Re: [CR]Are classic wheels somehow slower or substantially slower?

(Example: Component Manufacturers)

Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 13:34:30 -0800
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Are classic wheels somehow slower or substantially slower?
References: <96bf90ec5b8ab5ff2db731639a702e53@earthlink.net>


Bianca Pratorius wrote:
>
> (cut) My instinct is that all this modern technology is faster
> on some measurable level, but when push comes to shove, short of an
> aero helmet, a skin suit, tri-bars, and disk wheels the pay off is tiny
> for mild aero section wheels, sleek brake levers. aero brake levers and
> blade like seat posts. Also, those clunky aero wheels end up looking
> slower visually.

The bicycle had reached its idealized form in the 1890s so any improvements over the last 100+ years have been thousands of very small improvements. Check the times for the hour record over the same period and you'll see what I mean. But these seemingly insignificant improvements _always_ add up and there is no point in giving away an advantage when the amount of power you are dealing with for propulsion is so absurdly low.

But all this drifts towards subjects that are off topic in the end...

Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California

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