Daniel4

As soon as I read the words 'strong wind' I thought of cross sectional area.

Have you seen that video of the racer who decides to lie with his belly on the bike seat and his legs straight back? Going downhill he went from last place to first place. And they all had similar type bikes - meaning all the components on each of those bikes were probably the lightest and the best.

The only difference amongst all the riders was that one of them had a dramatically smaller cross sectional area.

PeteHski

In order of significance:-

1. Wind - trumps everything for determining your speed on a particular day, including the motor. Also explains your slow, painful 20 mile ride in a strong wind.
2. Human power - goes without saying really. This is also affected massively by training, nutrition and sleep.
3. Bike type - An upright touring bike is going to be significantly slower than a race bike in a more aero position
4. Tyres - Definitely the next biggest factor, but relatively small when comparing the same type of tyre
5. Riding surface - Rough roads can be significantly slower than smooth roads. I'm tempted to put this above tyres, but they kind of go together.
6. Ambient temperature - Can be very significant in the extremes, but not very important within a normal range
7. Bike weight - not very important unless extremely heavy and hilly. A little more important in mountainous areas, so might bump it up to 6 there.
8. Quality of components - not very important within a normal range and not abused.
9. Bike age - again not very important unless comparing extremes. Then it might bump up a few places on the list.
10. Other - rotational wheel mass (standing joke from old thread)

livedarklions

Some of these factors matter more going uphill than they do in level riding.

GhostRider62

I remember having to make 220-260 watts to go 6-8 mph on flat ground all the way from Dubois, Wyoming to Rand, Colorado. That was in an aerodynamic position. Tractor trailers were blown off the road.

It sucked. All factors equal.

Jughed

Wind, bike position, your frontal area, what you are wearing - #1
Tires - #2

Your motor is your motor - that won't change regardless of equipment.

All being equal - at 200W - rider position/tight fitting clothes and great tires vs crappy tires - you may see 1.5-2mph difference. Maybe 3mph if you do everything just right.

This speed increase will be noticeable without computers or timing. You can feel the easily difference.

IMHO - everything else falls into marginal gains. Things you probably won't really notice without a computer showing your speed. 18mph vs 18.2mph. 10 min up a climb vs 9:45 up a climb. You would really need to be sensitive to everything to notice those small gains.

The big gains - relatively cheap.
The marginal gains - $$$$$. And typically once you get to a certain point, the more you spend only equals smaller gains.

And a wicked headwind throws most of that out of the window. Best equipment in the world won't make much of a mental difference if you are pushing 250-300w to go 12mph.

livedarklions

Of all the factors listed in the OP, ambient temperature jumps out at me as being somewhat different. I find that in heat, you really need to be really conscious of regulating your pace or face putting yourself into actual physical danger. I have to ride fast enough to keep adequate airflow, but not to make so much of an effort that my body can't regulate its temperature. I did a couple of very hilly 80 mile rides in 90+ degree heat last summer (1 day apart), and there were places at tops of long climbs where the only prudent thing I could do was to take a few minutes off of the bike in the shade. When you're going too slow to quickly evaporate sweat, any effort heats you up very fast so hills can be deadly. So basically, it's a factor that punishes you if you go too fast or too slow.

livedarklions

My motor varies a lot depending on how much riding I've been doing and general health factors. Having to rehabilitate it after an illness, I'm aware of how much effort went into that.

PeteHski

On a given day it is what it is, but can change very significantly over a period of time. Training, nutrition, recovery, sleep, mood all greatly affect your motor.

Wildwood 

If all the variables are equal, everyone finishes with the same time.

Jughed

So, I should have said - in relation to your equipment. Yes, the motor can change, improve, be out of tune... but day in, day out -your motor is your motor.

The other factors have an effect on everyone, regardless of motor.

pdlamb

Bad timing on your part. Met a couple who'd started late from Lander (after 8:00) and made it near Jeffrey City by noon, sitting up and laughing all the way. Me? I was pedaling about as hard as I could, downhill, to keep moving and to top 4 mph going into Sweetwater Crossing.

roccobike

IMHO, take away age of the bike and the answer to your question is Yes, all of the above.
Age of the bike is not a factor. One of my fastest bikes is a 1999 Lemond Zurich, but all of the components have been updated big time to much lighter, better performing components.
As to which of the above is the biggest factor, sadly it's the human motor. In that regard, age is, sadly, a big factor.

livedarklions

Alas, though, the aging of the motor is inevitable. You're right, the difference is I can always replace a worn tire.. The effects of aging will, of course, vary from person to person.

john m flores 

Motor, terrain, and aerodynamics are 90% of the equation, followed closely by caffeine.

livedarklions

If we're talking endurance riding, I'd also throw in bladder capacity.

rumrunn6

for reference, 20 miles:

summer time, road bike, 25mm tires, 90 minutes, approx 13mph

winter nite ride in strong wind on a hybrid (bike alone is 10 lbs heavier than the rd bike) 55mm tires, loaded w/ 3 light heads, 2 on bars 1 on helmet, plus batteries for all & I was wearing larger, fuzzier clothing. 120 minutes, approx 10mph (no computer used only phone snapshots of the weather, so super inaccurate) so yeah, lots of wind resistance compared to a 1/2 naked, lighter summer road bike w/ no extra wind parachutes strapped to the bike

rumrunn6

timing is everything

the desolate rural night rides are easier to manage than the more populated urban routes

Eds0123

Yes, True for some of us sane riders, not TDF riders, they just pee their bibs, no time to stop for nature calls

terrymorse 

Age may not have to be that big of a factor, after all.

A review of masters athletes studies found that most of their VO2max declines were due to reduced training volume, not aging, and that the athletes who maintained training volume lost very little.



Burtscher, J., Strasser, B., Burtscher, M., & Millet, G. P. (2022). The Impact of Training on the Loss of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Aging Masters Endurance Athletes. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(17), 11050. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191711050

terrymorse 

Um.


"PEE-SAY!"

Eds0123

Is that TDF? or your local group club ride?

did jumbo visma , the lead team made agreement anouncement in the morning that every other team all riders follow their lead and pull over behind them periodically?

terrymorse 

Do the pro team kits and race numbers give you a clue?

Read and learn:

How Do Tour de France Riders Pee?

Eds0123

Did you read your quoted article all the way down completely?

here are some bits from your article:

" .... “Generally speaking, you’re better off peeing down your leg than using too much energy flapping around in the convoy,” Hall says.

Related Story

• Are Tour de France Riders Healthy?

If you’re anticipating being in a race situation where you’ll need a bathroom break, Hall recommends practicing peeing (safely!) during descents to avoid stage fright come race time. Same rules apply as snot rockets: make sure the coast is clear behind you. .... "

besides, Relax man, this is just for fun and entertainment, I dont care, Pee in your bibs or don't Pee in your bibs, don't get too worked out about this, relax, take a chill pill, i don't care, i am not discussing this stupid things with idiots no more, Thank You, Have a great day

terrymorse 

Thank you for admitting your lack of seriousness. But calling others "idiots" is frowned upon in this forum, and it may get you banned.

There is ample evidence to support this observation: pro cyclists do not "pee in their bibs".

79pmooney

motor/wind
bike type and fit (and I'll add bike aerodynamics)
tires, riding surface, components

Wind and aerodynamic are huge. So is the motor.
How well the bike and components support that motor (hence fit)
The road, the tires, the wheels
Everything else (except that it is possible for any of these factors to throw a monkey into the works. For me, bikes with large Q-factors that aggravate my chronic knee issues and force me off the road.) And yes, lots of weight hurts. Especially if the rider knows.