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#26
Seat Sniffer
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The biggest difference is likely the gearing.
To check that, ride your C-dale in the same gear as your fixie and check out the speed difference. If there is any, that difference may be from a combination of:
1. Aerodynamics
2. Pedaling technique
3. Bike weight (depending on hills)
4. Tires/Pressure
5. Riding position
Day to day, weather patterns (air density, headwinds, etc.) can have a huge impact on your speed. That's one of the reasons I don't even have a speedo on my commuting bike. Who cares?
To check that, ride your C-dale in the same gear as your fixie and check out the speed difference. If there is any, that difference may be from a combination of:
1. Aerodynamics
2. Pedaling technique
3. Bike weight (depending on hills)
4. Tires/Pressure
5. Riding position
Day to day, weather patterns (air density, headwinds, etc.) can have a huge impact on your speed. That's one of the reasons I don't even have a speedo on my commuting bike. Who cares?
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#27
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#28
Senior Member
#30
Senior Member
.
Speedo also makes bibs, one piece wimmins suits and bike-short-length guys suits, not just banana-hammock butt-floss micros for guys... Just sayin...
And yes, I wore speedos - back when I was on my high school swim team almost 40 years ago. Now? Not a chance in he11 are you gonna catch me in spandex in public!!! When I ride any long distances (more than 20 miles), I wear my chamois-lined spandex cycling shorts under my hiking shorts! Easier to carry my house keys, cell phone and, most importantly, wallet that way. Why most important? In case I stop for PIE. This is the 50-plus forum, no?
And yes, I wore speedos - back when I was on my high school swim team almost 40 years ago. Now? Not a chance in he11 are you gonna catch me in spandex in public!!! When I ride any long distances (more than 20 miles), I wear my chamois-lined spandex cycling shorts under my hiking shorts! Easier to carry my house keys, cell phone and, most importantly, wallet that way. Why most important? In case I stop for PIE. This is the 50-plus forum, no?
#31
Senior Member
I wears me speedo at all times on the bike. I'm fat, and too old to care what others think.
#32
Senior Member
Back to the OP's question - weight and tires/pressure. If I have my tires inflated even 10psi lower, I feel it!!! That's why I ride 100+psi rear/90psi front, and checked/filled before first setting out every day!
#33
Senior Member
#34
Senior Member
You know, I'd probably buy a Team MAMIL racing jersey if it were available.
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#36
Senior Member
#39
Senior Member
#40
Chainline, it's simple perfection on a properly built-up fixed-gear. The chainline is rarely straight on a geared bike plus all that play and loopty-loop on a geared bike is just plain inefficient waste
Actually, I wasn't really saying that the efficiency is noticeable, or has much to do with OP's 1 mph difference. There are a bazillion factors when comparing two bicycles and a riders interaction with each, not the least of which is whats going on in the riders head.
Actually, I wasn't really saying that the efficiency is noticeable, or has much to do with OP's 1 mph difference. There are a bazillion factors when comparing two bicycles and a riders interaction with each, not the least of which is whats going on in the riders head.
#43
Senior Member
#44
Senior Member
#46
Dharma Dog
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Under certain conditions, riding a fixie (defined as a fixed-gear bicycle, rather than single speed) can be more efficient than a geared bike and therefore faster over a given course. Here's why:
1. The chainline on a fixie is more efficient, so less resistance to pedaling forces. No slanted chain angle, no jockey pulleys to move. Indeed, the first derailleur systems devised tried as much as possible to maintain the direct chain run to the cog just because it was more efficient.
2. You don't have to pedal over top dead center on a fixie; the rear cog does that for you. TDC is the "dead" spot in the pedal revolution. Getting your pedal over tdc 90 times per minute for each crank on a one-hour ride can be relatively more taxing.
3. Up to a certain grade, a fixie can actually be faster than a geared bike on a climb just because it happens to be geared more optimally for that grade. As long as the route doesn't exceed that optimal grade for the fixie's gear, the fixie could be faster because on a geared bike, you could be shifting down to a suboptimal gear for that grade.
4. The temptation for most riders is to overgear. This causes the bike to "bog down," but most riders will refuse to admit this. Bogging down leads to lower speeds and an earlier onset of tiredness. On my fixie, I still feel fresh at 100 miles just because I haven't been able to gear up. I don't feel as fresh on a geared bike, but then I might have got to 100 miles faster because I was in a bigger gear and not bogging down, but pushing it, rather than spinning it.
5. And a very minor point: on a fixie, you're not carrying two useless derailleurs and an 11-speed cog, plus extra shifters.
Luis
1. The chainline on a fixie is more efficient, so less resistance to pedaling forces. No slanted chain angle, no jockey pulleys to move. Indeed, the first derailleur systems devised tried as much as possible to maintain the direct chain run to the cog just because it was more efficient.
2. You don't have to pedal over top dead center on a fixie; the rear cog does that for you. TDC is the "dead" spot in the pedal revolution. Getting your pedal over tdc 90 times per minute for each crank on a one-hour ride can be relatively more taxing.
3. Up to a certain grade, a fixie can actually be faster than a geared bike on a climb just because it happens to be geared more optimally for that grade. As long as the route doesn't exceed that optimal grade for the fixie's gear, the fixie could be faster because on a geared bike, you could be shifting down to a suboptimal gear for that grade.
4. The temptation for most riders is to overgear. This causes the bike to "bog down," but most riders will refuse to admit this. Bogging down leads to lower speeds and an earlier onset of tiredness. On my fixie, I still feel fresh at 100 miles just because I haven't been able to gear up. I don't feel as fresh on a geared bike, but then I might have got to 100 miles faster because I was in a bigger gear and not bogging down, but pushing it, rather than spinning it.
5. And a very minor point: on a fixie, you're not carrying two useless derailleurs and an 11-speed cog, plus extra shifters.
Luis
#47
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You can't coast on a fixie you has to keep pedaling that's why you're faster.
#48
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Both bikes have 700x28 tires. The single speed is an old steel frame 10 speed converted (coaster hub not a fixie) 48/16 gearing. Routes are flat. Spring winds most days 5/6 mph avg. I do a bit of shifting on the Cannondale. Could be I'm lazy on it and can't be on the single speed. Or maybe I just hold my tongue different on one than the other. Thanks for all the opinions.
#49
Semper Fi
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Even though you are shifting a lot with the C'Dale you might be riding in a lower gear most of the time so you are spinning. On the single speed you are using that 48/16 and when you need to you are mashing it to keep up your speed, not particularly your cadence. My only stab in the dark , and the tongue thing sounds like something you could fly with in most after ride beer sessions. Out of pure curiosity what are the weights of the two bicycles? Not sure if this was mentioned or asked.
Bill
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
#50
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Purely unscientific: picked them both up and the steel single speed weighs the most.