sommer00 wrote:
Without starting a discussion about Religion, 2 things regarding Box and Aero:
1: IA FRD and IA2 do not have these bolts to mount anything @ seat post. so the pro-bikes do not have it due to aero reasons!
2: as a mid-Level 70.3 ironman, I have 1 question. Does anybody here really believe that one feels or realizes the aero Advantage of an integrated brake or box behind or not behind anything?
Do you all race at a such steady watt/pace that you feel a difference? It's a nice discussion, but then you see all the gels sticked to bikes, Hugh bottles at the back, heavy and massive riders on the aero bike.
I have a photo from my last 70.3 Ironman from the very front of me. My bike Looks as lean as it can get, but the big "Thing" in the wind is me. So loosing 1 Pound would bring way more than an integrated brake (I guess) and my shoulders are as wide as the bones unterneath are. No way to Change anyway.
What does religio have anything to do with this? Unless you see aerodynamics as religion, in which case, you've come to the right place I guess.
1. Way to jump to conclusions. The IAx bikes are slightly different and older than the IAxx frames, I'm pretty sure that's the only explanation as to why the bosses aren't there. Pro's ride the IA FRD because that's the most expensive bike Felt makes ;)
2. No one "feels" these small aero advantages, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. You feel the difference between being on the aerobars and being on your brakes, because it probably constitutes at least 50W of drag. All those small savings are real, even if you don't feel them. And a draftbox behind the seatpost is specifically targetted to remove some of the crap you refer people have hanging off their bike.
your other points: riding at steady watts or pace is irrelevant to whether the difference is there or not. Losing 1 pound is generally a good idea, but not because it will make you faster on the bike. Besides, why not get the integrated brake
and lose the 1 pound? These things are not mutuall exclusive.