Weight-Weenieism
08-01-25 | 01:19 PM
#451
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,557
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From: Southwestern Ontario
silence - 3alarmer -
weight - weenieism and the Tour de France, 2025.
If there was a Stage where this would play in it was a mountain time trial. Tadej Pogacar rode an aero bike, but remember that the 6.8kg is the same for either an aero or a climber. His aero bike had paint removed, cockpit swap, etc. Forget or did not read if wheels/tires had changed over a road stage. What tire width were the leaders riding on Stage 13?? = 11km, 675m climbing, flatish start then the 7km, 500m climb, gradients to 13% on final km.
What tires did Tadej, Jonas and Primoz use? They were 1,2,3 Stage 13.
weight - weenieism and the Tour de France, 2025.
If there was a Stage where this would play in it was a mountain time trial. Tadej Pogacar rode an aero bike, but remember that the 6.8kg is the same for either an aero or a climber. His aero bike had paint removed, cockpit swap, etc. Forget or did not read if wheels/tires had changed over a road stage. What tire width were the leaders riding on Stage 13?? = 11km, 675m climbing, flatish start then the 7km, 500m climb, gradients to 13% on final km.
What tires did Tadej, Jonas and Primoz use? They were 1,2,3 Stage 13.
08-01-25 | 04:26 PM
#452
climber has-been
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,177
Likes: 6,065
From: Palo Alto, CA
Bikes: Scott Addict RC Pro & R1, Felt Z1
Somebody did this test, but I forget who (maybe road.cc). Matched weight, same rider, same watts. The climbing bike still climbed faster. They chalked it up to more efficient energy transfer.
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08-02-25 | 08:03 AM
#453
Facts just confuse people
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 7,088
From: Mississippi
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
There's more to a climbing bike than simply reduced weight. Add weight to a climbing bike to match an aero bike, and for many of us, the climbing will still climb faster.
Somebody did this test, but I forget who (maybe road.cc). Matched weight, same rider, same watts. The climbing bike still climbed faster. They chalked it up to more efficient energy transfer.
Somebody did this test, but I forget who (maybe road.cc). Matched weight, same rider, same watts. The climbing bike still climbed faster. They chalked it up to more efficient energy transfer.
Even if the test was comparing recent bikes, I'm sure the gain is marginal. I'm not really on either side. My next bike won't have it's decision based on aero frame or not. It wasn't even a factor for why I picked my current bike.
08-02-25 | 08:28 AM
#454
climber has-been
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,177
Likes: 6,065
From: Palo Alto, CA
Bikes: Scott Addict RC Pro & R1, Felt Z1
08-02-25 | 09:03 AM
#455
Facts just confuse people
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 7,088
From: Mississippi
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
If will have also been nice to see a real world test comparing those two bikes on a 120Km course that had a couple decent climbs in them.
Like I said, I'm not really on either side. The bike one gets should be the bike they want. Not the bike we want for them. Unless of course they are professional cyclists' with a bike sponsor and a team manager that says otherwise.
08-02-25 | 03:05 PM
#456
I climb a lot
Joined: Mar 2023
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From: NorCal
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur 4 TR, Santa Cruz Hightower, Canyon Ultimate cf slx(x2), Canyon Endurace cf sl(rain bike,) Obed GVR, Ritchey Swiss Cross v3, Lauf Seigla rigid
I don't remember the details. I think it was this video from road.cc, which found the Orbea lightweight bike was more efficient than the aero bike:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HIfjMAMgpE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HIfjMAMgpE
