huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 05/10/2023 01:30 PM |
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This Winter had me on the indoor trainer much more than usual - 60 rides of 90+ minutes over 3 months with a handful of outdoor rides when it wasn't snowing, raining or generally miserable.
I don't know why I hadn't figured this out much earlier, would have saved me a lot of fatigue and time. It happened by accident, but makes perfect sense, as I'm sure the resident aero expert, CK, could attest...
With my water bottle empty and nearing the end of the session, I dropped it to the floor, and IMMEDIATELY noticed a decrease in resistance and an increase in my speed - so much faster without the aero drag of the bottle. To test my theory further I got rid of the handlebar bag-- Holy crap! Another vast increase in speed.
Was able to finish my sprint and tempo session from 4 to 6 seconds on the thirty second sprints, and almost a minute on my 8-minute intervals. Crazy!
I hadn't realized with my fan on high that I was fighting the wind so much on previous indoor training sessions.
My only problem now is hydration and bike storage - thinking of a Camelbak. Any suggestions for the most aero hydration pack?
Thanks!
Chris |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/12/2023 04:29 PM |
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| I would recommend a garden hose hookup to the nearest tap. This also avoids the need to pull up the support car next to trainer for a refill on longer rides. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 05/13/2023 10:55 AM |
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| I’m thinking the hose will create too much drag when I grab onto it - perhaps I could suspend it from the ceiling: independent of me and my bike; but for now I’m going with a one liter bottle in the rear center jersey pocket - I might not even drink from it so as to not disrupt the aerodynamic flow, and just have my wife hand me cups of water when I’m thirsty. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 05/13/2023 07:45 PM |
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Posted By christopher behrens on 05/13/2023 10:55 AM
I’m thinking the hose will create too much drag when I grab onto it - perhaps I could suspend it from the ceiling: independent of me and my bike; but for now I’m going with a one liter bottle in the rear center jersey pocket - I might not even drink from it so as to not disrupt the aerodynamic flow, and just have my wife hand me cups of water when I’m thirsty.
Careful. There was that crash on the velodrome not too long ago when a rider got that handup and spilled. Probably just road rash here but we don't want hear of Huckleberry going to the ER for a drink of water. (Though the good thing is no WB to run over. Keep it in your pocket. Should help a little on aerodynamics.)
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/13/2023 10:03 PM |
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| Isn’t that board rash when you crash on a velodrome? And if Huck crashes on rollers it would presumably be carpet burn. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 05/14/2023 08:21 AM |
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| Tile burn. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 05/14/2023 08:33 AM |
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| An interesting question out of OC's statement - I'd not considered this in the equation: What type of trainer is the most aerodynamic? Rollers, old-style trainers, the new wheelless? Crud. I may have to reassess. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/14/2023 08:23 PM |
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| Have you considered pointing the fan on your rear end from behind so as not having to deal with these aero headaches and get a tailwind push? Think outside the box. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 05/14/2023 09:27 PM |
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The thing that I wonder - that hose water feed. Awfully tempting to hang on and get an illegal tow. UCI might get on it, come to your house and disqualify you.
And yeah, you can play tricks. Just hold that hose with your teeth. Your dentist won't approve but it might take years for UCI to notice. (If we see Huck's teeth protruding like that thumb sucking poor kid who cannot get braces, well, we'll know.)
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 05/15/2023 08:50 AM |
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| Wow! A gosh darn Brain Trust! Great suggestions all around... I do get sweaty on my tush, so it wouldn't be cheating, more like a TUE. And I'm already bucktoothed and can't afford a dentist anymore - so whose gonna notice. I mean, the cat won't even look at me, much less the wife nor my fellow trailerpark neighbors. |
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jookey
Posts:200
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| 05/16/2023 05:55 AM |
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| Wheel off smart trainers are fastest. It lightens the bike. Also w/o rear wheel, more aero. Win/win. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 05/16/2023 11:23 AM |
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| I'm about to try what I think will be the ultimate: grade trumps aerodynamics! Setting the trainer end of my setup on the fourth step up from the lower landing - don't worry, I put an eye hook behind in the wall and tied a rope from there to my seatpost to keep the trainer from sliding down the carpeted stairs... It's all DOWNHILL, baby!!! I'll keep you posted on my results. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 05/17/2023 02:56 PM |
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...wankers...
My bike/ trainer is in the back of my pickup so my wife can drive me around.
I own every Strava segment in a five county area. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 05/17/2023 03:49 PM |
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| Doper. |
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