On Fri Jan 24 14:33:53 2025 Frank Krygowski wrote:
In another forum, someone postulated that integrated brake & shift
levers (like STI) were the most significant bit of racing technology
ever designed for increasing speed. But that claim met with little
respect. One skeptic noted that there was no great increase in average
race speeds in Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Leige-Bastogne-Leige or Giro de Lobardia since about 1960, including
during the era of STI adoption. By contrast, in the years 1930 - 1960 average speeds increased around 30%. (Note: That does not mean that STI
is not tactically beneficial. That's a separate issue.)
But if not STI, what were the most significant tech developments
regarding bicycle race speeds?
Here?s my list:
Pedals & cranks, as opposed to scooting a ?hobby horse? via feet on the ground.
Tubular metal frames and wire tension (spoke) wheels.
Large driven wheels, to give a much higher effective ?gear.? (The
Ordinary or Penny Farthing)
The ?Safety Bicycle? with a diamond frame and chain drive, getting the
rider down lower, to greatly reduce aero drag as well as pitchover on braking.
Pneumatic tires. Hard tired ?safeties? had terrible rolling resistance.
The handlebar stem, invented by the heroic Major Taylor, to allow a much
more aero riding position.
Rim brakes, by whatever mechanism, as opposed to spoon brakes acting on
a tire.
Multiple gears, by whatever mechanism.
The derailleur, making multiple gears easy to shift, customizable and
light weight.
Recumbent geometry in some situations. Recumbents seem to be slower
uphill, but tend to be faster on level or downhills
Fully enclosed streamlined aero shells tremendously increased speed, but
at a great reduction in versatility and practicality.
Beyond those, ISTM that most developments have been chasing ever
diminishing returns.
Frank, using average speeds of flat races where the riders are in high gear all of the time, the roads have been vastely degrading year to year and the distances have been being reduced is hardly a way to measure the effect of shifting components.
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