Are certain premiere bike brands simply faster?
#76
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The hour record has gone from ca. 51km to 56.792 km over the past 10 years.
There are independent aero tests for bikes and wheels. You just have to search for them. Or you can test your own gear. Hint: frames, wheels, helmets, and kit have gotten faster.
And pros don't even dope anymore
There are independent aero tests for bikes and wheels. You just have to search for them. Or you can test your own gear. Hint: frames, wheels, helmets, and kit have gotten faster.
And pros don't even dope anymore
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Ugh. So, decades ago I studied what are called extreme value distributions and that has probably influenced my perspective on record performances and equipment improvements. I think it likely that an exceptional athlete from decades (or centuries, or millenia) ago would still be an exceptional athlete today, but that the population of near-exceptional athletes is larger, and we filter them into areas where their speed or strength are more easily observed than before. That is, I think training and nutrition are better, and equipment is certainly better, but I'm not so sure that mitochondria are different, or bone density, or oxygen transport. So the physiology is likely to be pretty much the same.
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Ugh. So, decades ago I studied what are called extreme value distributions and that has probably influenced my perspective on record performances and equipment improvements. I think it likely that an exceptional athlete from decades (or centuries, or millenia) ago would still be an exceptional athlete today, but that the population of near-exceptional athletes is larger, and we filter them into areas where their speed or strength are more easily observed than before. That is, I think training and nutrition are better, and equipment is certainly better, but I'm not so sure that mitochondria are different, or bone density, or oxygen transport. So the physiology is likely to be pretty much the same.
Last edited by seypat; 03-13-23 at 10:31 AM.
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The NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships were this past weekend. Overall the depth of the competitors times/performances are getting better. Still plenty of records standing from as far back as the 80s, though. Plenty getting broken as well. The Distance Medlay Relay is an awesome event!
https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/tr...rack-and-field
https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/tr...rack-and-field
Last edited by seypat; 03-13-23 at 10:45 AM.
#81
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Ugh. So, decades ago I studied what are called extreme value distributions and that has probably influenced my perspective on record performances and equipment improvements. I think it likely that an exceptional athlete from decades (or centuries, or millenia) ago would still be an exceptional athlete today, but that the population of near-exceptional athletes is larger, and we filter them into areas where their speed or strength are more easily observed than before. That is, I think training and nutrition are better, and equipment is certainly better, but I'm not so sure that mitochondria are different, or bone density, or oxygen transport. So the physiology is likely to be pretty much the same.
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British Cycling’s rise to prominence is a good example. They went from nowhere to World dominance in less than a decade.
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There are many, many variables that make one bike "better' than another. Brand is not one of them.
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Considering the top-end road models that the pros race on, are certain brands much better than others?
Pro Dirk De Wolf thinks so. He said:
"If Tadej Pogacar [who rides on Colnago] gets on a bicycle from Jumbo-Visma, Ineos or Soudal-Quick Step tomorrow, the rest will have no chance. On those bikes he will pedal another 2km/h faster...[Colnago] undoubtedly have a good product there, but it is like a Ferrari and a Porsche: there is still a difference between the brands."
Tom Boonen said:
"Colnago did indeed have a dip a while ago. It remains a bit of an old-school bike now and they haven't quite mastered the aero thing yet although they are now catching up."
Ref: Tadej Pogacar would be "another 2km/h faster" on Jumbo-Visma, Ineos or Soudal-Quick Step team bikes, says classics winner
Pro Dirk De Wolf thinks so. He said:
"If Tadej Pogacar [who rides on Colnago] gets on a bicycle from Jumbo-Visma, Ineos or Soudal-Quick Step tomorrow, the rest will have no chance. On those bikes he will pedal another 2km/h faster...[Colnago] undoubtedly have a good product there, but it is like a Ferrari and a Porsche: there is still a difference between the brands."
Tom Boonen said:
"Colnago did indeed have a dip a while ago. It remains a bit of an old-school bike now and they haven't quite mastered the aero thing yet although they are now catching up."
Ref: Tadej Pogacar would be "another 2km/h faster" on Jumbo-Visma, Ineos or Soudal-Quick Step team bikes, says classics winner
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I think this principle applies to all levels of racing. If you are on any modern bike from any premium brand, it will be good enough to be competitive.
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It ain't the bike holding me back. I'm quite sure that Peter Sagan on a child's bike would still lap me.
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To put it another way, modern engineering is pretty consistent across major manufacturers and there are not many dogs on the market.
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