As a participant and someone who helped get the bikes ready in time - I can say it was a crazy hard task to get the project done. And, I did none of the pre or post work.
After you think you have everything set-up and on the same page (everyone knows what is needed and you are there - at the hotel) a bike will show up the night before with the wrong length crank arms - no problem - oh the BB needs an adaptor to fit the Shimano crank - where do we get one of those at 7pm the night before? Crap the BB will not come out - just hit it harder - no no no!
Trying to get all the bikes within 1 mm of each other was not easy; hours and hours.
Here is an example of issues that matter when the bikes are within a few watts of each other. Top three bikes were within about 3 watts. Bike #3 is sold stock with an optimized chain saving 5 watts on the road. So is bike three faster than bike 1 and 2? Argument - we could buy a chain from you and then ours would still be faster - correct but your bikes are not stock then. Headline "Bike 1 is fastest Bike in the Test"
Here is another example of issues that matter. Bike X has an built-in hydration system that has an 18" straw that sticks up "as sold stock" but the other bikes don't have hydration "as sold stock" so manufacturer X takes the straw off for the test. How much worse would that bike have tested stock?
The bottom line to me... these fastest bike are all within 3-5 watts at 30 mph. At 23 mph maybe 1-2 watts. Anything a rider does will affect the drag more than any difference between the best bikes. So, who can hold that fantastic position comfortably for the distance of the race? That's who will be faster.
Dan Kennison
facebook: @triPremierBike
http://www.PremierBike.com
http://www.PositionOneSports.com
After you think you have everything set-up and on the same page (everyone knows what is needed and you are there - at the hotel) a bike will show up the night before with the wrong length crank arms - no problem - oh the BB needs an adaptor to fit the Shimano crank - where do we get one of those at 7pm the night before? Crap the BB will not come out - just hit it harder - no no no!
Trying to get all the bikes within 1 mm of each other was not easy; hours and hours.
Here is an example of issues that matter when the bikes are within a few watts of each other. Top three bikes were within about 3 watts. Bike #3 is sold stock with an optimized chain saving 5 watts on the road. So is bike three faster than bike 1 and 2? Argument - we could buy a chain from you and then ours would still be faster - correct but your bikes are not stock then. Headline "Bike 1 is fastest Bike in the Test"
Here is another example of issues that matter. Bike X has an built-in hydration system that has an 18" straw that sticks up "as sold stock" but the other bikes don't have hydration "as sold stock" so manufacturer X takes the straw off for the test. How much worse would that bike have tested stock?
The bottom line to me... these fastest bike are all within 3-5 watts at 30 mph. At 23 mph maybe 1-2 watts. Anything a rider does will affect the drag more than any difference between the best bikes. So, who can hold that fantastic position comfortably for the distance of the race? That's who will be faster.
Dan Kennison
facebook: @triPremierBike
http://www.PremierBike.com
http://www.PositionOneSports.com