Originally Posted by
Dean V
No question that a stiff frame is preferred by many, especially at the high performance end of the spectrum.
But that doesn't mean it is actually faster. It doesn't mean you will climb a mountain or cover a TT in less time.
It means they prefer the feel and handling of a laterally stiff bike and even better now that it is achieved without a bone jarring ride.
That's true Dean. I believe its faster. You may not. I believe for each pedal stroke more energy gets to the rear wheel with a torsionally stiffer bike.
In fact, if the industry didn't believe it, they would be less obsessed with it including the racer that works for Cervelo that just designed the new R-series who made a goal of making the frame and BB stiffer...when it was already pretty dam stiff. Frame stiffness has a cost for example, certainly in comfort as differential frame bending can not be completely divorced.