P3C, Zipp 909’s, Louis Garneay Chrono aero helmet, one piece aero trisuit, Profile handlebar mounted drink system. NO stuff behind or under saddle, no spare.
56 miles in 2:26:51 for an average speed of 22.9 m.p.h. I don’t know my power or heart rate but the level of exertion I would characterize as “carefully paced” since I had to run 13.1 miles in the heat afterward. On a scale of 1-10 it was an honest 6.
This morning. Training ride to Northville and back from Dearborn. 40 miles.
P3C, Easton Circuits, Bell Sweep helmet, Voler jersey and Assos shorts. Flat tire repair kit under saddle, no aero drink system. Standard bottle and cage.
40 miles in 1:53:12 for average of 21.2 m.p.h. Rate of exertion: An honest 8- pretty darn hard effort.
Given, not scientific, but there is a hefty difference there.
I do a standard training circuit of 45 miles on a P2k “training bike” that I keep set up with identical fit to a P3sl that I race. Difference is the p2k has Bontrager race X lites and saddle bag and even a mirror taped to the visiontech base bar. On typical training rides in regular shorts, helmet and jersey I’ll average 21.7 to 22.4 mph. If I’m testing out the P3sl race setup in advance of a race, I’ll sometimes do the route with a Renn 575 rear and Zipp 404 front. Still with a saddle bag and regular shorts, helmet and jersey. I’ll average 23.5 to 24.3 on the P3sl. I’ve done this dozens of times on the P2k and probably a dozen times on the P3sl. It’s always in these ranges. Nothing scientific, but as you say … there’s a hefty difference.
Oh … if I ride this route hard on my road bike with standard training wheels, I might do 20.5 mph.
P3C, Zipp 909’s, Louis Garneay Chrono aero helmet, one piece aero trisuit, Profile handlebar mounted drink system. NO stuff behind or under saddle, no spare.
56 miles in 2:26:51 for an average speed of 22.9 m.p.h. I don’t know my power or heart rate but the level of exertion I would characterize as “carefully paced” since I had to run 13.1 miles in the heat afterward. On a scale of 1-10 it was an honest 6.
This morning. Training ride to Northville and back from Dearborn. 40 miles.
P3C, Easton Circuits, Bell Sweep helmet, Voler jersey and Assos shorts. Flat tire repair kit under saddle, no aero drink system. Standard bottle and cage.
40 miles in 1:53:12 for average of 21.2 m.p.h. Rate of exertion: An honest 8- pretty darn hard effort.
Given, not scientific, but there is a hefty difference there.
Good God, man…you own a bike shop! How hard is it to get yourself a power meter? Then you’d know with better confidence…AND, you just might find it useful.
Just a thought
Does this mean that you’re NOT one of the guys Steve Hed was talking about?
Phhht. I’ve ordered no less than 6 Powertap wireless units for myself. Every one winds up going to a customer. We sell scads of those things. I will wind up keeping one though…
Phhht. I’ve ordered no less than 6 Powertap wireless units for myself. Every one winds up going to a customer. We sell scads of those things. I will wind up keeping one though…
When you do, I suggest (if you can) that you build it up into an 808 rim. “Word on the street” is that one of those with a custom cut cover is a tough combo to beat as a rear “disc”…
1.2 mile swim followed by a 60 mile bike @ PE 6/10 148 avg hr. Rollers little wind a nice sunny day.
20.93 avg mph
Steelhead - softride one pice tri suit, aero front water bottle, aero frame watter bottle, Zip 404’s with disk wheel cover, Chrono aero helmet etc
56 miles 2:17:30 - avg 24.44 mph @ PE 6/10 156 hr.
Yes HR is higher @ steelhead but not enough to warrant the difference in avg time. I’m attributing most of the time savings to the wheels, tire selection and aero helmet.
First of all, congratulations on your nice Steelhead ride!!!
Yes that is…but have you thought about running this experiment on the same course?
Do you think that comprimises the validity of your test? Comparing on different roads?
I never saw anywhere that Tom said it was a test or an experiment. His conclusion was sufficiently qualified. There’s a difference between an observation and a test.
I guess the only part of this that surprises me is that anyone who reads this forum regularly and races at even an MOP level would be surprised by the observation. The fast stuff makes you faster. D’OH.
I plan on making some investments next year- I’ve been telling myself for awhile that I’ll only get that stuff when I’ve hit certain benchmarks for speed (basicially, don’t put fancy aero body cladding on a car with a shitty engine). I’m there, so now its time for some toys.
How much of this difference is psychological, I wonder? I don’t do tris, so maybe my opinion is a lot less valid, but I know that during my RRs I’m a hell of a lot faster even in a solo break than I ever am on a training ride. Thinking you need to ride fast = riding fast???
Also, how do the road surfaces compare? New asphalt is faster than anything else if everything else remains the same, so you could see even a 0.5 mph difference just based on the surface.
Although I will admit that aero gear helps. My Ksyrium SL3 training wheels blow. My Tempest IIs are perceptibly faster on the same course, same PLE, and very similar heart rate in the closest weather I’ve been able to manage. Ironically, my 303s are slower than the Tempests except when I choose a rolling course…damn you, rolling resistance, damn you!
A very valid point… 3 days after a 1/2 IM – no way you are fully recovered unless you are Lance Armstrong – this is not even close to a fair comparison. Plus your 2nd bike is post a 1/2 marathon which definitely takes a lot out of those legs.
In addition, I think you under-estimate race mode, I can generate a ton more watts in a race than training anytime, it’s the whole adrenaline/psyche up thing. The power meter does not lie. No way you were as juiced for your 40 miler as Steelhead.
I think your difference is way over-exaggerated. Sure aero stuff is faster, but not that fast.
from my power data: I typically ride about 3.5-4kph kph faster in a HIM untapered for a given power output with a LG rocket, H3C front, Zipp disc and a tubbie rolled very, very tightly taped under the seat vs training set up. FWIW I run a small bottle on the down tube and a large on the seat tube for HIM racing but train with 2 large bottles in the cages.
