be fitted properly
According to UCI's official regulations
Section 1.3.031
(emphasis mine)
Wearing a rigid safety helmet shall be mandatory during competitions and training
sessions in the following ...
- 925
5
votes
Is a road bike good for an Ironman race
I suggest buying a regular road bike, have it properly fit and ride it.
It will be good enough for a couple of years in all situations, not just triathlons.
You can upgrade it with some aero bars, ...
- 1,661
5
votes
Accepted
Is a road bike good for an Ironman race
It largely depends on your level of ambition for how you want to perform at the event.
You will need a road bike regardless, as you will perform the bulk of your training on it (likely 8-10hrs/wk for ...
- 18.2k
5
votes
Touring vs race bike
20 years ago, this would have been exactly your choice - either a pure race bike or a touring bike, and very little in between. Fortunately there is a huge amount of choice in the market now, and you ...
- 776
4
votes
I don't want to be the next Eddy Merckx; Is competitive cycling right for me?
Take the plunge and try it! Either you'll find that you don't enjoy it or you'll have discovered a wonderful new aspect to cycling. Regardless, you're only out a race fee.
Community
The cycling ...
- 2,045
4
votes
First Cyclocross Race - Riding a Mountain Bike
CX is often about carrying your bicycle as much as your bicycle carrying you.
When carrying a bicycle on one's axle, its aero properties do not play any role, I would guess, while its weight does.
CX ...
- 14.2k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible