Andrew123

Hey, I was wondering if I could get a brief overview of the major events regarding cycling (road bikes, and racing in particular) over the past few years regarding advances in the bikes themselves and cycling as a sport. I have been out of the sport over the past two years due to a bad accident and moving overseas. I recently got my bike shipped over (a custom build) and was wanting to get more involved. I am currently living in Colorado Springs as well if anyone knows of any good clubs located here.

Lazyass

Lets see, in 2015:

1. aluminum frames jar your bones and put you in agony
2. carbon bikes are like having dual suspension
3. you will crash with rim brakes, you need discs
4. dropping one ounce of weight will make you faster

trainsktg

A couple of interesting ones off the top of my head...

*Live Strava segments on select Garmin bike computers like the 520.

*Zwift interactive training app.

Keith

Drew Eckhardt 

Power meters became less expensive - $400 will get you in the game with a 4iiii unit and Power2Max has a ~$500 crank option. Shimano and SRAM finally moved to 11 cogs. FLO makes affordable torroidal alloy rims so you can optimize aerodynamics without the carbon fiber price tag and break performance.

Polarized training ( 20% of sessions above your lactate threshold, 80% below your aerobic threshold) became more popular.

There are more smart trainers. Those give you an ergometer mode (specify a power, and they'll provide that much resistance regardless of RPM) and interface with social cycling apps like Zwift.

K.Katso

It hasn't changed much in the last 2 years. It has gotten a little more digital and a little more social, but no more than other things in life these days. So you don't have much catching up to do. Just ride your bike.

ShortLegCyclist

Gravel bikes are big now (road bikes with clearance for wide tires and sometimes longer chainstays for stability).
Based on Eurobike and Interbike, it's going to be hard to find a new road bike without disc brakes in the near future.
As mentioned above, 11 speed systems are the latest, and SRAM's version requires a proprietary hub.
1x drivetrains are mainstream in the mountain biking and cyclocross worlds, and with 42t cogs now available, actually work well.
650b wheelsize is big in mountain biking, so big that some pundits claim it will entirely displace 26" wheels on new bikes eventually.

Andrew123

1. How do the aluminium frames differ from say, carbon? (curiosity killed the cat)
2. Are they already putting disc brakes in road bikes? I thought that theyre only doing them in mountain and hybrids now, i used to have disc brakes in my old mountain bike, but they're expensive as hell.
3. Some background on the dual suspension in the carbon bikes, that's interesting

Andrew123

Any chance i could get some info on the Garmin computers? (like a link to a website with good background or personal info.)

Andrew123

Any chance i can get a link the alloy rims? Also, are they doing carbon rims now? I never seen any before.

Andrew123

Thanks man, I'm mostly curious on what I can add to my bike that has improved to boost performance.

shelbyfv

What was your other user name before you were banned?

badger1

Was juuuuust wondering the same thing, shelbyfv; perhaps "user names" (plural)?

Andrew123

I've got a 54T cog on my bike currently

Andrew123

huh?

Drew Eckhardt 

A training plan increased my power to weight ratio 80%, as in climbing hills with a 50 ring where I needed a 30 with the same cog.

You can follow training plans more precisely with a power meter, and get more feedback so you can make adjustments when things aren't working as well.

As far as improved aerodynamics, an aero jersey can reduce drag more than a pair of carbon fiber wheels.

Andrew123

I'm taking a look at both the jerseys and the meters now, and ill make a schedule later tonight for the training plan. I was thinking about carbon wheels, they just have a hefty price tag.

trainsktg

The new Garmin 520 is the big one with Live Segments already loaded. Select older units (I don't have the model numbers off the top of my head) can download the software too. Just Google it. Before I do a major purchase I look at others' reviews like DCRainmaker's, those found on Amazon, etc.

Regarding inexpensive power meters, stages makes a well priced crank unit as well.

Keith

StanSeven

Umd

FLvector

You read my mind..