Performance - single speed flatbar versus 20 speed roadie

rjcastillo

Here's the conundrum. I've just splashed out on a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 alu carb to replace my old (very old!!) steel framed, flatbarred, single speed roadie of Reg Harris pedigree.

So why on earth am I taking 2-4 minutes longer on my commute on the new bike?!? To add to the irony my average speed appears to be better, and I can't see a difference in the traffic.

Any thoughts?

Clever Pun

if your average speed is up and your time is up... you're doing more distance

that or your cycle comp needs tweaking

rjcastillo

Same route, GPS based computer, faster average speed, better top speeds.

Maybe the water bottle I now have is tempting me to stop more, or perhaps I filter less, being precious about the new lovely toy!!

Greg T

Hmmmm.

Assuming your route hasn't changed and your 'puter shows a higher avg speed then you must be getting there faster (on average)....

Has your wheel size changed?

You may be going slower but spinning faster? Was your last fixie a Penny Farthing? If yes and you haven't changed your Wheel Size in your 'Puter it will think you are moving faster than you actually are (100 RPM on a penny farthing = warp 5.4)

GT

2wheelzgood

I bet it's to do with how the puter calcultes avg speed. with a fixe I bet you'll have stopped way less than the geared. stopping really reduces the avg speed.

i don't pay that much attention to avg speed figures in towns as it's stop start. I look at the clock and see the actual time (not riding time spend moving, which is what pooters do) and work it out by distance covered.

still, serves you right for going back to gears!

navt

How's the Bianchi? I am thinking of getting the same... in addition to my Genesis flatbar I may add (because I simply love it).

rjcastillo

Navt, the bike is great. Well built, light, comfy, etc. I'd recommend it.

Wooliferkins

RJ
Annoying isn't it! I've always put it down to all the moving parts in a geared system and that you are applying constant power on a fixed/single speed system. I could never beat my commute time on the fixie and now it is only a nasty short sharp hill that buggers me.

andrewc3142

Sounds arithmetically improbable. Have you fed in the right tyre size?

rjcastillo

The computer is GPS based, so it really is measuring my speed across ground.

I think it's likely that I'm stopping more, being less protective of the momentum I've worked so hard to build up.

_Brun_

Does your computer auto-pause when stationary? That's a good way to confuse average speed and total journey time.

rjcastillo

No, and I baulk at the thought of removing the pauses from the graph manually! I commute through London so you can imagine how often I stop (stop sniggering, all your RLJers out there!).

il_principe

It's just because SS bikes posses a commuting mojo that makes them faster than any geared bike whilst commuting. I've noticed this phenomenon before when commuting in on the racer.

johnno_uk

navt wrote:

How's the Bianchi? I am thinking of getting the same... in addition to my Genesis flatbar I may add (because I simply love it).

Which Genesis flatbar do you have ? I cannot find them on the ridgeback www site....

I have a Bianchi Via Nirone C2C Alu/Carbon Ultegra (59cm) in Celestial white - i'm about to sell as i want a Genesis Day 03/04 - i'm having bad back problems and the drop handlebards just don't agree with me. Be interested in your views on the Genesis - looks fantastic.

navt

2007 Day 01. Try the Genesis bikes website instead. The bike is beautiful. Only regret not going for a higher-spec like the 03 or 04. I would describe the handling as sharp. You just point and shoot. I really like the way it changes direction. It really does fly. But after a year of commuting on it, I am yearning for a drop bar, but then again, I never gave my back a second thought...