Originally Posted by
Six jours
Your meaning was pretty clear and distinct. I don't see how I'm misrepresenting or misquoting you. And I can't begin to understand how folks can argue that faster bicycles don't make for faster races. Moreover, the quote about Paris-Roubaix was not incorrect. Again, folks are free to follow the links and look for themselves.
I posted the times for
PR. You are incorrect. Very, very incorrect. The times are all over the place because weather is such a critical factor. Scroll back and look for yourself.
The fastest race in 1964 had a strong tailwind and only 22km of cobbles. I posted a link to this as well. So that would be another fact you've gotten wrong.
Faster bikes don't guarantee faster races because they don't exist in a vacuum. Race radios have altered racing and, I believe, slowed them down in many cases until critical points in the race. The dynamics or racing have changed as well with no rider or team dominating like has happened in the past.
This would affect ave spd, non? And what does ave spd have to do with anything? It is a useless metric.
I also notice how you conveniently ignore any of the very specific questions I have asked you to comment on which show just how silly some of your assertions are.
Originally Posted by
Six jours
Yes. I was there when STI came out, and I raced against people using it. They didn't go any faster than they had with DT shifters.
Incorrect. Davis Phinney was an early adopter and claimed it was an unfair advantage - his words.
I ALSO started racing with DT shifters and continue to race (albiet much slower and much less frequently) and you couldn't pay me enough to give up STI, Ergo or the like.
Originally Posted by
Six jours
I'm talking about speed.
No, you have been talking about a lot of other things as well. If it was all about speed it could be settled in a wind tunnel. Oh wait, it already was.
Originally Posted by
Six jours
TT bikes are definitely faster, no question. But that's mostly due to aero bars and disk wheels - I specifically exempted TT bikes in the OP. I'm discussing road bikes, as ridden by racers and weekend warriors.
See the above.
One more question for you to not answer: Was was typical RR gearing for a five or even six spd freewheel, for a flat race, and what is it now?
I'd appreciate your thoughts as to why they are different.