Originally Posted by
Flimflam
OK so I'm around 170lbs, which is 77kg. 77 * 6 is 462, so let's say 470W over an hour? Sounds like a lot
Is there any reasonable method in calculating bike power other than using those powertap cranks? I'm nowhere near TdF levels obviously, but I'd be interested in finding out quite how
Nothing remotely useful anyways. There's online calculators which is just basically one big derviation from first principles of how much power you "should" be putting out to maintain a certain speed. Obviously none of the variables that are important can be measured accurately enough to give you a good wattage end result. (*coughs* iBike)
So in a nutshell: powertap ($900 for the hub) is the cheapest way to determine power. 6W/kg is elite, lance armstrong level so you don't necessarily need to be that high. If you can get yourself on a computrainer, that will also tell you how much power you're doing.
http://www.biketechreview.com/archive/pm_review.htm
Originally Posted by
jet sanchEz
Sounds like they will be a wicked set of wheels, what are they going on?
My steelie clamont
Originally Posted by
kergin
So it is possible to do distance on fixed. I rode fixed up to the school (GH)... s'alright, just gotta go down from 82 gear inches. Maybe go from a 50t in the front to a 46 or 42.
82 gear inches o_0
On Half-radial for rear wheels, this is what Sheldon has to say:
Originally Posted by Sheldon Brown
"More and more rear wheels now are built "half-radial" with semi-tangent spoking on the right side and radial spoking on the left. Radial front wheels offer mainly esthetic benefits, but half radial rear wheels are substantially more durable than conventional ones. The high amount of dishing called for to make room for more and more sprockets has caused an increase in spoke breakage on the left side of rear wheels. This is caused by metal fatigue.
A spoked wheel relies on having all of the spokes in constant tension. A highly dished rear wheel starts with very light tension on the left side spokes. The torque of hard pedaling can cause the left side "leading" spokes to occasionally go completely slack momentarily. Repeated cycles of tension and slackness cause these spokes to fatigue at the bends, and ultimately break.
With half-radial spoking, the amount of dish is slightly less to begin with if you run the radial spokes up along the inside of its flange. In addition, since there are no "leading" spokes, no amount of torque on the hub can reduce the tension on any of the spokes. In fact, if you have a customer who has been breaking left side spokes, "half rebuilding" the wheel into a half radial will solve the problem once and for all.
Shimano makes some nice wheels, and preform much better aero wise than their price suggests. Check this out:
http://www.rouesartisanales.com/article-15505311.html
It's a multi-part "grand" wheel test, wait for the other parts to come online (only the first two right now). But it should be well worth it. They test all the most modern wheelsets against each others.