Help with upgrades for speed?

I'm looking for help and suggestions on component upgrades that will
actually make a difference in *my* riding.

I don't want to get caught in the trap of upgrading just to cut grams
for its own sake. But, I am interested in covering more distance in
the same amount of time. So I the goal here is to increase speed.

Some background on my riding might help....
+ I'm middle aged (when this happened, I don't know)
+ I get in 3 or so 1 hour rides a week with one several hour ride
every 2 weeks.
+ I may get in a century ride a year.
+ I live in New England, so hill climbing and rough roads are facts of
life.

Some background on my current ride might help...
+ Frame: mid 90's Trek Aluminum (1220) with steel forks
+ Components: Shimano RSX (sort of like Sora)
+ Wheels: Matrix rims with 32 spoke (14g)

My current thinking is....
+ More aero friendly front wheel
+ Better efficiency of moving bearings (hubs, bottom bracket, jockey
pulleys) [does this even matter with today's sealed bearings?]

"pinnah" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for help and suggestions on component upgrades that will
actually make a difference in *my* riding.

I don't want to get caught in the trap of upgrading just to cut grams
for its own sake. But, I am interested in covering more distance in
the same amount of time. So I the goal here is to increase speed.

Some background on my riding might help....
+ I'm middle aged (when this happened, I don't know)
+ I get in 3 or so 1 hour rides a week with one several hour ride
every 2 weeks.
+ I may get in a century ride a year.
+ I live in New England, so hill climbing and rough roads are facts of
life.

Some background on my current ride might help...
+ Frame: mid 90's Trek Aluminum (1220) with steel forks
+ Components: Shimano RSX (sort of like Sora)
+ Wheels: Matrix rims with 32 spoke (14g)

My current thinking is....
+ More aero friendly front wheel
+ Better efficiency of moving bearings (hubs, bottom bracket, jockey
pulleys) [does this even matter with today's sealed bearings?]


It's time for a new bike!

As for increasing speed, the new bike will (hopefully) persuade you to spend
more time riding. That, and dropping any excess weight you may be carrying,
will make you faster.

GG

pinnah wrote:
I'm looking for help and suggestions on component upgrades that will
actually make a difference in *my* riding.

I don't want to get caught in the trap of upgrading just to cut grams
for its own sake. But, I am interested in covering more distance in
the same amount of time. So I the goal here is to increase speed.

Some background on my riding might help....
+ I'm middle aged (when this happened, I don't know)
+ I get in 3 or so 1 hour rides a week with one several hour ride
every 2 weeks.
+ I may get in a century ride a year.
+ I live in New England, so hill climbing and rough roads are facts
of
life.

Train for speed. Get one of those training books and try to do some of
the stuff they talk about. Intervals, rest days, etc. Also ride with
the fast people/groups in your area. Its hard to increase your speed
by yourself. Its nice to have someone pushing you. A goal to hang
onto the group when the pace goes beyond your comfort level.


Some background on my current ride might help...
+ Frame: mid 90's Trek Aluminum (1220) with steel forks
+ Components: Shimano RSX (sort of like Sora)
+ Wheels: Matrix rims with 32 spoke (14g)

Irrelevant.


My current thinking is....
+ More aero friendly front wheel
+ Better efficiency of moving bearings (hubs, bottom bracket, jockey
pulleys) [does this even matter with today's sealed bearings?]

Irrelevant.

pinnah wrote:
I'm looking for help and suggestions on component upgrades that will
actually make a difference in *my* riding.

I don't want to get caught in the trap of upgrading just to cut grams
for its own sake. But, I am interested in covering more distance in
the same amount of time. So I the goal here is to increase speed.

Some background on my riding might help....
+ I'm middle aged (when this happened, I don't know)
+ I get in 3 or so 1 hour rides a week with one several hour ride
every 2 weeks.
+ I may get in a century ride a year.
+ I live in New England, so hill climbing and rough roads are facts of
life.

Some background on my current ride might help...
+ Frame: mid 90's Trek Aluminum (1220) with steel forks
+ Components: Shimano RSX (sort of like Sora)
+ Wheels: Matrix rims with 32 spoke (14g)

My current thinking is....
+ More aero friendly front wheel
+ Better efficiency of moving bearings (hubs, bottom bracket, jockey
pulleys) [does this even matter with today's sealed bearings?]
Some suggestions from a guy that's a bit beyond middle-aged and based on
experiences often the hard way.

None of what you're thinking, in and of themselves, will increase your
speed. Speed, in my experiences, comes from 'horsepower' and comfort.

Increasing the output of your engine, through proper nutrition, proper
training/exercises will do more for you than anything you can buy.
Learning/training to go uphill fast, along with learning/training to ride at
higher speeds longer (endurance) will increase the distance you can ride in
a given period of time.

Increasing the comfort of the bike by having your fit scrutinized carefully
to ensure that you can develop the horsepower more easily and that you
remain comfortable and relaxed over the distance you want to ride. Not
having to stop as frequently to stretch, work out the kinks and soreness
will increase the distance you ride in a given period of time.

Basically, in my opinion, it really boils down to effort put out to get the
results that you desire. I ride several thousand miles a year during our six
month or so riding season. Lots of hills and climbs where I live. I've been
passed by guys older than I, riding rattier bikes than mine so I go back and
train/ride harder. You need to be motivated to do it. True story: I was
riding a 50 mile organized ride in Western Montana, pretty hilly country.
I'm chugging up a long hill, thinking about how hard and long the hill was
when I was passed by a fellow that had *two* artificial legs. My wallowing
in self-pity stopped right then and I started thinking about the ultimate
goal of the ride, finish well. I did.

Ride harder during you rides. Ride longer. Make sure that your bike is
fitted to you properly. Eat right and train hard. Wasn't it Greg LeMond that
said: "It doesn't get any easier, you just get faster."?

pinnah wrote in
:
My current thinking is....
+ More aero friendly front wheel
+ Better efficiency of moving bearings (hubs, bottom bracket, jockey
pulleys) [does this even matter with today's sealed bearings?]

What is your average speed? Unless you spend a lot of time above 20mph, aero
wheels aren't going to buy you much. Your best bet is to find ways to make
your bike fit you better.

Also, think about a more aero riding position. Lowering your head a couple of
inches will make a much bigger difference than aero wheels. Of course, the
motor makes a huge difference.

"pinnah" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for help and suggestions on component upgrades that will
actually make a difference in *my* riding.

I don't want to get caught in the trap of upgrading just to cut grams
for its own sake. But, I am interested in covering more distance in
the same amount of time. So I the goal here is to increase speed.

Some background on my riding might help....
+ I'm middle aged (when this happened, I don't know)
+ I get in 3 or so 1 hour rides a week with one several hour ride
every 2 weeks.
+ I may get in a century ride a year.
+ I live in New England, so hill climbing and rough roads are facts of
life.

Some background on my current ride might help...
+ Frame: mid 90's Trek Aluminum (1220) with steel forks
+ Components: Shimano RSX (sort of like Sora)
+ Wheels: Matrix rims with 32 spoke (14g)

My current thinking is....
+ More aero friendly front wheel
+ Better efficiency of moving bearings (hubs, bottom bracket, jockey
pulleys) [does this even matter with today's sealed bearings?]


You didn't say anything about tires. Sounds like a basic ok road bike. If
you have heavy belted "puncture resistant" tires they can slow you down a
lot. If so, try some light weight 700x23 or if you are a large guy, 700x25
racing tires. I love my 700x28 gatorskins for comfort and occasional gravel
but if I want to sustain faster the 700x23 axial pros make an easy couple of
miles per hour difference.
Bill

pinnah wrote:

I get in 3 or so 1 hour rides a week with one
several hour ride every 2 weeks.

That's not much. I don't think the bike is holding you back. What speed
do you average now?

Why do you want to go faster anyway? It sounds like you ride mostly for
fun and fitness. So even if a new bike could suddenly make you 10
percent faster (which I doubt), what would it prove?

Concentrate on riding more often and enjoying it.

Art Harris

pinnah wrote:
I'm looking for help and suggestions on component upgrades that will
actually make a difference in *my* riding.

I don't want to get caught in the trap of upgrading just to cut grams
for its own sake. But, I am interested in covering more distance in
the same amount of time. So I the goal here is to increase speed.

Some background on my current ride might help...
+ Frame: mid 90's Trek Aluminum (1220) with steel forks
+ Components: Shimano RSX (sort of like Sora)
+ Wheels: Matrix rims with 32 spoke (14g)

My current thinking is....
+ More aero friendly front wheel
+ Better efficiency of moving bearings (hubs, bottom bracket, jockey
pulleys) [does this even matter with today's sealed bearings?]

Pinnah,
I have had only steel bikes until recently when I picked up your
exact same bike just to try it out. I hate it. Get rid of that
thing asap. It is not slowing you down - it is plenty fast enough.
It is just uncomfortable. The geometry is okay but the ride is
terrible. Get yourself a nice used lugged steel frame bike from
the same time period and riding will be much more pleasant.

Also:
Trek 1200 for sale - 14 speed w/downtube shifters
Mid-90s Aluminum with steel forks
Full RX-100 component group including dual pivot brakes
matrix rims with conti gatorskins
very few scratches - looks almost new - white/perl
$250 + shipping or local pickup in sf bay area

cheers,
Doug

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 18:02:46 GMT, "Bill"
wrote:

[snip]

You didn't say anything about tires. Sounds like a basic ok road bike. If
you have heavy belted "puncture resistant" tires they can slow you down a
lot. If so, try some light weight 700x23 or if you are a large guy, 700x25
racing tires. I love my 700x28 gatorskins for comfort and occasional gravel
but if I want to sustain faster the 700x23 axial pros make an easy couple of
miles per hour difference.
Bill

Dear Bill,

Oh, what a beautiful morning . . .

http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

Hands-on-tops, two narrow-racing-tires, 233 watts . . .

20.0 mph

Let's try two robust-wide-touring-tires 233 watts . . .

18.9 mph, -1.1 mph.

Nice calculator--it even changes the frontal area to show
the fatter tires.

Do it all again with 350 watts for faster fellows . . .

Hands-on-tops, pair of narrow-racing-tires, 350 watts . . .

23.3 mph.

Two robust-wide-touring-tires, 350 watts . . .

22.0 mph, -1.3 mph.

Carl Fogel

"Art Harris" wrote:
Why do you want to go faster anyway? It sounds like you ride mostly for
fun and fitness. So even if a new bike could suddenly make you 10
percent faster (which I doubt), what would it prove?

Good question... with 2 answers.

Perhaps most fundementally, I'm trying to understand what difference,
if any, higher quality components would make for me. I am very
convinced that weight of the bike, in and of itself, doesn't mean
anything to me. I can think of only4 ways they might help
performance:
+ Increased speed
+ Increased durability
+ Better performance e.g. shifting, braking, etc
+ More comfort e.g. STI vs barcons, clipless versus toe straps

I've heard some claim that the cleaner inner workings of the Campy
freewheel/cassetts were so dramatic in limiting energy waste that they
allowed riders to ride one gear higher. Now, I don't put much credit
in that sort of claim, but this is the sort of stuff I'm looking for.
Do better bearings tranlate into detectable increases in speed? Do
aero front wheels?

If not, then I'll be more at peace with keeping with current level of
quality that I'm riding. The stuff is certainly durable enough
(except for the STI shifters long since replaced with barcons).

Concentrate on riding more often and enjoying it.

Well, yes. There is that!