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!
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00:00Although there are more joys to cycling than simply speed, we've surely all felt the urge to go faster.
00:11Consistent training might be the most effective path to upping the pace,
00:15but there is a certain delight in the mechanical challenge and the instant results of optimising your bike for maximum speed.
00:22We can't deny we've all been tempted by a bling upgrade in our time.
00:27So, without further ado, here are our 9 tips for making your bike faster.
00:40Standard black butyl inner tubes may be cheap and relatively robust, but they aren't particularly fast.
00:47Friction between the tube and the tyre increases rolling resistance compared to latex inner tubes,
00:52which cause around 5 watts less friction per wheel.
00:56They're also lighter too.
00:58The downsides are the cost, which is around 3 times more, and the fact that latex inner tubes are a little more fragile.
01:05You could ditch the inner tube altogether and go tubeless, although costs can ramp up quite quickly,
01:11with the necessary specific kit such as wheels, tyres, valves, tape and sealant.
01:17It is proven to be faster though.
01:25Better brakes allow for greater stopping power, allowing you to brake later into corners, enabling you to carry more speed.
01:32If you're using rim brakes, upgrading to a set with a separate pad and shoe will make your brakes feel less spongy, more direct and increase modulation.
01:40As will swapping out the brake cable housing for a version with less compression.
01:47Changing to pads with a grippier compound, or one that's better suited to your riding conditions, for example the wet, will also help to increase the performance.
01:55For those using disc brakes, increasing the rotor size will add power to your braking, and top quality pads aren't significantly more expensive either, making for quite a cost effective upgrade.
02:07If you're looking to eke out every marginal gain, you could replace your bearings with some ceramic alternatives.
02:20If you do go down this line, just make sure you get someone with a ceramic race to go with the ceramic balls,
02:25because steel racers are prone to getting pitted when used with the hard ceramic balls, which degrades the performance of the bearing.
02:32If ceramic options are a touch plush, then a replacement set of good quality steel bearings shouldn't cost the earth, but can have a large effect on how fast you can go.
02:48Air resistance is one of the greatest forces you have to contend with, so any upgrades that can put the rider in a more aero position will have a significant effect on speed.
02:58You could invest in a fancy carbon aero profiled handlebar, but simply going narrower, even with an ordinary round and aluminium bar, can provide greater gains and doesn't have to break the bank.
03:09Although aero and lightweight might be the flashier upgrades, there's still some serious watts to be saved from tyres with lower rolling resistance.
03:24For example, the Vittoria Corsa Speed G Plus 2.0 TLR may not have the fastest name to say, but they are widely regarded as some of the fastest tyres available.
03:35Independent testing from BicycleRollingResistance.com puts the rolling resistance of the 25mm version at 7.5 watts when pumped up to 100 psi.
03:46What's more, going for a top end tyre will add comfort and grip to your ride, reducing fatigue overall.
03:52Not only is it easier to put out power on a bike that is set up correctly for you, but it can also help get you into a more aerodynamic position.
04:06Enlisting the help of a professional bike fitter will enable you to test out a range of components to find out what works best for you.
04:13Whether that's a change to shorter cranks to enable a lower front end position and a flatter back, or a switch to a shorter nose saddle to make it more comfortable to stay in an aero position.
04:24A deeper section rim will reduce aerodynamic drag while a set of shallow carbon wheels can both reduce weight and increase rolling speed.
04:39A lower spoke count makes the wheelset lighter and will also further improve the aerodynamics.
04:45While a hub machined to greater tolerances can make the bearings run more smoothly and even increase service life.
04:51Fortunately, you no longer have to spend more on the wheels than you did on the bike.
04:56There are plenty of high quality aluminium wheelsets that have a relatively deep section.
05:09If your tyres are too hard, you'll expend greater energy chattering over imperfections in the road surface.
05:14Too soft, and the increased contact area will slow you down.
05:18Although most track pumps do come with a pressure gauge, the cheaper ones tend to be quite inaccurate,
05:23and even the more expensive ones can make small adjustments difficult to execute.
05:27A digital pressure gauge, or an analogue one with a usable scale, will help you get the best out of your tyres and leave you riding faster.
05:35Finally, the most effective, albeit less glamorous, route to a faster bike is a proper maintenance schedule.
05:49Keeping your drivetrain clean can save you precious watts.
05:53A specific degreaser certainly makes it easier, just don't forget to dry and relube the chain once you're done.
05:59Another common issue is brake rub, and if an adjustment of a calliper is all that's necessary,
06:04then it's an easy fix that can save you energy and annoyance out on the road.
06:08However, something like an out of tree wheel is a bigger ask, and that might be a job for the local bike shop.
06:14So, there you go, 9 ways to increase the speed of your bike.
06:20If you have liked this video, then please do drop us a thumbs up and be sure to subscribe to the channel for more great tech content.
06:27Of course, feel free to leave us any comments and questions that you might have.