Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed

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2009-07-21 2:58 AM

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Expert
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Subject: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
Did my first Sprint and averaged 19.4mph for a 20k bike.  I have a 2008 Giant OCR C3 XL.  It is all stock.  What would get me the most for my $?  I am thinking 1) Aero Bars and FF seatpost, 2) Clipless Pedals, 3) Aero Helmet, 4) Power Meter, 5) ?,  all in no particular order.

I just started riding in April and I know my engine has 22mph in it with the bike I have.  After that, what is the order of items for speed?

2009-07-21 3:04 AM
in reply to: #2297901

Veteran
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Townsville, Australia
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
gee good speed without clipless pedals.

Im no expert, but I would think clipless pedals with carbon sole shoes and aero bars.. this would get you the increase I reckon. 
2009-07-21 4:57 AM
in reply to: #2297901

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Resident Curmudgeon
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Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
1, Ride. Lots!
2. Clipless pedals.
3. Properly fit bike with good aero position, including
4. Aerobars.
5. Power meter.
6. Aero Helmet
7. Aero wheels
2009-07-21 7:45 AM
in reply to: #2297924

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Expert
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Apex, NC
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
the bear - 2009-07-21 5:57 AM 1, Ride. Lots!
2. Clipless pedals.
3. Properly fit bike with good aero position, including
4. Aerobars.
5. Power meter.
6. Aero Helmet
7. Aero wheels


I agree w/the bear!!
2009-07-21 7:48 AM
in reply to: #2297924

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2009-07-21 8:02 AM
in reply to: #2297901

Coach
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Boston, MA
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
What the bear said, just as a FYI - a power meter won't make you faster; a power meter can help you train more efficiently by providing you with important information and live data, stilll you'll need the ride lots part to get faster.

Riding lots and a power meter (or HR monitor at some degree) will improve the engine which matters the most. The other stuff on your list will help you get marginally faster with the current engine: i.e. bike fit, aero bars, wheels, helmet, lower Crr tires, etc.

2009-07-21 8:07 AM
in reply to: #2297901

Master
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Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
x4....

get clipless pedals today....you'll love the imporvement it will make.....
2009-07-21 8:23 AM
in reply to: #2297901

Expert
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Culpeper, VA
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
Clipless pedals and shoes would be at the top of my list.  I have a similar situation as yours except I have clipless already.  My first upgrade is probably going to be my wheels.  My roadie buddies claim my bike will be almost night and day with a lighter, stiffer, better rolling set of wheels.  Otherwise I'm trying to put in some miles and build up the engine even more.   
2009-07-21 8:30 AM
in reply to: #2298182

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Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
xeon - 2009-07-21 8:23 AM Clipless pedals and shoes would be at the top of my list.  I have a similar situation as yours except I have clipless already.  My first upgrade is probably going to be my wheels.  My roadie buddies claim my bike will be almost night and day with a lighter, stiffer, better rolling set of wheels.  Otherwise I'm trying to put in some miles and build up the engine even more.   


Your buddies are mostly wrong, as roadies tend to be about these matters. In triathlon, aerodynamic trumps lighter, stiffer and (to a reasonable degree) better rolling. The primary key to better aerodynamics is your position on the bike, which in most cases is going to include aerobars. If you haven't accomplished that and are spending money on non-aero wheels you're just, well, spinning your wheels.

There are also studies out there that show that aero helmets give you more bang for the buck than aero wheels.
2009-07-21 8:33 AM
in reply to: #2297901

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Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
I also have a Giant OCR C3.  I used it for several races (sprints to HIM) before I got my TT bike.  Clipless pedals and aerobars are fairly cheap and I thought helped me the most in gaining speed.  I would also look at your tires.  Mine came with 700x25 mich. tires that were not great.  I put on a set of 700x23 Cont. GP4000s and could tell a difference there too.  I would say with those 3 things you should be able to do any race/ride.
2009-07-21 8:36 AM
in reply to: #2297901

Master
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Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed

All the above are great suggestions, but for real:

#1) Ride more
#2) Ride more, with hills
#3) Ride more, with hills, and do sprints

Repeat.

That will trump all purchases made.  But I do agree with the purchases recommended above as good suggestions for speeding up on hardware.

2009-07-21 8:45 AM
in reply to: #2297901

Expert
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Westchester, NY
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed

Along with what everyone else has said, do you have any weight to lose?  You, not  the bike!

The "riding more" will take care of that, but so will other things you can do when not on the bike.  :-)

2009-07-21 8:48 AM
in reply to: #2297924

Champion
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Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
the bear - 2009-07-21 4:57 AM
1, Ride. Lots!
2. Clipless pedals.
3. Properly fit bike with good aero position, including
4. Aerobars.
5. Power meter.
6. Aero Helmet
7. Aero wheels


Times what ever we are up to now...

plus the first three give you a lot of bang for a small outlay of dollars
2009-07-21 8:52 AM
in reply to: #2298265

Regular
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Marlboro, NJ
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
Does it make sense to put clipless pedals and aerobars (and yes a new fitting for the aero position) on halfway through the season or finish the races for the season and then spend the fall& offseason practicing with the new additions?

TIA

Edited by bk broiler 2009-07-21 8:53 AM
2009-07-21 8:55 AM
in reply to: #2298280

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Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
bk broiler - 2009-07-21 8:52 AM Does it make sense to put clipless pedals and aerobars (and yes a new fitting for the aero position) on halfway through the season or finish the races for the season and then spend the fall& offseason practicing with the new additions?

TIA


IMHO the sooner the better. Both have a bit of a learning curve, but nothing a person of average ability can't adapt to in a few weeks. Wouldn't do it the day before, or even the week before a key race, but no reason to wait until season's end.
2009-07-21 8:59 AM
in reply to: #2297924

Expert
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Ontario, Canada
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed

Reordered slightly based on Tri-talk Top 20 analysis.  See that site for many other suggestions that will give you good "bang for the buck".  This is a good article too - Prioritizing your cycling equipment investments.  Someone has already mentioned the importance of tires, frequently neglected item and can make a bigger difference than wheels.

1, Ride. Lots!
2. Clipless pedals.
3. Aerobars
4. Bike Fit
5. Aero Helmet.
6. Power meter
7. Aero wheels

whoops, order edited



Edited by patricia7 2009-07-21 9:02 AM

2009-07-21 1:18 PM
in reply to: #2298212

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Virginia Beach
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
jlpete98 - 2009-07-21 9:33 AM I also have a Giant OCR C3.  I used it for several races (sprints to HIM) before I got my TT bike.  Clipless pedals and aerobars are fairly cheap and I thought helped me the most in gaining speed.  I would also look at your tires.  Mine came with 700x25 mich. tires that were not great.  I put on a set of 700x23 Cont. GP4000s and could tell a difference there too.  I would say with those 3 things you should be able to do any race/ride.


FWIW, my experience: Similar situation --- only 1 Tri but have completed numerous Century rides. I ride a carbon frame OCR w/ Look clipless and aerobars. Used the 700x25 Mich Dynamics for training and Hutchinson Fusion Comp 23s for events. With the change in tires alone, almost immediately I noticed an improvement in rolling resistance.

Edited by Bone Head 2009-07-21 1:24 PM
2009-07-21 1:36 PM
in reply to: #2298212

Expert
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Colorado Springs, Colorado
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
jlpete98 - 2009-07-21 7:33 AM I also have a Giant OCR C3.  I used it for several races (sprints to HIM) before I got my TT bike.  Clipless pedals and aerobars are fairly cheap and I thought helped me the most in gaining speed.  I would also look at your tires.  Mine came with 700x25 mich. tires that were not great.  I put on a set of 700x23 Cont. GP4000s and could tell a difference there too.  I would say with those 3 things you should be able to do any race/ride.


I agree. These 3 things alone will give you a big increase in speed. Plus they are relatively inexpensive compared with aero wheels and a power meter. Get the 3 things mentioned and ride lots to get used to them and you'll likely be very near or maybe exceeding your goal. Add the various other items mentioned and ride even more, and you'll be cranking out some serious speed.
2009-07-21 1:52 PM
in reply to: #2297901

Master
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Franklin, TN
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed

I have an '05 Giant OCR-3 and the 1st thing I did was put clipless pedals on it, off one of my mtn bikes and am still using mtn bike shoes. (SPDs can be so bulletproof!) 2nd modification was 2nd hand aerobars, installed by my LBS and then a professional fit. 3rd thing was a 2nd hand aero helmet. Last week I snagged a wheelbuilder.com disc for less than $100. All this over 2 years and it doesn't add up to too much cabbage.

2009-07-21 2:10 PM
in reply to: #2299235

Extreme Veteran
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Canyon Hills (Lake Elsinore), CA
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed

orange223 - 2009-07-21 12:52 PM

I have an '05 Giant OCR-3 and the 1st thing I did was put clipless pedals on it, off one of my mtn bikes and am still using mtn bike shoes. (SPDs can be so bulletproof!) 2nd modification was 2nd hand aerobars, installed by my LBS and then a professional fit. 3rd thing was a 2nd hand aero helmet. Last week I snagged a wheelbuilder.com disc for less than $100. All this over 2 years and it doesn't add up to too much cabbage.

IMO, this is a pretty solid order to do things if riding a lot more is a given.

2009-07-21 2:12 PM
in reply to: #2297924

Miami,FL
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
the bear - 2009-07-21 5:57 AM 1, Ride. Lots!
2. Clipless pedals.
3. Properly fit bike with good aero position, including
4. Aerobars.
5. Power meter.
6. Aero Helmet
7. Aero wheels

X4!!! Clipless pedals helped me tons and my legs were a lot fresher than when i wore tennis shoes.

2009-07-21 2:19 PM
in reply to: #2299308

Master
2299
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New York
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
I agree, but would change the order.

1. Proper fit
2. Clipless pedals & shoes
3. Aero bars
4. Aero helmet
#5 - tie btw PM or race wheels. If you drop $2k on a PM but never use it, or don't use it properly, or use it a lot, to me it would make more sense to buy wheels.
2009-07-21 10:42 PM
in reply to: #2298290

Littleton, CO
Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
the bear - 2009-07-21 7:55 AM
bk broiler - 2009-07-21 8:52 AM Does it make sense to put clipless pedals and aerobars (and yes a new fitting for the aero position) on halfway through the season or finish the races for the season and then spend the fall& offseason practicing with the new additions?
TIA


IMHO the sooner the better. Both have a bit of a learning curve, but nothing a person of average ability can't adapt to in a few weeks. Wouldn't do it the day before, or even the week before a key race, but no reason to wait until season's end.


+1 on this.  I'd go clipless 1st, aerobar 2nd, then bike fit (asap) - as you want the fit with your shoe/pedal/bar combo.  Especially for a 20k distance, the wheels and helmet won't make enough of a difference until after the engine is tuned.
2009-07-24 11:43 AM
in reply to: #2298303

Member
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Subject: RE: Biggest Bang for the Buck for Bike Speed
patricia7 - 2009-07-21 9:59 AM

Reordered slightly based on Tri-talk Top 20 analysis.  See that site for many other suggestions that will give you good "bang for the buck".  This is a good article too - Prioritizing your cycling equipment investments.  Someone has already mentioned the importance of tires, frequently neglected item and can make a bigger difference than wheels.

1, Ride. Lots!
2. Clipless pedals.
3. Aerobars
4. Bike Fit
5. Aero Helmet.
6. Power meter
7. Aero wheels

whoops, order edited

I don't understand why bike fit is number 4 in that list. It seems to me that without a proper fit, riding lots is gonna be a lot harder to do, and possibly make you more susceptible to a repetitive injury..
2009-07-24 12:33 PM
in reply to: #2305895

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