Rotor Q-ring advice

[ed72]

Balor.....

1. What percentage range of your 5 minute power (I reviewed your Strava data that you had shared somewhere) would you expect your FTP to fall?
2. Would you expect more of less power loss from your fat against the seat in absolute or relative terms at FT vs 5 minute power?

If your FTP is not at least 320 watts (80% and this is the lower end and 85% at the extreme....depends on training focus and muscle fiber compositions)..... why would you expect the primary constraint to be absorption of power by your fat? Under steady state conditions, I would expect less relative and absolute power loss from your fat against the seat and therefore, your 5 minute power is probably the one which is hampered to a greater extent. You see where I am going.

 

[Balor]

Unfortunately, I will never be able to churn out 400+ watts for 5 minutes like you

Wait what? My only tests with a real power meter showed that my FTP is in 260 region, on my previous bent. My trainer flatters me WAY too much (by 10% at the very least), and in fact leaks oil.
I really need real PM. I *can* be powerful (I have legs to show for it), but it happens in strange bursts only - something neuromuscular, I suppose something having to do with dysthymia and general pain intolerance *shrugs*. I'm an opposite of a highly motivated person, which is small wonder due to deeply residing in Cluster A spectrum of disorders (I suppose it is rather noticeable).

Those are a few rides that indicate my real performance so far as having a real PM are concerned (borrowed Power tap wheel for a few rides)
https://www.strava.com/activities/709734290/
https://www.strava.com/activities/943316822/

But when I tested myself on a Watt bike a couple of years ago (DF version, of course), I've hit about 1200 watts peak, and did hold about 360 average watts for 6 or so minutes on so on an ill-fitting road bike mounted on Tacx Neo, all using sneakers on clipless pedals.

Unfortunately, I've had to sell my road bike and my DF (Chinese niner with fat tires) is not exactly a speed demon, I use it solely to commute to our parent's 'datcha' which has stretches of very bad dirt/sand roads, and my DF form is abysmal - except, like I said, I find doing seated sprints much easier, and I can hit nearly 50 kmh on flat that I find equally hard to do on a bent despite vastly superior aerodynamics.

 

[ed72]

5.9%

I only got 5.5%

I want a partial refund.

Hardware level, what will you use for your attempt? " The frame is my achievement, but for the wheels will be Mavic, certainly lenticular, crank Myticcarbones, and the plateau a O'symétric 56 teeth.In fact, I did not wait for Wiggins wins the ride to ride with (laughs) I use them since I was 17, I compared them scientifically with a SRM pedal that measures power, and I noted a gain of 5.9% on the power Since then I have never left them because I have never found better.

http://www.aurelienbonneteau.net/en?start=5

 

[Balor]

Hah, note that on his actual attempt his shoulder boosters were different - likely because they were deemed 'aerodynamic devices'. I wonder how much of a 'tailbox effect' they were giving - my CFD experiments (again, confirmed by real data) show that tailbox actually gives very little benefit if any.
I wonder why they allowed his foot fairings...

 

[ed72]

Hah, note that on his actual attempt his shoulder boosters were different - likely because they were deemed 'aerodynamic devices'. I wonder how much of a 'tailbox effect' they were giving - my CFD experiments (again, confirmed by real data) show that tailbox actually gives very little benefit if any.
I wonder why they allowed his foot fairings...

Good question on the foot fairings. One is allowed to fair the bike...look at the NoCom or even Larry's special V20, I think Speedbiker built the back end. Maybe they (Aure and M5) considered it fairing the pedals and therefore the bike, this is probably their logic. I am fully aware that my size 48 Mega shoes is like a brick; however, midsole helps keep the flow undisturbed over the wheels.

A retired aerospace guy or something like that out in LA area molds a rubber sole around the cleat. I seem to recall him claiming like 10-15 watts lower on a Tri bike, so, it would be much more on a bent. The rubber would also make the Artie Johnson move less likely when stopped although it has been a while since that happened but wet leaves are starting to appear. This shoe mod is way to extreme for me but it would make walking to brevet controls much easier and less slippery

The tailbox helps at zero yaw or low yaw. I think it hurts at modest yaw sidewinds but this is hard to test and there is limited wind tunnel data for a tailbox in a cross wind but I confident it is not ALWAYS better. Note: I just realized this is in the Q rotor thread....

https://www.shop.view-speed.com/View-Speed-Aero-Shoe-Modification-610098715986.htm

 

[Balor]

Artie Johnson move less likely when stopped although it has been a while since that happened but wet leaves are starting to appear.

If you use speedplay, than there are 'Walkable cleat covers' that are supped to add some aero, bit expencive but there are 5$ a pair stuff from Aliexpress as well, I would never use speedplays without them, way too dangerous to walk in otherwise indeed.

 

[ed72]

If you use speedplay, than there are 'Walkable cleat covers' that are supped to add some aero, bit expencive but there are 5$ a pair stuff from Aliexpress as well, I would never use speedplays without them, way too dangerous to walk in otherwise indeed.

Thanks, I see that Wiggins used those Aero Zero version during the hour...probably the same thing. I don't know, maybe. I have to sell all my upright bikes first and some other old toys. I have five sets of Speedplay frogs including a Ti set, I could sell them. Can't see myself getting back onto uprights.

3-5 watts Zero normal vs Zero aero on upright per attached. My SYZR pedals are an aero abomination comparatively but I love the direct, secure feel of them. The foot of the bent has a different profile (of course) to an upright. I would not be surprised if I could pick up 10 watts at 30 mph and 2-3 watts at 20 mph if I went to the Zero Aero pedals. If I get my weight below 80 Kg and FTP closer to 300 with all the aero tweaks, I'm going to be the first sub 50 bent over there and could be a lot under, especially if my modeling on BestBikesplits is close. My long range goal/target is 25 mph on 150 watts. Lot of work ahead of me. Nuts, eh?

I am going to experiment with normal QXL rings in the Winter. The RS4X cranks is 1.5+ pounds extra mass.

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/...sults_from_Speedplay_Zero_Aero_Test_P6204611/

 

[Balor]

I'm going to be the first sub 50 bent over there

What do you mean by that?

And yea, bents are full of (relatively) low-hanging fruits in terms of potential achievements... ok, building a streamliner and achieving 100 mph might be a wee hard, but otherwise MUCH easier than becoming a celebrity in the world of uprights... though it amounts to being 'widely famous in narrow circles'

 

[ed72]

What do you mean by that?

And yea, bents are full of (relatively) low-hanging fruits in terms of potential achievements... ok, building a streamliner and achieving 100 mph might be a wee hard, but otherwise MUCH easier than becoming a celebrity in the world of uprights... though it amounts to being 'widely famous in narrow circles'

sorry. pbp. i think 51:35 is fastest on bent so far. Zoncha low racer.

 

[castlerobber]

I have 50/34 Q-rings on my S30. One of these days, I'd consider upgrading from the 34T to a 36T QXL.

Spending most of the 2019 Ride Retreat in the small ring on those Kentucky hills finally convinced me to get a 36T QXL. It's a lot smoother feel, more like the 50T. I took it for a test ride on a course where my typical cadence is 80-82, stayed on the 36T ring most of the ride, and came back with a cadence of 88. Didn't try to spin faster, that was just what felt good. Front shifting is a little slower at times, but it eventually gets there.