9 Easy Speed Upgrades
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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00:00 (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]