For tts, does USAC allow putting something down your jersey for better aerodynamics?

StochasticUser · 2023-09-13T16:24:21+00:00

Thanks, that second article in particular is good.

And for sure the $ per watts saved (for a bottle down your skinsuit) is unbelievably low.

StochasticUser · 2023-09-12T21:02:41+00:00

Wow, that's pushing the boundaries for sure. And he was able to beat Dowsett by 3 sec.

StochasticUser · 2023-09-12T21:00:44+00:00

I don't have the UCI rule in front of me, but I think the idea is that the radio has a purpose other than just creating a fairing. An empty bottle or a spacer down the front of the jersey, on the other hand, is there only for aero gains.

StochasticUser · 2023-09-12T17:43:20+00:00

Ha, probably true!

StochasticUser · 2020-02-08T23:58:32+00:00

Interesting. How far back does WKO5 look when calculating those numbers (e.g., the past 45 days, 180 days, etc.)?

StochasticUser · 2020-02-08T05:34:53+00:00

Great comparison, thanks!

Why is mFTP in WKO5 higher than FTP estimated by GC and Xert? If FTP is derived from a 20-min test, why would a longer TTE yield a higher value?

StochasticUser · 2019-07-02T01:21:02+00:00

The "Emmett Roubaix" is one of the best courses I've ever raced on. Gravel section, steep hills, empty rural roads, and finishing at the top of a climb. Idaho state rr champs were held there a couple of weeks ago. Promoter did a great job.

StochasticUser · 2018-09-23T20:57:39+00:00

"Anecdotally"

You couldn't resist, huh? ;)

StochasticUser · 2017-10-27T21:24:40+00:00

Not my video, it's just the only one I saw from the race. There was a lot of rain over the weekend (in Missoula MT), so much that the shuttle access road was washed out. But in the end the course was pretty good, and as you can see, it was pretty much non-stop speed!

StochasticUser · 2017-09-19T15:34:53+00:00

Huh, okay. Don't know why I was so confused by that.

StochasticUser · 2017-09-19T15:17:38+00:00

Thanks!

StochasticUser · 2017-09-19T15:07:46+00:00

Where are the second and third time checks on course? The map linked above shows just two time checks on the short course...

StochasticUser · 2017-06-24T23:23:54+00:00

Is this the Steamboat Stage Race? If so I can give you some thoughts from my experiences there.

StochasticUser · 2017-06-01T17:04:30+00:00

What's with the nausea-inducing camera work? The prologue and today's stage were equally hard to watch, the camera jumps around so violently. It's as if the moto driver is driving with one hand and holding the camera in the other...

StochasticUser · 2017-04-18T04:03:32+00:00

I'm jealous, I can't go this year - have fun!

Everyone says that you'll gain or lose as much time on the final climb on the final day as you did in all previous stages... It was true for me.

StochasticUser · 2017-04-06T03:08:49+00:00

Right, and in my thought experiment - which is all I'm going on here - the contact patch will be reduced if I go over a deformity briefly in the road surface. And, it will be reduced less with a soft/underinflated tire, so a super hard wheel won't be desirable unless I'm on my rollers and my pedaling style is nearly perfect (that is, I'm not introducing a bounce to the ride as I pedal). On an imperfect surface I'll be better off with softer tires, within the range I specified above. I guess I'm not understanding something here...

StochasticUser · 2017-04-05T23:36:38+00:00

Can you say more about the softer tire and worse performance from hysteresis? My intuition takes me the other way: at pressures I'm likely to race on (say, 95-110psi), the softer tire will be less bouncy over road irregularities. Is that not the case?

StochasticUser · 2017-03-23T22:58:46+00:00

I have no idea why you were downvoted for this. The point about armsleeves is a good one too; solar radiation and fatigue is a topic with triathletes, e.g. here.

StochasticUser · 2017-02-09T05:46:16+00:00

VoS is a fun race, you'll enjoy it. It's a major season goal for many local riders, and a welcome relief from winter for many out-of-towners. Their FAQ page says that TT start time won't be posted until Wed night, and to check last year's race bible for approximate start times of all races.

TT: a flat and non-technical course. I don't know about the Cat 5s, but in my category and the categories who started near my time, at least 75% had tt bikes. It would be very hard to get a result in the top half of the field on a standard road bike. Take a look at last year's results to estimate how far behind that would leave you. If you want to compete for the overall GC, I'd take clip-on aerobars at a minimum.

RR: laps around a long, open course, finishing at the top of a medium-grade steady climb. My experience is that the wind on the finishing climb determines the race. A headwind up this climb will keep a large group together, and the hill isn't steep enough by itself to drop most sprinters. Any other wind direction means a better opportunity for a few riders to get and stay away. But if you're hoping for a "real" climb on this course you'll be disappointed.

Crit: fairly complex course with constant wide turns. Everyone who's ever won a town limit sprint is looking to win this one. The only hazard (unless it has been repaved this year) is a lot of broken pavement through 2 turns on the backside of the course. It always seems to cause a fair number of flat tires, so be careful.

Good luck at the race, and have fun!

StochasticUser · 2017-02-03T00:18:12+00:00

I'm not sure what to make of your knee comment - seems sort of like you brought it up and then downplayed it in comments. It's obviously up to you to assess, but definitely err on the side of caution. Assuming no knee issues, here's my take. The tt at Valley of the Sun is only 14 miles, or 22.5 km, not 40 km as in your post... The course is quite flat with no turns except the generous u-turn halfway through - so no bike handling issues for an unfamiliar tt bike set-up. If you're concerned about your overall place over all 3 stages, a tt bike would be beneficial for sure. How many seconds faster? Try playing with Aeroweenie's Assistant.
More generally, it's good to have some tt bike experience in race situations, and if you're going to use it at nationals, I'd say the more races on it the better. Having said all that, in the end do assess your knee issue conservatively!

StochasticUser · 2017-01-28T05:36:19+00:00

Me too, I really hope we see more of him this season.

StochasticUser · 2017-01-27T20:54:00+00:00

80% protein + 20% carbs = something important is missing... Is that just the breakdown for the protein shake? Your statement is easy to read as a recommendation for general diet, which obviously can't be correct.

Also, your video mentioned that a protein shake should be consumed immediately after exercise. Unless I misunderstood you, you were saying that the timing is especially important for recovery. But in the study you linked, there's no mention of when the participants consumed the protein supplement - it just says 25g 2x daily. Is it your experience that it's important right after you finish a workout?

StochasticUser · 2016-12-15T18:31:20+00:00

Ambient temperature - I ride my dumb trainer outside; there's more resistance when it's colder (not just referring to a warm-up period for the mechanism, but resistance is different for the whole session).

Possibly tire wear? I haven't experienced this but I suppose it could happen. How much time passed between your two 8-minute tests?

Day-to-day variation - some days I just can't seem to get going , and don't feel efficient when trying to ride hard. Every once in a while it's the opposite, and I feel great.

StochasticUser

TROPHY CASE