9 Easy Speed Upgrades
Although there are more joys to cycling than simply speed, we’ve surely all felt the urge to go faster.
Consistent training might be the most effective path to upping the pace of your rides but there is a certain delight in the mechanical challenge (and the instant results) of optimising your bike for maximum speed. We can’t deny, we’ve all been tempted by a bling upgrade in our time!
Consistent training might be the most effective path to upping the pace of your rides but there is a certain delight in the mechanical challenge (and the instant results) of optimising your bike for maximum speed. We can’t deny, we’ve all been tempted by a bling upgrade in our time!
Transcript
00:00 Although there are more joys to cycling than simply speed, we've surely all felt the
00:08 urge to go faster. Consistent training might be the most effective path to upping the pace,
00:15 but there is a certain delight in the mechanical challenge and the instant results of optimising
00:20 your bike for maximum speed. We can't deny we've all been tempted by a bling upgrade
00:25 in our time. So, without further ado, here are our 9 tips for making your bike faster.
00:40 Standard black butyl inner tubes may be cheap and relatively robust, but they aren't particularly
00:45 fast. Friction between the tube and the tyre increases rolling resistance compared to latex
00:51 inner tubes which cause around 5 watts less friction per wheel. They're also lighter too.
00:58 The downsides are the cost, which is around 3 times more, and the fact that latex inner
01:03 tubes are a little more fragile. You could ditch the inner tube altogether and go tubeless,
01:09 although costs can ramp up quite quickly with the necessary specific kit such as wheels,
01:14 tyres, valves, tape and sealant. It is proven to be faster though.
01:25 Better brakes allow for greater stopping power, allowing you to brake later into corners,
01:29 enabling you to carry more speed. If you're using rim brakes, upgrading to a set with
01:34 a separate pad and shoe will make your brakes feel less spongy, more direct and increase
01:39 modulation, as will swapping out the brake cable housing for a version with less compression.
01:46 Changing to pads with a grippier compound, or one that's better suited to your riding
01:50 conditions, for example the Wet, will also help to increase the performance. For those
01:56 using disc brakes, increasing the rotor size will add power to your braking, and top quality
02:01 pads aren't significantly more expensive either, making for quite a cost effective upgrade.
02:13 If you're looking to eke out every marginal gain, you could replace your bearings with
02:17 some ceramic alternatives. If you do go down this line, just make sure you get someone
02:22 with a ceramic race to go with the ceramic balls, because steel races are prone to getting
02:26 pitted when used with the hard ceramic balls, which degrades the performance of the bearing.
02:32 If ceramic options are a touch plush, then a replacement set of good quality steel bearings
02:37 shouldn't cost the earth, but can have a large effect on how fast you can go.
02:48 Air resistance is one of the greatest forces you have to contend with, so any upgrade that
02:52 can put the rider in a more aero position will have a significant effect on speed. You
02:58 could invest in a fancy carbon aero profiled handlebar, but simply going narrower, even
03:03 with an ordinary round and aluminium bar, can provide greater gains and doesn't have
03:08 to break the bank.
03:16 Although aero and lightweight might be the flashier upgrades, there's still some serious
03:20 watts to be saved from tyres with lower rolling resistance. For example, the Vittoria Corsa
03:26 Speed G+ 2.0 TLR may not have the fastest name to say, but they are widely regarded
03:32 as some of the fastest tyres available. Independent testing from BicycleRollingResistance.com
03:38 puts the rolling resistance of the 25mm version at 7.5 watts when pumped up to 100psi. What's
03:46 more, going for a top end tyre will add comfort and grip to your ride, reducing fatigue overall.
03:59 Not only is it easier to put out power on a bike that is set up correctly for you, but
04:03 it can also help get you into a more aerodynamic position. Enlisting the help of a professional
04:08 bike fitter will enable you to test out a range of components to find out what works
04:13 best for you. Whether that's a change to shorter cranks to enable a lower front end
04:17 position and a flatter back, or a switch to a shorter nose saddle to make it more comfortable
04:22 to stay in an aero position.
04:31 A deeper section rim will reduce aerodynamic drag, while a set of shallow carbon wheels
04:36 can both reduce weight and increase rolling speed. A lower spoke count makes the wheelset
04:41 lighter and will also further improve the aerodynamics, while a hub machined to greater
04:46 tolerances can make the bearings run more smoothly and even increase service life. Fortunately,
04:53 you no longer have to spend more on the wheels than you did on the bike. There are plenty
04:56 of high quality aluminium wheel sets that have a relatively deep section.
05:08 If your tyres are too hard, you'll expend greater energy chattering over imperfections
05:13 in the road surface. Too soft, and the increased contact area will slow you down. Although
05:18 most track pumps do come with a pressure gauge, the cheaper ones tend to be quite inaccurate,
05:23 and even the more expensive ones can make small adjustments difficult to execute. A
05:28 digital pressure gauge, or an analogue one with a usable scale, will help you get the
05:32 best out of your tyres and leave you riding faster.
05:39 Finally, the most effective, albeit less glamorous, route to a faster bike is a proper maintenance
05:48 schedule. Keeping your drivetrain clean can save you precious watts. A specific degreaser
05:54 certainly makes it easier, just don't forget to dry and re-lube the chain once you're
05:59 done.
06:00 A common issue is brake rub, and if an adjustment of a caliper is all that's necessary, then
06:04 it's an easy fix that can save you energy and annoyance out on the road. However, something
06:09 like an out of tree wheel is a big ask, and that might be a job for the local bike shop.
06:16 So there you go, 9 ways to increase the speed of your bike. If you have liked this video,
06:21 then please do drop us a thumbs up and be sure to subscribe to the channel for more
06:25 great tech content. Of course, feel free to leave us any comments and questions that you
06:31 might have.
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