Amongst others:
“Zipp also managed to find its way on to the riders of T-Mobile, most of whom spent the first week on the company’s deep-section 606 tubulars (with nearly all of the decals removed). The team is officially sponsored by Shimano, and one T-Mobile mechanic was quick to point out that no ‘official’ relationship exists between the team and Zipp. He simply explained that, “We always try to use the best wheels, and Zipp is the best aerodynamic wheel for now. So we use them for the flat stages.” So be it, but we can only imagine how Shimano feels about it.”
How funny, James just loves shit like this. He and I used to work together in a bike shop back in Ann Arbor, MI eons ago and he was always so meticulous with the tiny details. No doubt he’s puting that talent to good use with this report.
I am not discounting the experts of ST. There has been some very credible information put forward. However, this is where the disconnect happens for me. Why is it then, that the very best cyclists in the world, with the very best bike tech and engineer support at their total disposal, when seconds can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars difference in prize winnings and contracts, will make equipment choices that actually penalize them. How could this be?
The cyclists don’t get to make those choices, at least most don’t…People like Lance, Indurain, etc. do, but most guys simply ride what they are told to ride by the team. Look at Boonen’s thing this year with Specialized…
Yea Superdave the Angry Asian is the bomb. I love his shit. That guy has an eye for a good shot and the detail to see and point out things others miss. I thought that was one of the best equipment story out of the blocks yet. I hate reading the company Koolaid," we use so and so cause it is the best" under the breath." rebaged stuff on the planet"
Pros do lots of things that don’t make sense. The highest echelons of all sports have tons of examples of experts ignoring mathematically provable truths.
Read Moneyball for 100 examples.
If a pro thinks tubulars feel faster, no amount of testing is going to prove to him otherwise sometimes.
Pros do lots of things that don’t make sense. The highest echelons of all sports have tons of examples of experts ignoring mathematically provable truths.
Read Moneyball for 100 examples.
If a pro thinks tubulars feel faster, no amount of testing is going to prove to him otherwise sometimes.
Personally, I think a LOT of it has to do with the mythology perpetuated by the mechanics, who have a LOT of sway over what equipment is used.
“This is how we did it for Eddy Merckx so it is what you should do”. You know, things like aging tubulars in a Belgian cellar for 6 years…and other silly things like that
They also don’t shower the night before TT’s because they believe their legs will hold water…
One of the best examples of pro’s being somewhat senseless is in the Overcoming DVD when Carlos Sastre tells Bjarne Riis that he hates using the SRM because he likes to climb and train only by feel…
Wait, what? Should I be using a French cellar? German? Do you have a link to a cellar speed study?
Actually…it doesn’t really matter. The REAL reason for storing the tires in cellar is to have a handy excuse to go down there and “sample” some of the wine being stored alongside the tires.
“Honey…I’m, uhhh…going down to the cellar to…ummm…check on my tires! Yeah, that’s it. Gotta see how the aging of my beloved tubulars is coming along. It might take me awhile…there’s a LOT of tires down there .”
Since that’s the case, even a storm cellar in Oklahoma will suffice
I have written on this subject several times. There is no good test of the difference between tubulars and clinchers. The resistance data compares tubulars at low psi 120, no one I know rides tubulars at that low a psi. The aero advantage of tubulars was not looked at except for one article which is posted on wattage and here.
We need someone who has access to 2 sets of wheel exactly the same one in clincher and one in tubular. Test with a power meter at speeds between 40-50km/h using a thin tubular 20-21mm with appropriate thin frame at different psi ei 140-220 versus a clincher at 120psi on same wheelset. Then we will have the answer.
I suspect the pro teams have done this but don’t want to share the data so that they don’t offend sponsors. The best example is the team using tubulars being sponsored my Michelin. I find it hard to believe that clinchers are better in a TT as the Michelin teams should have used their Race2 Pros and won with all the other teams using tubulars. I can’t believe they don’t know this and in a sport where a few seconds matter they would go to great lengths to switch to tires not made by their sponsors when everyone on this forum believes that the Michelin clinchers are the fastest. Do they know something we don’t ? Why hasn’t anyone tried a clincher in a TT or in the flat part of the race for that matter.
