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stu wrote:I've asked Conti about offering the GP5000 in larger sizes - I think they'd have a real winner. So far no reply.
Volsung wrote:Do you have cadence data for these climbs?
[[No unfortunately not. But waaayyy higher on steep grades. I'm never out of the saddle on extended climbs anymore. Of course no different when I'm not needing the tallest gears - 5% for example; either bike would be the same in that case]]
All your reasons for riding a gravel bike are the reasons I ride my gravel bike, but also my gravel bike has an extra bottle cage (which is necessary because I sweat like a mf'r) and I can hit post winter sand pits without poopin' my bibs. Can't put a price on that.
geofharries wrote:I recognize this is a gravel website, but I have a road tire question for a road bike, on paved but rough roads (chip seal for lots of it).
I bring this up because Mark_S and I are about the same size, and I've never been able to get an educated answer to this question.
My road bike accepts a max of 28mm tires. I use Bontrager AW2 Hard-Case Lite tires, set up tubeless. My carbon rims are 19.4mm inner width and an outer width of 23mm.
Old habits die hard, so I typically run 100 PSI on the rear and 90 PSI front.
I've seen the Enve tire pressure table and it says I should run 76 PSI.
Does that seem right?
Mark_S wrote:The topic of gearing related to the low end - the question is whether higher cadence is slower. It seems it may be. But I am guessing that tire drag accounts for most of the performance difference, and gearing, bike weight and body position to a lesser extent. This is just about road performance - taking it all in: comfort, versatility, fun factor, reliability, less risk of a crash, etc., I'd never go back to a road bike for the riding I do, even though it's road-biased. 0.95 probability I'm riding solo and speed is relative; my obsession at the moment relates to an upcoming 10hr event with a partner who is 50lbs lighter, 10 years younger and rides a high end roadie. But its the Alps and I supposed he can just leave me to enjoy the scenery.
Regarding cadence it is a multi variable with no easy answer, but from what I remember, at least for a Type 1 person, optimum cadence (efficiency) is a function of power, with higher power requirements being more efficient (actually delta efficient) at higher cadences. However; I am talking about 80-85 rpm at higher power, not 90 to 100 rpm or even more. At lower powers, lower a lower cadence seems to be best. I need to find a paper that uses specific performance data, other than esoterics like gross efficiently, delta efficiency, cost of oxygen couple...
Now, and right now I am only talking about myself. At higher powers say 90% of my "Functional Threshold Power" my cadence is always the same, with grade having no effect whatsoever, always being 80-85 rpm. At lower power, I do cycle at a lower cadence.
One last comment. For the most part, avoid any "observational conclusions" drawn from professional cyclists. Save for one: Jan Ullrich. His pedaling style was elegant and efficient.
About going fast up hill -- never get out of the saddle.
Volsung wrote:The only reasons I keep my road bike is it's a Bianchi and I like the color. It's probably not 15% faster than my carbon gravel bike.
Know that feeling my friend. Bianchi’s are great enough to fall in love with!
Mark_S wrote:Yes, I learned it the hard way! Crashed the Roubaix taking a shortcut on a path with deep gravel. Broke my hand and four ribs. Sold the Roubaix and ordered the Grade while convalescing.
I realize all things are not entirely equal apart from the difference in tires. The Grade is geared differently. The (modified) low gearing is 32x40 (=0.8). For the Roubaix it was 34x30 (=1.13). Perhaps the higher cadence is a factor somehow?
Heart rate is about the same in each grouping.
These types of accidents are actually pretty rough. I fractured my two ankles while riding a Bianchi, and it was harmful enough to stop biking for months.
Jumbo wrote:I don't have the exact data, but my rides off-pavement are roughly 13% slower than my rides on pavement, with the same tires (Conti Terra Speed), so right in your ballpark. If I swap to road tires (Conti GP5000) on the same bike, I get about another 4% in speed on pavement (so 17% faster than gravel tires on gravel).
This is the exact number on my case! However, I heard that these types of percentages can dramatically change when using bigger tires, especially the Clement X'PL or MSO.
ironman3 wrote:
This is the exact number on my case! However, I heard that these types of percentages can dramatically change when using bigger tires, especially the Clement X'PL or MSO.
Turbogrover wrote:... I used to run 25mm contis at 100 psi, but the roads here were beating me up with that combo, so I switched to 28mm contis at 80 psi and it really works for me now.Have you tried 32 mm Contis at 65 psi (if they'll fit your frame)?
stu wrote:Have you tried 32 mm Contis at 65 psi (if they'll fit your frame)?
