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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