00:00 (bike wheels whirring)
00:03 Although there are more joys to cycling than simply speed,
00:07 we've surely all felt the urge to go faster.
00:11 Consistent training might be the most effective path
00:13 to upping the pace, but there is a certain delight
00:16 in the mechanical challenge and the instant results
00:19 of optimizing your bike for maximum speed.
00:22 We can't deny we've all been tempted
00:24 by a bling upgrade in our time.
00:27 So, without further ado, here are our nine tips
00:30 for making your bike faster.
00:32 (upbeat music)
00:35 Standard black butyl inner tubes may be cheap
00:42 and relatively robust, but they aren't particularly fast.
00:46 Friction between the tube and the tyre
00:48 increases rolling resistance compared to latex inner tubes,
00:52 which cause around five watts less friction per wheel.
00:56 They're also lighter, too.
00:58 The downsides are the cost, which is around three times more
01:01 and the fact that latex inner tubes
01:03 are a little more fragile.
01:05 You could ditch the inner tube altogether and go tubeless,
01:09 although costs can ramp up quite quickly
01:11 with a necessary specific kit, such as wheels,
01:14 tyres, valves, tape, and sealant.
01:17 It is proven to be faster, though.
01:18 (upbeat music)
01:25 Better brakes allow for greater stopping power,
01:27 allowing you to brake later into corners,
01:29 enabling you to carry more speed.
01:32 If you're using rim brakes, upgrading to a set
01:34 with a separate pad and shoe will make your brakes
01:36 feel less spongy, more direct, and increase modulation,
01:40 as will swapping out the brake cable housing
01:42 for a version with less compression.
01:44 Changing to pads with a grippier compound
01:48 or one that's better suited to your riding conditions,
01:51 for example, the Wet, will also help
01:53 to increase the performance.
01:55 For those using disc brakes, increasing the rotor size
01:58 will add power to your braking,
02:00 and top quality pads aren't significantly
02:02 more expensive either, making for quite
02:05 a cost-effective upgrade.
02:07 (upbeat music)
02:09 If you're looking to eke out every marginal gain,
02:15 you could replace your bearings
02:17 with some ceramic alternatives.
02:19 If you do go down this line, just make sure you get
02:21 someone with a ceramic race to go with the ceramic balls,
02:25 because steel races are prone to getting pitted
02:27 when used with the hard ceramic balls,
02:29 which degrades the performance of the bearing.
02:32 If ceramic options are a touch plush,
02:34 then a replacement set of good quality steel bearings
02:37 shouldn't cost the earth, but can have a large effect
02:40 on how fast you can go.
02:41 Air resistance is one of the greatest forces
02:50 you have to contend with, so any upgrade
02:52 that can put the rider in a more aero position
02:55 will have a significant effect on speed.
02:58 You could invest in a fancy carbon aero-profiled handlebar,
03:01 but simply going narrower, even with an ordinary round
03:04 and aluminium bar, can provide greater gains
03:07 and doesn't have to break the bank.
03:09 Although aero and lightweight might be
03:18 the flashier upgrades, there's still some serious watts
03:21 to be saved from tyres with lower rolling resistance.
03:24 For example, the Vittoria Corsa Speed G+ 2.0 TLR
03:29 may not have the fastest name to say,
03:31 but they are widely regarded as some
03:33 of the fastest tyres available.
03:35 Independent testing from BicycleRollingResistance.com
03:38 puts the rolling resistance of the 25mm version
03:42 at 7.5 watts when pumped up to 100 psi.
03:46 What's more, going for a top-end tyre
03:48 will add comfort and grip to your ride,
03:50 reducing fatigue overall.
03:52 Not only is it easier to put out power on a bike
04:01 that is set up correctly for you,
04:03 but it can also help get you
04:04 into a more aerodynamic position.
04:07 Enlisting the help of a professional bike fitter
04:09 will enable you to test out a range of components
04:12 to find out what works best for you.
04:14 Whereas that's a change to shorter cranks
04:16 to enable a lower front-end position
04:18 and a flatter back,
04:19 or a switch to a shorter nose saddle
04:21 to make it more comfortable to stay in an aero position.
04:24 A deeper section rim will reduce aerodynamic drag,
04:34 while a set of shallow carbon wheels
04:36 can both reduce weight and increase rolling speed.
04:39 A lower spoke count makes the wheel set lighter
04:42 and will also further improve the aerodynamics.
04:45 While a hub machined to greater tolerances
04:47 can make the bearings run more smoothly
04:49 and even increase service life.
04:52 Fortunately, you no longer have to spend more on the wheels
04:55 than you did on the bike.
04:56 There are plenty of high-quality aluminium wheel sets
04:59 that have a relatively deep section.
05:01 If your tyres are too hard,
05:10 you'll expend greater energy
05:11 chattering over imperfections in the road surface.
05:14 Too soft, and the increased contact area will slow you down.
05:18 Although most track pumps do come with a pressure gauge,
05:21 the cheaper ones tend to be quite inaccurate,
05:23 and even the more expensive ones
05:24 can make small adjustments difficult to execute.
05:27 A digital pressure gauge,
05:29 or an analogue one with a usable scale,
05:31 will help you get the best out of your tyres
05:33 and leave you riding faster.
05:42 Finally, the most effective, albeit less glamorous,
05:46 route to a faster bike is a proper maintenance schedule.
05:49 Keeping your drivetrain clean can save you precious watts.
05:53 A specific degreaser certainly makes it easier,
05:55 just don't forget to dry and re-lube the chain
05:58 once you're done.
05:59 Another common issue is brake rub,
06:01 and if an adjustment of a caliper is all that's necessary,
06:04 then it's an easy fix that can save you energy
06:06 and annoyance out on the road.
06:08 However, something like an out-of-tree wheel
06:11 is a bigger ask,
06:12 and that might be a job for the local bike shop.
06:16 So, there you go.
06:17 Nine ways to increase the speed of your bike.
06:20 If you have liked this video,
06:21 then please do drop us a thumbs up
06:23 and be sure to subscribe to the channel
06:25 for more great tech content.
06:27 Of course, feel free to leave us any comments
06:29 and questions that you might have.
06:31 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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