If you tried to compete in the Tour de France on a hybrid bike...
05-06-15, 09:17 PM
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If you tried to compete in the Tour de France on a hybrid bike...
Say a world-class cycler who was otherwise capable of winning were to swap his competition bike for a sub-$1000 hybrid bike in stock but perfect mechanical condition.
Ignoring whatever rules considerations that might prevent it, what would prevent them from being competitive in the race?
Ignoring whatever rules considerations that might prevent it, what would prevent them from being competitive in the race?
05-06-15, 10:50 PM
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Typical hybrid bikes are set up with the handlebars either level or higher than the seat, which is comfortable but not very aerodynamic. Flat bars mean a limited choice of riding positions.
Weight would also be a factor on any stages with climbing, hence the preference for carbon frames in racing. Most hybrid bikes use aluminium frames. The last time an aluminium bike won the TdF was in 1998.
Weight would also be a factor on any stages with climbing, hence the preference for carbon frames in racing. Most hybrid bikes use aluminium frames. The last time an aluminium bike won the TdF was in 1998.
05-06-15, 10:54 PM
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Hybrids also typically have wider stock tires: 32-38mm, and are usually not slicks (for some off-road capability). This equates to more road resistance - uphill, downhill, or flat!
05-06-15, 11:26 PM
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the real issue is that a hybrid doesn't offer a performance cycling position, and that would cause them to be dropped quickly, miss the time cutoff and out the first day. So yeah, don't expect to see it any time soon. Not sure why this is in this particular forum, we don't ride the TdF. I did see hybrid riders on PBP last time, they usually looked like they were suffering pretty bad when I caught them
05-07-15, 01:26 AM
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Aero is everything. Hybrids are not aero (the bars are too high and too wide). Put some narrower and lower bars on it, plus some racing tires, and you would have a chance to keep up, but then you might as well use a regular racing bike rather than taking a hybrid and trying to turn it into one.
05-07-15, 04:45 AM
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Say a world-class cycler who was otherwise capable of winning were to swap his competition bike for a sub-$1000 hybrid bike in stock but perfect mechanical condition.
Ignoring whatever rules considerations that might prevent it, what would prevent them from being competitive in the race?
Ignoring whatever rules considerations that might prevent it, what would prevent them from being competitive in the race?
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05-07-15, 07:13 PM
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Say a world-class cycler who was otherwise capable of winning were to swap his competition bike for a sub-$1000 hybrid bike in stock but perfect mechanical condition.
Ignoring whatever rules considerations that might prevent it, what would prevent them from being competitive in the race?
Ignoring whatever rules considerations that might prevent it, what would prevent them from being competitive in the race?
Drivetrain
Tire frictional losses
Aerodynamic losses
Weight
05-07-15, 07:36 PM
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They would also spin out the lower gearing on a hybrid and be riding mostly spun out in the top gear. Especially on a down hill where a TD rider is pedaling at 40+mph and the hybrid does not have a gear high enough to accelerate (and probably gets pretty unstable at that speed). And of course the guy would be ridiculed to embarrassment out of the race!
05-07-15, 07:50 PM
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Since it has no long distance content, I'm closing the thread.
Last edited by unterhausen; 05-08-15 at 09:12 AM.
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