| cheapbag214s |
|
|
| |
| Joined: 27 Jun 2013 |
| Posts: 20570 |
Read: 0 topics
Warns: 0/5
|
| Location: England |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
How can I increase my speed on my hybrid bike
I have a Specialized hybrid bike,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and when I'm out biking with friends who are on road bikes, I'm always lagging behind. Besides just plain getting better at biking,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], which of the following would make the biggest difference in increasing my speed?
Switch to clipless pedals,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. Right now I'm just on platform pedals with sneakers,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych].
It really depends on how you're lagging. If it's because of feeling tired keeping up with them then reducing friction might be an option. I'd suggest that the most likely reason for lagging behind is that there is a fundamental speed difference though,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. See whether you're having to pedal faster than them to keep up,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych].
Your top speed is governed by your cogs. Take a look the number of teeth on the front and back. If you have a 13 tooth smallest cog on the back you could get that cassette replaced with one that starts at 11 teeth. Up front you're probably running a 46 tooth chainset whereas your road bike friends are probably running 50 teeth. Again,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], you can replace that if you fancy it. Just be careful if you do make it faster that you don't lose the low end you want for getting up hills. You should be able to get quite a decent range with the right set of cogs.
Reduced drag from narrower tires may reduce the friction allowing you to accelerate more easily and maintain speed better but won't affect your top speed appreciably.
Clipless pedals may allow you to improve your efficiency with pedalling. I would only look at these when I was happy with a bike though,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], rather than as a solution to a problem like that.
Update: Based on zenbike's comment I'd say the switching to a road bike warrants more consideration,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. Assuming it is the gears he's right that a hybrid may well be difficult to alter to run the gear ratio you want to keep up with your friends. When thinking of getting a new bike take a look at how similar it is to the ones your friends ride. Simply getting a cheap heavy one if they have light racers may well leave you with a similar problem,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych].
If 2 bikes have the same gear ratio but one is heavier it will be able to go as fast,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but it'll be more effort to get it up to speed, and a little more effort to cruise at the same speed. It's less of a problem than not having the right ratio,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but you'll probably find your self lagging a little at first.
1) The weight of the bike. Road bikes tend to weigh less than a hybrid. There is a reason roadies are sometimes overly concerned with the weight of the bike
2) The type of tire. Are you running slicks or heavily treaded tires? Slicks will roll easier on roads. Again,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], the weight of the tire matters,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and wider tires are typically heavier than skinnier tires. However,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], 28's don't seem overly huge. You could try switching down to some slick 700x25c tires next time you're due for a replacement set of tires
3) The gearing of the bike. Road bikes tend to have a narrower range of gears, leaning towards smaller cogs in the rear than hybrids. They may also have more speeds on the rear cassette,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], which allow for more steps within the range of gears. Often, hybrids may have 7-8 speeds vs 9-10 on new road bikes. You could possibly swap out your existing cassette with a road bike cassette with same number of speeds (like an 8-speed 11-28 cassette instead of say an 8-speed 12-34 cassette).
4) Foot retention matters. Clipless may increase your pedaling performance,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but a cheaper route could be to start off with a set of cages and straps or get some FRS straps like hold fasts or burro straps. I found this to be a big help when powering up hills and feeling more connected to my bike.
If you're really considering changing the gearing, you may just want to try out a new road bike due to the weight, geometry,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and drive-train differences. It might be that you're just outgrowing this bike and moving towards a more specialized road bike, more suited to your primary riding style.
If you want to stick with your roadie mates, ultimately you'll need to switch to a road bike. All of the issues you raised affect your ability to stick with them, and getting sorted with a good road bike will address each of them.
Basically, road bikes use the wattage you're outputting more efficiently,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], they allow you to be more aerodynamic, and they're lighter. The faster you go,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], the more important each of these are.
You can get marginal gains from modifying your commuter, but I recommend planning for a road bike. Keep your hybrid for commuting and your road bike the real riding. You'll enjoy your time on the bike far more.
相关的主题文章：
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] |
|
