They´re hardly ´completely destroying the aerodynamics of the frame´. Just sitting on the top tube behind the steerer.
Blue spent all that work for a stem to have reattached laminar flow off the back only to go straight into a 2 inch high wall two inches off of the stem and 8-9 inches back with a completely uneven shape. Maybe Blue, Cervelo, and Specialized should listen to you and make their top tube look exactly like that
No Keanu, you don’t know karate.
Chill out mate. The point I was making was that your assertion was, and remains, a complete exaggeration.
Please feel free to post any photos of your long-distance race setup, you seem to be pretty keen for the board to listen to you.
So you race with the PowerCranks or just train with them? I’m not that handy so it seems difficult to change them out.
Chill out mate. The point I was making was that your assertion was, and remains, a complete exaggeration.
Please feel free to post any photos of your long-distance race setup, you seem to be pretty keen for the board to listen to you.
Remember where you are, this is ST and someone would rather argue the aerodynamic loss of gels on a top tube that added .475820287 seconds to his sub 4:40 bike split.
It’s absolutely incredible that the fastest age grouper in Kona is coming on here to defend a decision he made to some Monday morning quaterback. Sam, do yourself a favor and don’t respond to any of this and simply post a link to the Kona results as that alone justifies whatever decision you made, regardless of whether or not it’s approved by the ST minions.
So you race with the PowerCranks or just train with them? I’m not that handy so it seems difficult to change them out.
Changing powercranks for normal (octalink) cranks takes about 1 minute… You have to be able to use an allen key though 
Sam
I for one think SGY is awesome for at least two reasons: 1) he did an awesome job at Kona, and, 2) he gave us his “secret”
I come from the school of “they never built a statue of a critic.” He says it works for him, I believe it. Most important though is that he believes it. I don’t have power cranks, but if I could afford 'em I’d get 'em. I don’t see how they can hurt anything. In the old days we used to do one leg drills - I hated those drills, still do. But, seems that the fastest guys I knew did the things that were uncomfortable. Perhaps that is the secret.
For all the digs people get for their ideas and breakthroughs, I wonder why anybody bothers to post them. If someone doesn’t believe then don’t believe, but to argue the details seems a waste. The tough guys will still be fast because they have the talent AND the mental toughness to beat the next guy.
Also, I agree about the gels taped to the top tube - give me a break, the aerodynamic loss is… nothing. BTW that’s not how I handle my gels, but, their’s more than one way to do lotsa things.
my 2
cents
You killed it in Kona. Well done. So do you do 100% of your training rides on the PC’s and then race only on regular cranks?
You killed it in Kona. Well done. So do you do 100% of your training rides on the PC’s and then race only on regular cranks?
Yup, I always swap cranks the day before a race and do a 1h spin to get used to the normal cranks again. I don’t really feel difference between PC and ordinary cranks but a short adaptation before the race is recommended.
What PC have done for me:
- I had quite a big difference in strength between left and richt leg => problem solved
- I got strong hipflexors and they are turned into real endurance muscles
- Better balance between hamstrings and quads
- More efficient pedaling technique (I race with power so I can tell the difference)
- I am able to push much bigger gears for a much longer time
But I might be the only person that benefits from them when I read all these comments here…
And in terms of investment: they are much cheaper than most aerowheels and other high tech bike parts that only ‘look’ nice but definately don’t make you faster. You cannot buy speed, you really have to work hard for it and I think - but as I said, that might be only valid for me - that powercranks are a great tool to make workouts more effective.
Sam Gyde
On avg. how long do you normally ride on power cranks?
I just got a pair a week ago and can only manage a pathetic 10-15 mins of constant pedaling. I know they take a bit of getting used to and consistency is key with PC’s.
What do you use as a power meter in training?
What did you averge for power @ kona?
Can one race with the PowerCranks? or why change to regular cranks?
Courtney Ogden raced IMC on PCs in 2006 I believe. Had quite a good bike split if I remember correctly.
What do you use as a power meter in training?
What did you averge for power @ kona?
Average power in Kona was 270W (link to SRM file can be found at http://www.samgyde.com/?p=1030 )
Before I started on PC I always trained with my powermeter but since januari 2011 I train without power. When I train indoors I do get some power feedback from the trainer. I am pretty comfortable with training and racing by ‘feel’. Numbers are great to analyze afterward but don’t really add to the quality of training during the workout itself imho.
In Kona, I lost my Garmin watch during the swim so I had to do the entire marathon pacing by feel and I made it my personal best… The more training and racing experience you have, the less there is a need to constantly look at numbers.
Cu,
Sam
On avg. how long do you normally ride on power cranks?
I just got a pair a week ago and can only manage a pathetic 10-15 mins of constant pedaling. I know they take a bit of getting used to and consistency is key with PC’s.
I don’t feel any difference anymore. I easily can ride PCs for 8 hours non stop.
But of course you need to build up gradually. Soon I will post my complete PC training history on my website.
It is also easier to put the handlebars a lot higher when you start with PCs. During the course of a few months you can revert back to a lower position. You get used to it but it takes persistence…
Sam
Can one race with the PowerCranks? or why change to regular cranks?
In theory you could but I think it would compromise the running and they are quite heavy as well.
It is also a bit more difficult to mount the bike with both pedals pointing downwards and your shoes are attached to it.
Sam
Thanks.
Thank you for the response, I appreciate it. The PCs sound very interesting.
Blue spent all that work for a stem to have reattached laminar flow off the back only to go straight into a 2 inch high wall two inches off of the stem and 8-9 inches back with a completely uneven shape. Maybe Blue, Cervelo, and Specialized should listen to you and make their top tube look exactly like that
Let’s toast moronical!
Sometimes, the keyboard is an enemy. 1) after 10 shots of Jamison. 2) After your chick dumped you. 3) After standing in a TSA line.
Wisdom is to know when to play the keyboard card. Not quite sure which of the three stomped your grapes today, but ^^^^, and the previous post, are just stupid.
Carry on.