|
|
|
|
| Author |
|
|
drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
|
54-11: can you spin that?
A typical time trial bicycle used in the Tour de France.
 These guys are using 54-11 gearing on these TTs; gearing which I have never even seen at my LBS (Local Bike Shop). They are, in fact, spinning at 54-11, hitting around 50 mph in the Stage 4 time trial. Oh yeah, and they're wearing spandex while doing so. Supermen, no doubt.
__________________
The Terror of Tiny Town |
||
07-08-2008, 09:55 PM
|
|
|
Information Junky
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: an island, upper left coast, USA
Posts: 73,189
|
especially impressive as there are no pedals on that bike... serious big-toe strength.
__________________
Everyone you meet knows something you don't. - - - and a whole bunch of crap that is wrong. Disclaimer: the above was 2˘ worth. More information is available as my professional opinion, which is provided for an exorbitant fee. 
|
||
|
07-08-2008, 10:04 PM
|
|
|
drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
|
Few, if any, performance bikes come with pedals, as they are a personal choice dependent on the rider.
If you want pedals, let me suggest buying a bicycle at Wal Mart.
__________________
The Terror of Tiny Town |
||
|
07-08-2008, 10:12 PM
|
|
|
Monkey with a mouse
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,006
|
Does the shoe hook into the crank?
I know almost nothing about this subject, but am capable of pushing pedals. 
|
||
|
07-08-2008, 10:36 PM
|
|
|
Registered
|
I'm curious why the rear spokes are covered but not the front. I assume there has been some wind tunnel work.
What does a competive machine for the Tour cost these days? Jim
__________________
down to jap bikes that run and a dead Norton |
||
|
07-09-2008, 03:05 AM
|
|
|
Moderator
|
Quote:
Pedals are like ski bindings, some are step in like "rat traps" some are clip in, many different ways to do the same thing.
__________________
Bill Verburg '76 Carrera 3.6RS(nee C3/hotrod), '95 993RS/CS(clone) | Pelican Home |Rennlist Wheels |Rennlist Brakes | |
||
|
07-09-2008, 04:01 AM
|
|
|
Unconstitutional Patriot
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: volunteer state
Posts: 5,620
|
Producing 400+ watts for over an hour. That's easy.
I think some of these guys are freaks and others are still using go-go juice. |
||
|
07-09-2008, 04:13 AM
|
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
|
Quote:
He is not normal and we still sometimes wonder if he is really human...
__________________
2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
||
|
07-09-2008, 04:23 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
My nephew is currenly big into this stuff. He was first in the state of Tennessee in his age group (15-19, I believe), but I think he has slipped to second. He just bought some carbon fiber wheels that only weigh 1400 grams, IIRC. I thought Porsche owners were into weigth reduction...
__________________
Mike 1976 Euro 911 3.2 w/10.3 compression & SSIs 22/29 torsions, 22/22 adjustable sways, Carrera brakes |
||
|
07-09-2008, 04:58 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Usa
Posts: 5,573
|
The only place I usually see gearing like that is on a road tandem - and it's passing me very very quickly!
Nobody is as much of a weight freak as a cyclist. Nobody - not even Porsche dudes. $$$$ money spent losing grams. Not pounds - GRAMS! angela
__________________
Hello http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1102514-we-lost-amazing-woman-yesterday.html |
||
|
07-09-2008, 05:08 AM
|
|
|
Occam's Razor
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Lake Jackson, TX
Posts: 2,663
|
The technology is so advanced these days. I saw a special on Lance Armstrong - Team Armstong - and they were doing wind tunnel experiments where they varied the roughness on different parts of his racing suit to gain MPH!
Turns out the suit needs to be smooth in some areas, and rough in others (I'm talking about on the outside, ha ha).
__________________
Craig '82 930, '16 Ram, '17 F150 |
||
|
07-09-2008, 05:16 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: outta here
Posts: 53,351
|
When I was in college I could hit a little over 40 mph with the 53/14 gearing that was on my bike. Of course, the problem was keeping it up for more than a few hundred yards. No way could I do what those guys do.
JR |
||
|
07-09-2008, 05:26 AM
|
|
|
|
Dog-faced pony soldier
|
400W is insane output.
54-11 is VERY tall. I could probably spin it, but it would take some doing to get it up to speed and at a typical cadence. I could probably sustain it on flat ground for a while, but on inclines - even little ones, I imagine it'd be damn near impossible. The tallest gearing on my Pinarello is 53-15 I think, and that's pretty tough to keep spun up. The world-class guys are simply amazing.
__________________
A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
||
|
07-09-2008, 06:14 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Quote:
__________________
Steve Sapere aude 1983 3.4L 911SC turbo. Sold |
||
|
07-09-2008, 06:23 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: IL
Posts: 1,638
|
Quote:
|
||
|
07-09-2008, 06:39 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: France
Posts: 4,596
|
I routinely spin a 54 -11 gear on my bike. Although I ride exclusively down a vertical mineshaft in a near vacuum, I find it not too hard to do. Sometimes I even approach terminal velocity.
As a hobby I like to build LW bits for bikes. Laneco is correct; no wheeled sport is more weight obsessive than competitive bicycle road racing.
__________________
Who Dares, Wins! |
||
|
07-09-2008, 08:31 AM
|
|
the stable a few years ago
2013 
1976 Porsche Carrera 3.0
1995 Porsche 993 Carrera Coupe
1976 Porsche 911
1983 Porsche 911SC
