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Why am I going 2mph faster?

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Why am I going 2mph faster?

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Old 05-16-15, 09:38 PM
  #1  
Inpd
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Why am I going 2mph faster?

Took A few days a off and worked on my bike. Then I did a few 1.5 hour routes I've done many times and found I'm consistently 2mph faster in the exact same conditions and times of day.

Which one of these was the biggest cause that led to the increase?

. Went from Kenda Kwest 28mm 85 PSI 60 TPI commuter tires to 120 PSI 120 TPI Serfas Secant RS Slicks they are also 28mm but measure 26mm.

. Dropped my stem 1.5 inches

. Cleaned and lubed my chain and cogs.
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Old 05-16-15, 09:43 PM
  #2  
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None of the above.

#1 probably made you slower due to actually increasing the rolling resistance.

#2 probably didn't do much either

#3 is a red herring


A few days off gave your muscles recovery time. Recovery is probably why you are quicker...if in fact you are.
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Old 05-16-15, 09:48 PM
  #3  
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Stem.
Tires.
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Old 05-16-15, 09:51 PM
  #4  
superdex
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big bathroom run?
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Old 05-16-15, 09:54 PM
  #5  
marcusx
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maybe you lost some weight?
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Old 05-16-15, 10:19 PM
  #6  
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1.5 inches? Thats huge.

So you went from like 12 to 14 MPH?
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Old 05-16-15, 10:26 PM
  #7  
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Anybody else smell that?
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Old 05-16-15, 11:08 PM
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this guy bugs me
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Old 05-16-15, 11:23 PM
  #9  
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Welcome to the 41. Enjoy the ride.
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Old 05-16-15, 11:42 PM
  #10  
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Its called getting fitter. That usually happens when you stop riding for a day or two and allow your body to rest.
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Old 05-17-15, 12:20 AM
  #11  
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Tail wind. Rest can make a difference.
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Old 05-17-15, 05:20 AM
  #12  
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Do you use a Garmin (or similar) or a magnet/wheel speed speedometer? If the latter, and you didn't changed the rollout measurement in the computer, some of it came from the tire switch and a computer error.

The tire swap could actually have made you faster also, but please don't run 26mm tires at 120psi. That is masochistic.

Fitness and conditions are the big variables.
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Old 05-17-15, 05:50 AM
  #13  
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Sometimes new parts or changes will make you ride harder because you want your decisions to improve your performance. No different than riding with a faster group or buddy, your not actually "faster", you're just putting in more effort for longer durations that will show on your computer. Not to say dropping the stem and new tires did nothing but 2mph is a pretty good pick-up overnight.
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Old 05-17-15, 06:33 AM
  #14  
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Depends where you're starting off speed-wise in the first place, although a large increase nonetheless.
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Old 05-17-15, 06:48 AM
  #15  
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@znomit, I was up to 14 and for last two days have been at 16. I know that's slow for most of you, but it's my actual number in that it's the average over a 2 hour in and out route.
@dvdslw I always ride alone.
@RoadTire I've been meaning to ask, what is the 41?

I think it's the tires, those Kenda Kwest k193 tires are clunky and cheap.
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Old 05-17-15, 06:54 AM
  #16  
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Placebo effect. Enjoy it while you can.
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Old 05-17-15, 06:55 AM
  #17  
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Resting three days
New and different tires
Clean chain
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Old 05-17-15, 07:18 AM
  #18  
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I did a NY to LA ride with a group.

The Fastest rider Cleaned his Chain Every Day.

Big Ring all the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZxAKi0vojk
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Old 05-17-15, 07:25 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Inpd
@znomit, I was up to 14 and for last two days have been at 16. I know that's slow for most of you, but it's my actual number in that it's the average over a 2 hour in and out route.
Two things: 1) Already mentioned placebo effect; 2) When you're out of shape, initial gains will be large and fast
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Old 05-17-15, 07:34 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
Resting three days
New and different tires
Clean chain
This possibly combined with:

1. Computer showing faster speed from smaller diameter tires and different and
2. Different riding position from lower bars and recruiting different muscles
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Old 05-17-15, 08:25 AM
  #21  
Inpd
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Originally Posted by StanSeven
This possibly combined with:

1. Computer showing faster speed from smaller diameter tires and different and
2. Different riding position from lower bars and recruiting different muscles
Thanks Stan.

My computer is a MapMyRide which uses just the GPS co-ordinates so tire diameter wouldn't effect its measurements would it?

Riding position did change (lots of pressure on my hands now in the drops). I'd change the tires out again to see if that's the "problem" but I'd rather be riding than wrenching!
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Old 05-17-15, 09:13 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Inpd
Took A few days a off and worked on my bike. Then I did a few 1.5 hour routes I've done many times and found I'm consistently 2mph faster in the exact same conditions and times of day.

Which one of these was the biggest cause that led to the increase?

. Went from Kenda Kwest 28mm 85 PSI 60 TPI commuter tires to 120 PSI 120 TPI Serfas Secant RS Slicks they are also 28mm but measure 26mm.

. Dropped my stem 1.5 inches

. Cleaned and lubed my chain and cogs.
14-16 mph is 20w difference. Mph is a poor measurement for improvement since since at the low end of the spectrum you could have caught one fewer red lights and seen that same improvement.

Cycling Performance Simplified: Watts to Speed, Power to Weight, Race Category Central
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Old 05-17-15, 09:23 AM
  #23  
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A dirty chain can cost 20 watts but probably the rest is more likely the reason
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Old 05-17-15, 09:26 AM
  #24  
Inpd
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Originally Posted by BigJeff
14-16 mph is 20w difference. Mph is a poor measurement for improvement since since at the low end of the spectrum you could have caught one fewer red lights and seen that same improvement.

Cycling Performance Simplified: Watts to Speed, Power to Weight, Race Category Central
Thanks for the reference. That helps a lot. The mph measurement is over multiple 1.5 - 2.0 hour rides so we are taking about riding 3-4 miles more so its not catching a traffic light or two!
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Old 05-17-15, 10:01 AM
  #25  
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Wow. Based on my w/kg, I'm less than untrained.
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