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From: msw@drux3.UUCP (Mike Walpole)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: How To Make Your Bicycle Faster
Message-ID: <1309@drux3.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Jun-85 17:52:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: drux3.1309
Posted: Tue Jun 11 17:52:56 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Jun-85 20:05:07 EDT
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>OK, net.bicyclists, here's the sum of my ten years and
>20,000 miles of cycling experience and five years of
>bicycle shop experience.  These points are in order of
>relative importance.
>
>1) Position, Clothing and Training.

So ya' think equiptment will make ya' fast.  Good equiptment will help
to a point, but the rest has to come from training.

>Next, spend $25 on a "Fit Kit."

This is a good idea if one realizes that the "Fit Kit" will only get
them in the ball park.  Your fit on the bike is a personal thing and
will take some experimentation to get it right.  Alot of racers
including myself change the saddle height 3 to 4 times a year. (We never
move it much though.:-))  The best part of the Kit is cleat adjustment.
If you ride with cleated shoes this will prevent a lot of knee problems.

>Training is important, but riding long distances seems to be less
>effective than a) riding every day and b) riding as hard and as
>fast as you can.

Good.  You're going to make everybody a one speed rider.  To ride really
fast it takes more than just riding as hard as you can everyday.  It takes
a combination of distance work and speed work.  The formula is complex
and varies from rider to rider depending on their physical makeup and
their personal goals.  Here in Colorado their are a lot of bike riders
who can only ride one speed.  (About 20 mph.)  They are almost worthless
to ride with since they can never go fast (25+ mph) or slow (15 mph).
If you ride hard every day then that is what will happen.  Most of the
racers that I know do not ride faster than 18 mph during the week in
the summer, then they race at 25-30 mph on the weekends.

As far as bikes and equiptment consider your needs and go to a good
bike shop.  Read the bicycling magazines.(Bicycling, Winning, Cycling, etc.)
If you want to ride fast there are a lot of good Triathalon - Sport Racing
bikes in the $350 - $700 price range.  This part of the market is really
strong.  Most of these bikes weigh 23-25 lbs and have very good performance.
As far as tires and wheels use reliable equiptment.  It doesn't really
matter if you use clinchers or tubular tires and wheels.  The weight and
reliability is about the same unless you are building exotic racing stuff.
Then tubulars are lighter.

The best advice is to join a club (racing, touring, etc).  If there
is not a club that caters to your interests start one.  If you really
want to go fast find a racing club with a coach that has a good reputation.

Mike Walpole
inhp4!drux1!msw

Olympic coach: "Here Rory wear this aero helmet."
Rory O'Reily:  "Will it help?  I've never worn one before."

Rory O'Reily lost at the Olympics because his aero-dynamic helmet
slipped over his eyes and he could not see.