Phil
Maximum Pace
- Sep 1, 2007
- 1,816
- 55
Rode one of my regular 50km loops today and really enjoyed the ride of my new-ish set of Hutchinson Fusion 2s. Until now, I've only run 25c tires at 95 psi, or some old no-names that came with the used bike at 100 psi or so, and the new tires really make a difference to my speed: at 120 psi, the Fusions just glide over the tarmac.
Which got me thinking about the speed boosts that I've gained from new equipment this last year. With the usual "it's-the-engine-that-counts" caveats, I'd say the biggest improvements (in order) came from these upgrades:
1. Going to clipless pedals. Immediately added 1 to 2 km average on my regular routes.
2. Clip-on aeros; good for an extra 2 km/hr or so when cruising.
3. Higher pressure 23c tires.
4. The Pedal Force bike over the Sequoia, although the effect wasn't immediate. I'm only now getting into a position that lets me take advantage of the more aggressive geometry.
So, have you bought speed this year? What kind of upgrades helped you go faster?
Which got me thinking about the speed boosts that I've gained from new equipment this last year. With the usual "it's-the-engine-that-counts" caveats, I'd say the biggest improvements (in order) came from these upgrades:
1. Going to clipless pedals. Immediately added 1 to 2 km average on my regular routes.
2. Clip-on aeros; good for an extra 2 km/hr or so when cruising.
3. Higher pressure 23c tires.
4. The Pedal Force bike over the Sequoia, although the effect wasn't immediate. I'm only now getting into a position that lets me take advantage of the more aggressive geometry.
So, have you bought speed this year? What kind of upgrades helped you go faster?