noahman wrote:
Thanks, Jordan. I really liked your write-up too - glad you were able to stick it out.
I understand why your bike was off, but it seemed like overall the pro men's bike times were relatively slower this year. Any ideas why? Seemed like better conditions and less wind than last year -- just the dynamics of the race? Of course "slower" is certainly relative, like the commentators in the Chicago Marathon calling the 2:09 pace "pedestrian" (and that was certainly a case of race dynamics).
I don't know if you've commented on this (or if you want to), but I wondered how your speed/power relationship (i.e. CdA) has changed since you've been on the Dimond. Twelsiek certainly rocked it, for example going 2' faster than FVL on 14 fewer watts (& he's a bigger guy).
Couple things. FVL runs Q-rings, which artificially inflate power numbers quite a bit. FVL also has, quite honestly, a terrible position. Head way up. Chest open. Straight extensions (WTF?!).
So there's all that.
But overall, power numbers just seemed lower this year compared to last year. I mean, even Maik was about 10w lower than last year. And that looked pretty consistent. EVERYONE seemed to be riding about 10w (or more; Kienle was probably more like 20w less) - which works out to about 3-4min over 180k. I think it was because it was hot and relatively low wind, which made it seem REALLY hot. Last year was windy, but that also meant a lot more convective cooling. So better conditions? I'd actually say no. Low wind, high temps, and high humidity is probably the toughest conditions for hard riding. I think that's why there was such carnage.
I really noticed once I got to Kona just how fast the Dimond is in crosswinds. At home, because of the nature of topography, the breezes off the ocean are all channeled so I ride basically into a straight headwind or with a straight tailwind. The Dimond is faster than the Shiv, but not by much. I can pick it up on routes I ride a lot, but it's not really that much. But in Kona? Holy shit. I was doing race pace intervals and just flying. I did a straight out-and-back at my goal race pace - 292w - before the race and was doing like 44kph on the Queen K section where I did it. So I really noticed the difference in speed on the Queen K way more than I notice it at home. I'd say my 0yaw CdA has dropped a bit. But my 10deg yaw CdA has dropped a LOT.
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