General Discussion Triathlon Talk » It's the engine Rss Feed  
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2013-08-19 8:19 AM

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Subject: It's the engine
This weekend I did a small sprint tri that I had last done about 5 years ago. The bike is a fairly flat out and back 16 miles. My training this year has been pretty low as I told my family I'd take it easy this year (maybe Ironman next year??). Over the past 5 years I've done 5 HIMs and a handful of Oly. I've also upgraded to tri-bike and aerohelmet.

So, 5 years ago I did the 16 mile bike on my road bike and road helmet in 46 minutes, not spectacular but not too bad. That was with about 1600 miles in my legs year to date. This year I'm lucky if I have 500 miles. On the bike this year I was just over 47 minutes and used the tri-bike and the aerohelmet (as long as I've got it I'll use it). The conditions were very similar, cool with little wind.

So even though I'm in theory more aero my time was that much slower because I am out of bike shape. I know this is just one data point but just a reminder that all the fancy equipment doesn't do anything if you're not training properly.

I have been focusing on running a bit more so I was at least able to PR the 5k at the end!


2013-08-19 11:08 AM
in reply to: burhed

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Subject: RE: It's the engine

Originally posted by burhed This weekend I did a small sprint tri that I had last done about 5 years ago. The bike is a fairly flat out and back 16 miles. My training this year has been pretty low as I told my family I'd take it easy this year (maybe Ironman next year??). Over the past 5 years I've done 5 HIMs and a handful of Oly. I've also upgraded to tri-bike and aerohelmet. So, 5 years ago I did the 16 mile bike on my road bike and road helmet in 46 minutes, not spectacular but not too bad. That was with about 1600 miles in my legs year to date. This year I'm lucky if I have 500 miles. On the bike this year I was just over 47 minutes and used the tri-bike and the aerohelmet (as long as I've got it I'll use it). The conditions were very similar, cool with little wind. So even though I'm in theory more aero my time was that much slower because I am out of bike shape. I know this is just one data point but just a reminder that all the fancy equipment doesn't do anything if you're not training properly. I have been focusing on running a bit more so I was at least able to PR the 5k at the end!

It still does something.  Without it you may have taken 48 mins to complete the ride.  (That's just a convenient number, not saying the equipment was worth a full minute or not).

But you are right, ultimately it's the engine that makes the most difference.

2013-08-19 11:17 AM
in reply to: axteraa

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Subject: RE: It's the engine
in fact aero equiptment makes more of a difference in (absolute) time if you are slower. 
2013-08-19 11:36 AM
in reply to: dmiller5

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Subject: RE: It's the engine
But in Saturday's race, only one person passed me on the bike. She was riding a tri bike, and I was riding a road bike, so it has to be the bike
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