Ah, the responses are getting better and better. Thanks everyone. This was the kind of dialogue I was hoping for.

Pedalling ATX, yes I time myself to the second not to be a numbers nerd since the body, wind and traffic are different from day to day. But most days of my commute, I am within 30 seconds of 51 minutes 28 seconds which is an AVS of 23.3 km/h which includes the climb on Cambie. I am just curious how different tweaks to a bicycle and equipment affect elapsed times.

From what I have experienced (and certainly one person's experience is by no means a principal), more time is lost\gained on hills than any other kind of equipment change. I have ridden the commute tucked down in an aerodynamic position, I have done with a fairing and without, with a flat bar & bar ends or a trekking bar which allows a lower rider profile. Nothing affects elapsed time or AVS as much as attacking hills and climbing fast. Theoratical maximum speed downhill cannot be achieved due to the need to ride among traffic and watching out for lights. Therefore, the answer is the hills.


dsh & doohickie - thanks for the poignant answer. I think its spot on. I'm losing time on ascents. Yes, I do know that other things being equal, a similar cadence with a lower gear means slower speed. I was trying to "spin" my way up the hill instead of mashing it.

Banzai, I use Zefal toe clips on my bike.

Cambie, mash that female dog. Shift, get on the hoods and destroy.

$50 says your commute time gets within 1 minute tomorrow. Although I hear it will be raining.

My technique on the ss is to "walk" up the hill- get up out of the saddle but don't worry about speed too much, just let my (ample) weight do the work. This works up to maybe 10-12% grade. Steeper than that, I have to push and pull on the handlebars to keep the pedals going. I guess I don't weigh enough for those steep hills....

Thank you everyone. This discussion really helps me understand what my options and consequences are.

I "feel" slower on my geared bike, but my gps tells me that i'm not really that much off either way. I think the feeling comes from the bike being 10lbs heavier.

+1, still

Same & lame.

it is all mental. You're pushing your body beyond its normal limit because on a geared bike your mind allows you to downshift, you fight your way up the hills instead of flighting. Now you have zen.

Enjoy

this!

I'm amazed umd didn't make it in here.

this isnt on his beat.

He has some weird sixth sense for questions like this.

You got to want it. The bike itself is not going to do the work.

Traffic?

+1

Speaking of gears, I keep forgetting about the ability to coast on my roadie often times, depriving myself of the enjoyment that comes from idled legs on a ride

I think you have figured it out by now.

In general, a geared bike is faster downhill and slower uphill (and possibly into corners). It is the slower part that really kills your average speed; the downhills don't make up for it.

it would be interesting to see him post here. Botto has done it a few times

maybe you arent core enough to use gears.

Did it in 51 mins. 18 secs. today. Geared. No fairing. Made up some time working the downhills.

Don't pull on the handlebars, pull on your back leg.

You were slower because you have OCD.

Stop timing yourself and you'll get much faster.

"Stop timing yourself and you'll get much faster."

I like.

My bikes have gears, I don't read this forum...

Well for me. 12 mile rid from my house up to the top of mt wilson. the tallest mountain in LA and it took me like an hour on my road bike the first time. Then i went on my fixie. took me 30 minutes.

Just to hardcore. no i can do it with the track bike. Takes a life.

All other things being equal, climbing on a fixed gear is much much easier than climbing on a freewheeled bike.