Does chain quality affect max speed?

Triathlon Forum
1

Hey all,

I am wondering what bike parts affect max speed, apart from the rings’ amount of teeth, wheel size, and the biker’s cadence. Am I missing something else?

2

Huh? The entire bike. Everything on a bike affects max speed.

3

Huh? The entire bike. Everything on a bike affects max speed.

even brakes? lulz

4

yes, even brakes.

5

Huh? The entire bike. Everything on a bike affects max speed.

even brakes? lulz

The max speed is not only dependant on how smooth your machine is, but also how aerodynamic you and the bike are together. Since we ride in the wind, how well our bikes maintain speed in windy conditions affects how fast we are able to go. This counts for set lenght bike courses or distances, or max speed . So yea, a more aerodynamic brake setup could result in reaching a higher top speed. But as others mentioned, everything can affect the speed. Its a whole thing people are into: Aerodynamics.

6

Am I missing something else?
Saw the question and came in to confirm that you had cadence covered, and was very pleased to see that you do indeed!

7

even brakes? lulz

aero for the win

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJZNVGpuQ7o

8

As mentioned, pretty much every part impacts the bike’s speed (since 80%+ of what you are fighting is air drag at racing speeds).

For chains, the “quality” isn’t much of a factor but the lubrication is. Different lubes can impact the chain’s frictional losses by several watts (check out the friction facts website). Many people have a race-only chain that has been optimally lubricated with a special wax coating.

9

Huh? The entire bike. Everything on a bike affects max speed.

even brakes? lulz

The max speed is not only dependant on how smooth your machine is, but also how aerodynamic you and the bike are together. Since we ride in the wind, how well our bikes maintain speed in windy conditions affects how fast we are able to go. This counts for set lenght bike courses or distances, or max speed . So yea, a more aerodynamic brake setup could result in reaching a higher top speed. But as others mentioned, everything can affect the speed. Its a whole thing people are into: Aerodynamics.

Aero chain? Anybody made one?