On Tuesday, January 15, 2013 11:18:01 PM UTC-5, charlie wrote: > > I think this whole frame flex business has something to do with rider > power and weight also. >
Yes, that's the idea - planing is realizing optimal frame flex characteristics for a given rider. Kind of like getting fit for a pair of xc skis, which are fit by weight in order to optimize flex, and therefore, performance. Anyway, most folks riding performance oriented bikes (for the sake of actual performance) are way, way under 200lbs so the conversation naturally revolves around lightweight frames - I don't think anybody is arguing that a Clydesdale needs to be on a super flexy frame to experience "planing" or maximize their performance on the bike (which, at that weight, probably isn't a concern). In any event, it's definitely splitting hairs as going fast on a bike is primarily determined by power to weight ratio and aerobic capacity - even if Jan is right that we can eek some extra wattage by optimizing frame flex, that still takes a backseat along with tires and all the other stuff, which eflayer wrote, results in a subtle appreciation of the overall quality of the ride. We develop preferences based on those subtleties and eventually land on something that works for us if we're paying attention or geeky enough to care. It's certainly related to performance to some degree, but I'd argue that it's more of a conversation about preferences and feel - stuff that is mostly subjective and fun to babble about. Performance is another matter all together, and one that should focus on the rider and not the bike, which becomes largely irrelevant (so long as we're talking apples to apples) when you start talking about about rider's physiology - the stuff that is entirely objective and puts real performance into perspective. It's hard to overstate the difference between the engines of a Cat 2 amateur racer or a Jan Heine and the enthusiast who does the occasional event whether it's racing, randonneuring, club riding or whatever. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/HflyNi4HQyAJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
