Today's equipment does make a small difference. The clip on bars give a rider1 to 2 mph faster ride with the added aero benefit. Other aero equipment, rims, spokes,and weight are all contributing factors which give incremental time reduction. If you get in a paceline here with clipons,you might get told to get out, riders don't trust that a rider will not drop into his aeros and not be able to control bike properly at speeds of 25 - 30 mph. In case of a spill it's another two prong hazard to fall onto. That's why they are not allowed in mass start races. TT only. It is also correct that better nutrition, specialized training methods, lighter aero equipment that works more efficiently than the good ould stuff does make the peloton faster. We can see that the riders now are going so fast they are maximizing the speed many courses will handle.If you're dumb and want to pass at the wrong time, you will fly off the course and hopefully not take anyone else down. In addition to harassing the CR, I still do position analysis and fitting of road, track, triathlon,and also mountain bikes. Bike specification re: components and equipment also come into what I do at my old shop part time by appointment only. It's something we (I) have been doing for a long time so I have a fair handle on objective reality in this area. Doping has been done for generations, hopefully they will be able to eliminate it more and more,so that is not a factor. The riders themselves have not had much of a physical change these last 100 years, so all things being equal, old time riders in today's situation would be just as good. How about some of you other experienced guy/gals chiming in with some additional insights. Ted Ernst Palos Verdes Estates, CA
> This subject is tired old stuff in other less friendly groups, but I am
> interested in hearing it aired in a proper venue. A couple of days ago, at
> the bike shop a triathelete came up to me, recognizing my position of
> issues of steel and lugs and dt shifters and such. He said that classic
> handlebars are great but that when he switched to triathalon bars like we
> used to call Scott bars in days of yore, he gained 2 to 3 km hour in his
> time. I responded that a low position with bent elbows must be almost as
> good at cheating the wind, but he said that the "elbows-in" position and
> with energy conservation of not having to support the body that the tri
> bars are vastly superior, in all areas but stability and manoeverability.
> Two to three km per hour seems optimistic to me, plus the bars seem
> hideous and dangerous.
>
> Next, I was psychologically accosted by one of the wrenches who said that
> modern technology has speeded up the pelaton. I said that I thought that
> what speeded up the pelaton was the use of drugs, and improved training
> methods. I can't see how the loss of 2 pounds of bike nor the convenience
> of brifters could possibly improve the biker performance more than
> infinitesimally. I have ridden a modern bike and feel that nothing other
> than shifting ease is an improvement, and in a crit race, I could see a
> definite advantage of brifters, however small. Some track racers still
> prefer toe clips with double straps over clipless. And many track racers
> seem to prefer steel over aluminum or fiber stuff. Have we reached a point
> in bike technology where nothing is an improvement only a difference?
>
> Garth Libre in Miami Florida