Professional Cycling - Lance's Back Wheel...

Can someone explain to me why Lance didn't have a solid back wheel in today's time trial when everyone else does? Does Lance know something everyone else doesn't?

Can someone explain to me why Lance didn't have a solid back wheel in today's time trial when everyone else does? Does Lance know something everyone else doesn't?

IMO it looks like he was using a pair of HED 3's. The 3 is lighter than the disk. This TT was more climbs/rollers than any Tour TT in the past. George Hincape also was not running disks but some very deep profile rim spoked wheels. Most of what is used is determined by windtunnel testing and weight vs. aerodynamics. Possibly this stage profile may have dictated a compromise between weight and aerodynamics.

Yes, they commented on this issue specifically. It was thought, before he started, that crosswinds might become an issue, so they swapped out the solid back wheel. No big mystery.

I thought the commentators mentioned something about agility?

yeah thats what i heard.... he switched it out cause of its better agility in corners

This from Chris Carmichael:

"Some people have asked why Lance and the Discovery Channel team chose to ride Hed 3 wheels instead of rear discs, and it was because of the climbs and the technical descents. It was important to have wheels that were aerodynamic for the flat and downhill portions of the course, that could accelerate quickly out of the tight corners, and that were reasonably light for the climbs. Discs are great for flat or gently rolling time trials, but for going up and down harder climbs and twisting descents, the Hed 3s were the better choice."

This from Chris Carmichael:

"Some people have asked why Lance and the Discovery Channel team chose to ride Hed 3 wheels instead of rear discs, and it was because of the climbs and the technical descents. It was important to have wheels that were aerodynamic for the flat and downhill portions of the course, that could accelerate quickly out of the tight corners, and that were reasonably light for the climbs. Discs are great for flat or gently rolling time trials, but for going up and down harder climbs and twisting descents, the Hed 3s were the better choice."
i was just going to post that.

i was just going to post that.

Sweet, I won the posting sprint!

I thought the commentators mentioned something about agility?

You're right. I watched it again and I guess I was dozing when they did the explanation. It's not easy when you get old. At least I remembered that they discussed it ;-) I am pretty sure that it's been discussed in the past that the solid wheels would not be used on days that there were bad cross winds.

Discs literally act like a sail in crosswinds.. The discs are heavy and hence more load to carry up a hill where the speed is not high enough to get a flywheel sorta effect.. Am I completely of base here... Skydive??

So...a related question...why the Hed 3 and not a Deep rimmed wheel (mb 60 or 90 mm)? I thought for the whole stage they were riding deep rimmed heds untill the after the tt when I saw LA going slowly on his bike. What advantages does the trispoke have since I remember reading Hed's stuff on the advantages of deep rims being very close to discs.

So...a related question...why the Hed 3 and not a Deep rimmed wheel (mb 60 or 90 mm)? I thought for the whole stage they were riding deep rimmed heds untill the after the tt when I saw LA going slowly on his bike. What advantages does the trispoke have since I remember reading Hed's stuff on the advantages of deep rims being very close to discs.
Weight savings??? Lesser turbulence generated?

i think the 3 blades have lower cumulative resistance then 16-20 spokes would.

it would be interesting how Basso would have done if he didn't have the solid wheels in the back. It seemed like he was having agility problems in the middle section of the course. But then again, he may just not have had enough in the tank, and expended too much energy in the beginning, like Paul and Phil were saying.

it would be interesting how Basso would have done if he didn't have the solid wheels in the back. It seemed like he was having agility problems in the middle section of the course. But then again, he may just not have had enough in the tank, and expended too much energy in the beginning, like Paul and Phil were saying.

It appears both were at issue. Downhill he was clearly cautious, and he was struggling uphill. Given his forward and backward margins in the GC, there probably was not much point in risking a fall on a high speed treacherous portion of the TT.

Lance's bike looked like it was set up much better for the course overall.... He hammered it and was carving up curves with his TTX while others were handling like they had steel hoops on pavement rather than rubber. :p

you can bet with Lance's fanatical prep for this race that they A) had rode this TT both ways and knew the Hed to be faster or B) inputted the info into a computer and knew it would be faster. people don't give Lance and his team enough credit for the hard work and prep.

you can bet with Lance's fanatical prep for this race that they A) had rode this TT both ways and knew the Hed to be faster or B) inputted the info into a computer and knew it would be faster. people don't give Lance and his team enough credit for the hard work and prep.


Exactly right... :)

It was written that Carmichael stated when bulding the team that they want to to go and get the best and the brightest. So they retained or added top notch physical therapist, coaches, aerodynamic and biomechanical specialists. Lances team was nick named the "F1 Consortium" for they had the skills, talents, depth, sports science & engineering typical of modern day Formula 1 racing teams. Anchoring this "F1 Consortium" was Trek, Nike and Giro, no doubt his bike would have been tuned ;)

Lance stated it on the podium, he had the best support team around.