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Gaining 4mph Without Fitness

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Gaining 4mph Without Fitness

Old 07-30-19, 06:55 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Debo3osu
Stop wasting time doing nonsense and do something with yourself so that you can buy nice things on a whim.
Sadly, the general situation is that you can make money, or you can make sense.

But of course, there are vast swathes of well-indoctrinated drones, thinking just what billionaires want them to think, ie the opposite.



Capitalism is a death cult. Consumerist *****s are livestock bleating for the knife.
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Old 07-30-19, 06:57 AM
  #27  
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And yet another Ignore: Debo3osu

-Bandera
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Old 07-30-19, 06:59 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by king_solom0n
Yeah the first four steps can be ignored. The rest is mostly good though.
This
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Old 07-30-19, 07:02 AM
  #29  
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Definitely better grammar/punctuation than your average cave troll
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Old 07-30-19, 07:05 AM
  #30  
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In for the popcorn.
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Old 07-30-19, 07:17 AM
  #31  
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Lol @ how offended and appalled some of you are with the OP.

Personally, I find it kinda funny. You don't have to agree with everything he posted. And some of his points are sound.

If you focus on the positive you can re-translate his post some. Consider looking at it from the direction of:
  • "I got interested, and went all in and bought the best I could possibly buy to make my time investment worth it - and the results are x, y and z."
  • OR you could read what he posted and tell yourself, "So basically, from what this guy proved, I've run myself into the ground training and training to get faster, but the last bit holding me back is my equipment and lesser so my training - SO I'M ACTUALLY A GOOD RIDER, I just need equipment like the best have to give me a boost."
But you all took the easy route and got offended and maybe it's because some of you are insecure about some things? I like the post.
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Old 07-30-19, 07:21 AM
  #32  
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^^

The first four points he makes are 99.9% false. Fake news.

Not offended. Sad!
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Old 07-30-19, 07:21 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by runnergoneridin
Lol @ how offended and appalled some of you are with the OP.

Personally, I find it kinda funny. You don't have to agree with everything he posted. And some of his points are sound.

If you focus on the positive you can re-translate his post some. Consider looking at it from the direction of:
  • "I got interested, and went all in and bought the best I could possibly buy to make my time investment worth it - and the results are x, y and z."
  • OR you could read what he posted and tell yourself, "So basically, from what this guy proved, I've run myself into the ground training and training to get faster, but the last bit holding me back is my equipment and lesser so my training - SO I'M ACTUALLY A GOOD RIDER, I just need equipment like the best have to give me a boost."
But you all took the easy route and got offended and maybe it's because some of you are insecure about some things? I like the post.
The problem is, the OP will have to upgrade it all next year when the equipment companies tell him the new stuff makes his current stuff obsolete.
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Old 07-30-19, 07:21 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by MyTi
Everything made sense except the wife part since i highly doubt you are married.
If married, probably soon divorced.
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Old 07-30-19, 07:28 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by seypat
The problem is, the OP will have to upgrade it all next year when the equipment companies tell him the new stuff makes his current stuff obsolete.
Lol true.

But again, think of the positive: It's not a problem because at least the OP will be the new tech guinea pig. His losses could be your savings

Hope you all have a peachy day!
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Old 07-30-19, 07:33 AM
  #36  
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People aren't offended - I think they're just amused about what he ascribed his speed improvements to.
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Old 07-30-19, 07:42 AM
  #37  
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The "carbon bikes are lighter" idea needs to be more nuanced, I think. The latest 2020 Trek Domane models (specifically the mid-range SL5 and SL6) both weigh more than 20 lbs, thanks I suspect to their disc brakes. So... *some* carbon bikes are lighter but if low weight is what you want, don't assume carbon is the answer.
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Old 07-30-19, 07:44 AM
  #38  
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That's an interesting accounting. Thanks.
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Old 07-30-19, 07:50 AM
  #39  
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Old 07-30-19, 07:52 AM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by road292
The "carbon bikes are lighter" idea needs to be more nuanced, I think. The latest 2020 Trek Domane models (specifically the mid-range SL5 and SL6) both weigh more than 20 lbs, thanks I suspect to their disc brakes.
Yeah, it's the discs. Never mind the IsoSpeed, front and rear, expanded frame clearance for 38mm tires, standard 32mm rubber and boat anchor wheels.
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Old 07-30-19, 07:53 AM
  #41  
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So much pedantry and conceit in one single post. That’s gotta be worth something, right?

Last edited by eja_ bottecchia; 07-30-19 at 08:04 AM.
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Old 07-30-19, 08:00 AM
  #42  
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I think the OP needs to share their location and some links to some rides. You know, for science.
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Old 07-30-19, 08:04 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by Debo3osu
I see a lot of people asking how to make their bike faster and everyone’s response is always “get more fit” or “be more aero.” That’s great and all, but my fitness hasn’t changed much but I’m 4mph faster on average. How? Hint: It will take $ but can be done.

Background: Got into road cycling 3 years ago for a charity ride, bought a cheap aluminum Motobecane junker with aluminum spd pedals. Felt like it weighed 30 pounds. Averaged 15mph on a good day and 16mph if I really pushed it.

After my wife finished several minutes ahead of me... I decided that would never happen again.

Don’t get just any carbon bike. Get a NICE carbon bike. Lightweight. Aero. Great components. Carbon wheels.

So far I’ve added ~2mph simply by spending money. This is a much better solution than getting fit.

Replace anything that isn’t carbon with carbon.

Boom, there you have it. Now I blow by the clowns in the peloton with their dumb time trial bikes and helmets and matching jerseys.

So there you have it. 3 years ago I’m a 40 year old golfer that thought biking was for losers, now I’m at the front of grand fondos.

Can’t afford all this stuff? Not my problem. Stop wasting time doing nonsense and do something with yourself so that you can buy nice things on a whim. Or just work on your fitness I guess.


There you have it in a nutshell, a 3 year cyclist - knows how to be fast.
I nominate him for "The Mr. 41 of the Month Award".


To OP = Thanks for supporting our industry. If your wife takes up curling (to be Top again), can I buy your used bike?
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Last edited by Wildwood; 07-30-19 at 05:19 PM.
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Old 07-30-19, 08:14 AM
  #44  
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Ah, so fast bikes are only for the elite and the rest of us zhlubs need to train on our trashmos until we've earned vertical compliance and horizontal rigidity? That's positively un-American, you know.
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Old 07-30-19, 08:16 AM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by Debo3osu
Now I blow by the clowns in the peloton with their dumb time trial bikes and helmets and matching jerseys.
I'm dying. This is the funniest thing since that kid who'd dial up 400w.
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Old 07-30-19, 08:25 AM
  #46  
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On July 7th I rode 21.39 miles at 16.6 mph.

On July 25th I rode 30.1 Miles at 21.1 mph.

Same bike, same fitness, same water bottles, same kit, same tires, same positioning.

Please explain this crazy phenomenon oh wise master of confirmation bias...

P.S. The longer you ride the faster you get. I changed nothing physically since I struggled to average over 17mph on a ride, except having two back surgeries. Is it safe to say that having two lumbar discectomies added 4 mph to my average speed?
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Old 07-30-19, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by noodle soup
I smell some Ti-6Al-4V
FWIW, it aint me!
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Old 07-30-19, 08:36 AM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by 69chevy
On July 7th I rode 21.39 miles at 16.6 mph.

On July 25th I rode 30.1 Miles at 21.1 mph.

Same bike, same fitness, same water bottles, same kit, same tires, same positioning.

Please explain this crazy phenomenon oh wise master of confirmation bias...

P.S. The longer you ride the faster you get. I changed nothing physically since I struggled to average over 17mph on a ride, except having two back surgeries. Is it safe to say that having two lumbar discectomies added 4 mph to my average speed?
Calling my doctor right now to schedule these surgeries. Need that speed gain!
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Old 07-30-19, 08:41 AM
  #49  
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I was towing a trailer of bricks, I removed it and gained an instant 5 mph
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Old 07-30-19, 08:49 AM
  #50  
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He forgot to mention that slam dancing on your pedals adds more speed...
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