Arizona specific bike set up - gears, wheels & tires
I'm shipping my bike to AZ early (tomorrow) so I spent a lot of time over the past week digging through the forums, including EN 3.0, to see what set up others have used successfully. Here's what I decided on and I'd welcome your input and would also like to hear how your set up compares:
Setup: P3C; Compact Crank: 50-34; Cassette 25-12; new DA chain; Zipp 404 tubulars, rear disc cover installed, Continental Gatorskin Sprinter tires 700x22.
Hard to decide on using a 23-11 v. 25-12 cassette. Figure if we get strong winds, the 25 will come in handy, but I may miss having the 11 if we get a strong tailwind. Smaller gear changes on a 23-11 might be welcome too. Decided on safe versus sorry.
With the disc covers, not sure here. I'm not sure about the wind on the course and whether 404s w/o covers would be better. Any thoughts?
I have a set of Vittoria EVO corsa CX 700x21s that I've only used for 2 races (successfully so far). The cont's I have glued on now for training have a couple of hundred miles on them (broke out for RR1) but are in really good shape (rear showing light-medium wear), hold pressure really well, and give me comfort for unknown junk that may be blowing around in the dessert. Rolling resistance is not a concern and I understand the 700x21 front, 700x23 rear aero concept. I have time to glue on a new set, but not sure I will. Wonder what you'll be rolling?
Look forward to hearing your feedback. I figure If I'm thinking about it, some of you are probably as well.
Comments
I don't, but lots of people use discs. No problem. Winds will be 10-15 mph max (hopefully). I'm using a set of 1080's.
I know nothing of tubulars.
My FTP is 250. I've been running a 12/23 cassette the last few months with plan to use for this race. I used the 23 very little, but I found myself spinning out on the long downhill in the 50/12 due to tailwind on 3 days I've been here. I plan to ask permission for using 11/23 with my compact. It is customary to ask Rich's permission to use an 11/23, lest a kick in the nutz.
Thanks for the input Terry. Good thing about the disc cover is you can make a decision as late as Saturday depending on the wind.
Can I ask what speed were you travelling (if you recall) while spinning in the 50x11? Were you above 30-32mph? Thanks again, D
I've been riding 26-11 + compact for a while and spent a lot of time with a 25-12 this summer. I spin out with the 50-11 at about 42-43mph and >120rpm. The 50-12 is the same at about 37-38mph, roughly.
David - good input, thanks. I did some more digging to answer how many watts would I actually save. Based on these test results I could save about 14 watts by switching back to the Vittoria EVOs over the Conti's (not exactly the same tire, but probably close enough). Other reading I've done indicates it might be 4-5 minutes saved per 100 miles. I'll take the watts and the time saved too.
One of the main issues I've had with the Vittoria's has been maintaining tire pressure. Might just buy a new set today instead of recycling the old ones. If I had to do it all over again, I would have selected clinchers over tubulars, hands down.