On a cobbled course like Paris Roubaix, some pro racers ride 28mm tubulars--not 42mm 650b Compass tires, but not 23mm racing tubulars either. Pro racers can also change bikes mid-race. Chris Froome changed bike when they began the second circuit during the Olymplic men's road race. Given what happened to the Men's race a day ahead (when two out of the three in the leading group crashed on the descent and the third lost the lead in the final meters), I think it is a highly reasonable strategy for the women racers to switch to bike sporting 28mm tubulars with lower pressure for the descent to maintain speed while staying safe. But none did it, and a racer in the lead group crashed again!
Jan did have access to wind tunnel in his early tire tests, not sure if the resource is available to him and BQ anymore. I don't recall the wide tires being disadvantaged because of aerodynamics in his tests. Jan's premise was always that on smooth as baby's face tarmac, skinny and high-pressured tires maintain their advantage, but on pavement of everyday (and lesser) quality, then the dampening from the wider tires to prevent vibration loss win out. I don't think he rides tires only because he likes them, but because they offer real performance advantages in the conditions described. Having been to Brazil and the very highway that the race was on, I recall that pavement quality is uneven at best. I wouldn't be surprised if someone riding high-quality 700cx32mm tires can maintain the same performance as when they ride 23mm tubulars. But of course race bikes have to be constructed to fit tires that wide (they already do up to 28mm for Paris-Roubaix) Franklyn On Monday, August 8, 2016 at 11:26:55 AM UTC-7, Ryan Fleming wrote: > > Well, Patrick, it was a beautiful ride and a very gallant effort... and in > defeat she was extremely gracious..I was cheering for her and gutted about > the young Dutchwoman Van Vleuten's crash. That's why I feel bike racing is > an epic sport in the truest sense of the word and I still continue to watch > it despite all the doping BS...and in the Olympics despite the noise and BS > you still have these profoundly uplifting moments. Maybe the Olympics give > us a chance to get in touch with our better natures. > > On Monday, August 8, 2016 at 12:23:44 PM UTC-5, Deacon Patrick wrote: >> >> This WSJ article by Jason Gay does a great job of capturing the bike race >> in a stunningly Rivendelian spirit, as evidenced by the Headline: "Mara >> Abbott's Beautiful Ride in Rio": >> >> http://www.wsj.com/articles/mara-abbotts-beautiful-ride-in-rio-1470615782?mod=rss_Sports >> >> With abandon, >> Patrick >> >> On Monday, August 8, 2016 at 10:57:11 AM UTC-6, Patrick Moore wrote: >>> >>> Aha, the Olympics -- those things. I forgot about them. Unfortunately, >>> no TV ... Am trying to catch glimpses on youtube. >>> >>>> >>>>>> Patrick: I've been watching on NBColympics.com. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
