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Continuing the story that equipment is the major contributor to improvement in sports. This is from a CyclingNews article where the same rider is tested in a controlled manner with pro level bikes from 1989 to 2023. In the article, aero and weight are attributed to all of the gains, but I suspect that stiffness was also a large contributor. Link to article
From the article:
Bikes are faster now, we all know that intuitively. The result of the constant arms race to squeeze every last watt out of the UCI regulations means we’re constantly treated to “The fastest Roubaix ever” year on year.
Yes, the riders also have better coaching, better strength and conditioning, and better diets too, but there’s no denying that the hyperfixation on wattage at an industrial scale has left us with bikes nowadays that are markedly more speedy than what you’d see in the Colnago archives from decades past.
How much faster, though? Well, Bahrain Victorious took Paris-Roubaix winner, and sadly recent retiree thanks to a heart condition, Sonny Colbrelli out onto the road armed with four bikes from different decades to see how much faster the best road bikes have become. On test were a thoroughly modern 2023 Merida Scultura, a 2013 Pinarello Dogma 65.1, a 2003 Cannondale Six13, and a Carrera Podium from 1989, all pitted against one another multiple times in controlled conditions both on the flat and uphill.
That is interesting. I have a Six13 (in storage) and it never felt as fast on the flats as the bike it replaced. But it did feel better climbing (IIRC) I bought it new in 05, and did not have any power data to back up my "feel" back then.
This is not my transmitter, although I did have this exact experience once, about 23 years ago. Blew the main fuse on the building, and caused some pretty serious carnage to the inside of the transmitter.
05-24-2023, 10:59 AM
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