When it comes to road racing, particularly in time trials, everyone is looking to be a light as they possibly can. Pro cyclists are on very strict diets and watch their weight very carefully, but the racing bikes also need to pretty trim. The average decrease in weight that time trail bikes have seen in the last 10 years in quite amazing, dropping at a rate of 7-11 grams per year. If you’re thinking this is nothing, there are a million riders who will testify to just what a difference this makes. So what are the latest developments to come on scene, aimed at shaving another few pounds off?
Carbon shoes. When it comes to cycle clothing, light and strong is the key. Cyclist like their shoes to be a solid as possible so that non of their energy is lost through shoe flex. Traditionally there has been a tossup between using hard materials which were usually heavy or lighter ones that softer and not as effective. Solving this problem are the latest carbon fiber designs that have only recently been developed. These shoes boast superior strength without having any of the usual weight
Titanium spokes. Bikes spokes have been one of the things that have received a lot of focus from bike weight-loss experts. Some spokes are now being made out of carbon fiber but they have to be thicker in order to have adequate strength. The preferred option is now titanium spokes Zipp wheels now use and can be made to the same size steel ones, but are around half the weight.
Carbon fiber bikes. The ultimate in performance racing is the bike made almost completely from carbon fiber. As mentioned previously, this makes the bike incredibly strong but does not compromise on weight. The comfort of the ride is also something that has impressed those who have trialled carbon bikes, which is of course important.where carbon fiber does currently slip up is the price of the stuff. It does not come cheap, which is why you’ll only see the top professionals using it for the time being.
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