Buy some speed?

SALLEN67 · Aug 1, 2011

Couple questions about buying some speed.
 
I completed the Vineman as part of a relay team this year, and between that and last years 70.3 event, I'm tired of just finishing, so my next step is to want to finish in the top 1/2.
 
I think next year I may do the 1/2 aqua bike at the Vineman event.
 
I was really pleased with my bike times for the first 56-70 miles, Saturdays bike speed was almost 4 mph faster than last years 70.3
Better bike, more long rides, actually less focused training, just a lot more saddle time so I didn't get tired nearly as fast this year.
 
I know I need to work on my swim, if I want a top 10 finishing position I need to take 10 minutes off my swim. Now you might say wow 10 minutes is a lot, but my swim is so pathetic that I think with some good instruction and pool time 10 minutes is doable. That wouldn't make me the fastest, actually it is just one spot up from the slowest time for the top 1/2 of the finishers.
So that's all on me. I need to increase my speed and not feel like a drowned rat when I get out of the water.
 
Now onto the bike.
If I can do the same bike ride I did on Saturday for those first 56 miles, I will come in with bike times that are one up from the bottom spot of the top 1/2 of the finishers.
So I know what I can do there as well physically.
 
Now for the question, how much speed can I buy? 
I'm riding a Cervelo R3 right now that is stock from the factory. I already have an aero helmet and clip on aero bars.
The wheels are the fulcrum racing7 wheels.
 
I'd like to be able to get a TT bike, but that's not happening, and I'm pretty happy with how I held up against other guys on TT bikes. I'd get passed on the downhills and flats, I'd catch them and pass them on the rolling sections and the climbs. I traded places with the same guys many many times during the course of the race. So what I gave up on straight flat speed, I think I made up on the hills.
 
So new wheels, aero wheels, any other suggestions on what I can change on the bike to help me out.
 
Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Scott

MBannon · Aug 1, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by SALLEN67 <a href="/forum/thread/74744/buy-some-speed#post_2008804"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> 
Now for the question, how much speed can I buy? 
I'm riding a Cervelo R3 right now that is stock from the factory. I already have an aero helmet and clip on aero bars.
The wheels are the fulcrum racing7 wheels.
 
Scott
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How about a disc cover from Wheelbuilder? Inexpensive and (as far as I can tell) pretty effective. Only other thing I can think of is a power meter and/or computrainer. In other words, more effective training. Not saying you aren't training effectively here, just pointing out that you might get even *more* effective training with a power meter. But only if you use it and read/follow all the forum threads on training with power, etc.

em73 · Aug 1, 2011

I think that fixing your swim will go a long way towards a better bike.

SALLEN67 · Aug 1, 2011

I think you are right, I won't feel like I just survived a couple miles of near drowning.

SALLEN67 · Aug 1, 2011

I'll have to check out the wheel cover.
I was thinking of renting a disc wheel and something aero for the front. The local Tri store has them for rent, it's a 100.00 bucks for race day. Seems like a lot, but not compared to 1500-2000 to buy some.
 
You are correct on my training, it has just been non focused riding. Get on the bike and go. Put in miles on the weekend and get in a bunch of spin classes during the week. It made a big difference, but it certainly wasn't focused.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

MBannon · Aug 1, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by SALLEN67 <a href="/forum/thread/74744/buy-some-speed#post_2008824"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> I'll have to check out the wheel cover.
I was thinking of renting a disc wheel and something aero for the front. The local Tri store has them for rent, it's a 100.00 bucks for race day. Seems like a lot, but not compared to 1500-2000 to buy some.
 
You are correct on my training, it has just been non focused riding. Get on the bike and go. Put in miles on the weekend and get in a bunch of spin classes during the week. It made a big difference, but it certainly wasn't focused.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.
 
 
 
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My disc cover was $100, pretty hard to beat. Bought a used front wheel for $130 or so. Biggest improvement to my cycling, though, has definitely come from focused workouts. Trainer intervals of 5 to 20 minutes during the winter, lots of hills and time trials during the summer.

SALLEN67 · Aug 1, 2011

I went and checked out the disc covers and they specifically say that they don't work for my wheels.
 
So, now to consider the options. Still cheaper than a new disc wheel.
 
Scott

MBannon · Aug 2, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by SALLEN67 <a href="/forum/thread/74744/buy-some-speed#post_2008837"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> I went and checked out the disc covers and they specifically say that they don't work for my wheels.
 
So, now to consider the options. Still cheaper than a new disc wheel.
 
Scott
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 Bummer. I guess the other thing you could do would be to reconfigure your bike setup to be as aero as possible, though that will tend to make it much less comfortable for anything other than time trialing. Seat way forward and handlebars/aerobars as low and far forward as comfortable. That gets your head and chest out of the wind.

jroden · Aug 5, 2011

Sounds like your equipment is fine, if the course is flat you may want to get some closer range gearing like an 11-23 rear cluster and perhaps some fresh tires with latex tubes. Make sure your position is good and you are forward enough on the seat to work and low enough in the front end, that's really the big thing.

niemsco · Aug 5, 2011

For top 10 if you want to bike better then swim more. Really. Swim a lot more. This will be the difference between fading and finishing strong in the end. 
 
Other than that your setup will give you free speed if anything, equipment isn't going to help. I'm beginning to think all this fancy stuff is rubbish.

jroden · Aug 8, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by niemsco <a href="/forum/thread/74744/buy-some-speed#post_2009232"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> I'm beginning to think all this fancy stuff is rubbish. </div>
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ding ding ding, free cigar! I am always reminded of Eddy Merckx riding 31 miles per hour for the hour record on a standard road bike with box section wheels na ddrop bars.

Buy some speed?

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