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Seat tube or down tube?

BayAreaUser

Jul 12, 12 12:32

Post #1 of 15 (956 views)

Seat tube or down tube?	Quote \| Reply

Hi guys,

I ride a 7 series speed concept. I'm racing Vineman 70.3 in a few days and can't remember, or get a straight answer with the search feature, which location causes less drag.

I plan on using two regular water bottles. BTA with electrolytes and one additional bottle with nutrition.

Thanks.

Record10Carbon

Jul 12, 12 12:34

Post #2 of 15 (954 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Um....do you plan to win?
----------------------------------------------------------

What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

bnation

Jul 12, 12 12:39

Post #3 of 15 (940 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

For the Bontrager aero bottle I know its seat tube. I don't know if that carries over to a regular bottle or not.

BayAreaUser

Jul 12, 12 12:41

Post #4 of 15 (933 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Record10Carbon wrote:

Um....do you plan to win?

Whether i plan on winning, whatever that means, is irrelevant.

If it saves 10 seconds, it saves 10 seconds. My final bike split will be 10 seconds faster whether I come in first or last.

bnation wrote:

For the Bontrager aero bottle I know its seat tube. I don't know if that carries over to a regular bottle or not.

yeah, that's what i've gathered so far too.

(This post was edited by BayAreaUser on Jul 12, 12 12:43)

link5485

Jul 12, 12 12:43

Post #5 of 15 (922 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I'd worry more about tire pressure, tire choice, and whether you're running latex tubes first.

BayAreaUser

Jul 12, 12 12:45

Post #6 of 15 (913 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [link5485] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

link5485 wrote:

I'd worry more about tire pressure, tire choice, and whether you're running latex tubes first.

That's all taken care of. The question above addresses my last issue of minimizing drag- within my gear limitations.

Rambler

Jul 12, 12 12:50

Post #7 of 15 (902 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I think Cervelo did some testing on this. Check their website. The only part I remember is that between the bars was best.

slow123

Jul 12, 12 12:50

Post #8 of 15 (902 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Record10Carbon wrote:

Um....do you plan to win?

What a dumb comment. Why aero wheels, helmets, tri specific bikes.... Why compete at all, if you aren't going to win?

3Aims

Jul 12, 12 12:53

Post #9 of 15 (882 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

IIRC, seat has more drag than down, but both are bad. I'd go between the bars and under seat Lieto style.

daltri1

Jul 12, 12 13:06

Post #10 of 15 (855 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

This might be some good reading for you:

http://www.tririg.com/...s.php?id=0_Hydration

and this thread:

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...rch_string=;#3494410

BayAreaUser

Jul 12, 12 13:18

Post #11 of 15 (843 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [daltri1] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Thanks =)
Sounds like downtube is the best bet =)

othegrch

Jul 12, 12 13:47

Post #12 of 15 (806 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Go with the placement you are most comfortable (skilled) using. Fumbling, or dropping a bottle will cost a lot more time than you will gain by where its placed for aero purposes.
---

"Sometimes it's just easier to do it the hard way."

J_R

Jul 12, 12 14:07

Post #13 of 15 (787 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

From John Cobb several years ago and thus not a SC, but I think the concept may still apply.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/...tr/waterbottles.html

BayAreaUser

Jul 12, 12 17:01

Post #14 of 15 (699 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [J_R] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

great link.
Very informative.

Dopers.Suck

Jul 12, 12 18:29

Post #15 of 15 (664 views)

Re: Seat tube or down tube? [BayAreaUser] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

If you're going to run standard water bottles on a SC then it's faster to go with 2 cages and bottles, 1 on seat tube and 1 on down tube! This is faster than 1 round bottle on the seat tube and has been confirmed in the wind tunnel a few times.

Of course if you can use one aero bottle on the seat tube then this is faster than the above setup.

Good luck !!

"I swim because that's how I get to ride my bike."