Duke of Kent

Looking at the bikes of my other teammates who took 2nd in the RR and TT, I'd argue that that simply isn't the case.

They make a lot of power, race intelligently, don't weigh a lot. Bike has very little to do with it.

Doge

Were they going 30mph?

Duke of Kent

The person who took 2nd in the TT averaged 28.6mph. I'd wager he was going above 30mph for good portions of the course.

hack

Pfff ... but he may have won if his brake levers were behind his bars.


In all seriousness, a standard road bike seems like a no brainer here. Heck, the kid that won the DI TT was on an allez with cable housing all over the place. IMO, if you're absurdly tweaking your bike it would cheapen the win.

Doge

At that speed - the bike matters. As does the helmet shoes etc.

After doing some more research - I'm not thinking this is all about poor college kids.
The DI results winning time was 26:13.70 = 28.86 mph by a 2013 Team Pursuit NC - Stefan Rothe Age 35
About the same speed as the best juniors on road bike TTs. This course looks like it has more hill than the junior courses.

2016 listed results are Course: 12.41 miles https://www.usacycling.org/2016-usa-...ourse-maps.htm

https://www.usacycling.org/results/i...ear=2016&id=22

DII 27:22.60 = 27.20 mph

DI women: 29:13.05 = 25.48mph

Ygduf

just wire the brakes into downtube shifters and then slam down on those bad boys when you want to stop

Doge

You mean the 35 year old kid/pro, former track National Champion? Not that here is anything wrong with that. Just that I'm not thinking an 18 year old with aero bars / venge is cheapening the win going against that.

https://www.usacycling.org/results/i...d=Stefan+ROTHE

hack

Aerobar and venge is fine. That's more or less a "regular" bike. The allez Rothe was on had an aerobar as well. I just think working up a bike with oddly routed brake levers and such is too much beyond normal.

Ygduf

dude, just consider how unlikable that brake position would make your son.

for what? zero reduction in frontal area given that the levers are already in front of the bar bend, so now you're guessing that the flow from bar->over lever is better than lever-> over bar. Is there anything to support that idea?

PepeM

Max racing age for collegiate is 34.

PepeM

dots

Duke of Kent

So, because he's 35, that means he's wealthy?

I'm 31 and I get by on $1200 a month from the VA in the form of the GI Bill. There are plenty of PhD students here that are older that make around the same.

hack

That can't be right ... a couple local guys were racing collegiate while getting their masters in their 40s.

Doge

I had already posted most likely not doing that.

But, the whole thing with this being about poor college kids scrapping a bike together to win seems a bit far fetched when looking at the actual competition here.

I do not expect Adrian and Brandon - this year, although Adrian may still be enrolled at UCSC. I do expect Christopher and very easy to imagine a few more odd "pros" that are attending college.

Ages of top 5 DI 2016:
1 35
2 23
3 22
4 26
5 25

PepeM

Maybe I am wrong, but I remember reading that last year. I remember because I am getting close to that limit. Rules seem to change every five minutes though.

Doge

Did I mention wealth?

I expect a 35 year old that has a coaching business with his name on it and was an Elite Track Team Pursuit National Champion has the equipment - or some of it and can borrow the rest.

Duke of Kent

Negative.

PepeM

Just checked quickly. The max age rule was there in the 2015 rulebook but it is not there in the 2016 rulebook.

Doge

Rules change. After all that was DI and DI is gone now :-)
Anyway, I provided the links. Shoot - a 26 year old is fast enough.
I know the "average" collegiate rider may be doing it for the fun of getting out. Which is exactly what my kid is doing with MTB, Cross. He has "normal", borrowed stuff.

But, pretty clear when looking at the top tier these [males] are not on their first bike outings. I'm thinking it is going to get faster.

The thread topic was about aeroness and specifically road bikes. The collegiate TT seems to be the ultimate aero speed test for road bikes.

Duke of Kent

They got rid of it because it needlessly discriminated against people who were full time college students who wanted to race their bikes.

PepeM

It does sound like a stupid rule. It is not like people get faster after 34 or anything.

Ygduf

hi

Doge

Unless you are women trying to win the Olympics or UCI World ITT. Then I think you are fastest over 40.

Doge

Are you going to enroll?

PepeM

Well I sure hope to also get faster after 34, but you know what I mean.