Using two bikes with equal sized rear wheels and
identical gearing, one fitted with ROTOR cranks and
the other with normal cranks, measure the distance
(cms) which the rear wheel of the normal cranked
bike will travel as the pedal is moved from 11 to 1 o’clock. That is the value of the dead spot area.
Setting the upper cranks of both bikes in the same
forward position ( the position of the RC upper crank
when the lower crank is at 6 o’clock ), measure the
distance which both rear wheels will travel (cms) as
the cranks are moved from that forward position to
3 o’clock. The distance of the RC wheel will be
greater. That increase in distance over the value of
the dead spot area x 100 is in percentage terms
how effective RC’s are in eliminating the neutral
effect of the dead spot area. But that is only if you
are in a position to take full advantage of all that
RC’s have to offer.
perfection, you are on to something here. I don’t think it’s 100% accurate, but the idea is an excellent one…thanks for the brain food…
Two bikes with identical wheels and identical gearing will go the exact same speed at a given RPM assuming that aerodynamics are the same. Switching your cranks isn’t going to give you some magical “extra distance”. A mechanical advantage might allow you to push a bigger gear or spin a little faster which could equate to bigger speed, so maybe I misread the intent of your statement, but all things being equal (including gearing and drag), RPM is going to determine how fast you are going to go.
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Go back to sleep Dr., RC’s are not ordinary cranks.
Yes YACQ------ you are correct, it is not 100 per cent
accurate. Maybe the dead spot area could be
reduced on the minute hand from 4 mins. to 12 to
4 mins. past twelve and that will increase the RC’s
apparent advantage. But the percentage figure will
be small in both cases. The point that I now try to
make is that if this small advantage with RC’s can
show such an improvement in time trials, imagine
what improvement could be got by eliminating 98
percent of the dead spot area. That is exactly what
ANQUETIL’S easily acquired additional natural
pedaling technique can do and it’s sad to think that
those who had not the brains to discover his technique, attributed his phenomenal performance
in time trials to drugs which almost all riders were
taking in those days.