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The Cyclist's Guide to Marginal Gains:How to Save Precious Watts
Cycling enthusiasts are always on the lookout for ways to enhance their performance and shave off precious seconds from their ride times. One of the most effective strategies to achieve this is through marginal gains—small, incremental improvements that collectively create a significant impact. From optimizing your bike setup to refining your riding technique, each gain contributes to saving valuable watts.
Why Marginal Gains Matter?
Marginal gains are important because they offer a way to get better without big changes. In cycling, every second counts, so small improvements can mean the difference between winning and losing. Marginal gains help cyclists improve by focusing on different areas, like adjusting equipment or altering training methods. This strategy encourages cyclists to always look for ways to get better and find new tips. These small gains add up to create a big advantage over time.
In this guide, we will delve into the top 10 marginal gains that can help cyclists maximize efficiency and boost their overall performance and become a faster, more efficient rider.
Tires / Tubes - Save Up To 44W
One of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your bike involves selecting the right tires. For cyclists who enjoy local weekend group rides and logging miles with friends, a common choice is the Schwalbe Durano Plus TwinSkin Folding Tire. These tires excel at durability and minimizing the risk of punctures, making them ideal for long rides. However, the same features that make them robust can also slow you down on race day due to higher rolling resistance. Rolling resistance is a critical factor in your ride's speed. By switching from these endurance tires to a high-performance option like the Schwalbe Pro One TT Evo Super Race Tubeless Tire, you can save approximately 13 watts per tire, resulting in a total of 26 watts saved. This change can make a significant difference in your overall cycling efficiency and race performance.
With your upgraded race tires now fitted, it's time to consider what goes inside them. Replacing your standard Butyl inner tubes with Latex Inner Tubes can lead to additional savings of 5 watts per wheel, totaling up to 10 watts for your entire setup. Latex Inner Tubes offer one of the most cost-effective upgrades for your road bike. They are slightly lighter, roll significantly faster, and typically cost only a few dollars more than standard tubes.
While we are on the topic of tubes and tires, let’s talk about tire pressure. Many tires list a maximum pressure of 120psi, and most people fill their tires to that level. The great news is, adjusting tire pressure doesn't cost anything.
You can use theSILCA Tire Pressure Calculatorto find the best pressure for your setup. Getting the pressure right can save you up to 8 watts of energy if your current pressure is far from ideal. Precision is important because even 5psi off from the perfect pressure can cost you 3 watts. Most basic pumps are off by about 5%. So, if your pump says 85psi, it might actually be over or under by more than 4psi.
Switching to theSuperPista Digital Floor Pump from SILCAor one ofLezyne Digital Pumpsgives you a pump that's accurate to within 1% of the actual pressure. This ensures you're getting the best pressure in your tires. By optimizing your tires, tubes, and pressure, you can gain about 44 watts of energy. This is one of the best and most economical ways to improve your bike’s performance.
Clothing Marginal Gains - Save Up To 35W
One of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your bike involves selecting the right tires. For cyclists who enjoy local weekend group ridAerodynamic drag slows down cyclists, so reducing it can really help you go faster. Surprisingly, over 70% of this drag comes from your body, not your bike. That's why wearing the right clothes can make a big difference. One easy change is to swap out your loose club jersey for a comfortable, high-performance skin suit like the Castelli Aero Race 7.0 Jersey.
This simple switch can save you 15 watts when riding at 25 mph, and you can save even more, up to 30 watts when you’re riding at 30 mph. Investing in high-quality aerodynamic clothing can result in noticeable performance improvements, allowing you to ride faster and more efficiently while spending less energy.
View Skin Suitses and logging miles with friends, a common choice is the Schwalbe Durano Plus TwinSkin Folding Tire. These tires excel at durability and minimizing the risk of punctures, making them ideal for long rides. However, the same features that make them robust can also slow you down on race day due to higher rolling resistance. Rolling resistance is a critical factor in your ride's speed. By switching from these endurance tires to a high-performance option like the Schwalbe Pro One TT Evo Super Race Tubeless Tire, you can save approximately 13 watts per tire, resulting in a total of 26 watts saved. This change can make a significant difference in your overall cycling efficiency and race performance.
While your comfortable knit socks are perfect for leisurely coffee shop rides, opting for aero socks like those from Silca and Castelli can offer a noticeable performance boost. These specialized socks can save you 4-8 watts of energy, contributing to small but significant improvements in speed and efficiency. Such items prove particularly advantageous during time trials and competitive races where every watt counts. By investing in aerodynamic socks, cyclists can experience remarkable enhancements in performance, resulting in a smoother and more efficient ride.
With your new skin suit and aero socks, you might feel that you've covered every aspect to boost your speed. However, one of the most significant sources of drag comes from your helmet. Selecting the right helmet is critical for both safety and aerodynamic performance. Aero helmets are specifically designed to reduce drag, allowing you to slice through the air more efficiently. These helmets feature a streamlined shape, smooth surfaces, and often come with fewer ventilation openings to minimize turbulence.
It's essential to choose a helmet that fits comfortably, ensuring it stays in place during your ride. Upgrading from your standard road helmet to an aerodynamic model, such as the ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 Helmet or Kask Wasabi Helmet, can save you an additional 15 watts. Ensuring every component is optimized can significantly enhance your performance and efficiency. By selecting a helmet that meets your safety needs while enhancing aerodynamic efficiency, you can improve your overall cycling performance and ride with greater confidence.
Drivetrain - Save Up To 18W
There’s a reason you see the bikes at the Tour de France receiving a thorough cleaning after every stage. As the old saying goes, a clean bike is a fast bike. Accumulated dirt, sand, and water can infiltrate your chain, potentially slowing you down by up to 6 watts after just one wet ride. Over time, this debris acts like liquid sandpaper, wearing down your chain, chainrings, and cassette.
At home, a deep clean with a hose is ideal. When on the go, consider using Muc-Off Microfibre Polishing Cloth to keep your chain gleaming. By maintaining a clean bike, you’ll be investing in speed rather than spending on frequent replacements due to premature wear.
After using some gear wipes to make your chain sparkle, it's essential to focus on selecting the appropriate chain lubricant. This often-overlooked aspect can significantly impact performance, as the quality of chain lubes varies widely.
The most effective chain treatment tested to date is the Secret Chain Blend Wax, capable of saving 6-8 watts compared to lower-end alternatives. If the application process of hot wax isn't for you, consider SILCA's Synergetic Chain Lube, the fastest oil-based option available, which can still save 4-6 watts. By maintaining a clean chain and choosing the best lubricant, you can save approximately 12 watts overall.
Frictional loss is another critical area to consider. Recently, there has been a trend towards using smaller chainrings and cogs to achieve the same gear ratios. This approach is understandable when aiming for a broad gear range in a1x setup, but it is less efficient. The once-common 53x39 chainring combination is now often replaced by 50t or even 48t configurations in local criteriums.
However, smaller chainrings and cogs cause the chain to make sharper bends around the cassette and chainrings, increasing friction. While this may seem like a minor detail, the impact is more significant than you might expect. For instance, a 53x11 and 48x10 gear offer nearly the same ratio of 126 gear inches, yet the 53x11 setup is 6 watts more efficient.
If your goal is to ride faster with less effort, opting for the largestchainringsandcassettesavailable is a logical choice. This strategy also helps maintain a better chainline, further enhancing efficiency. Save 6 watts by choosing larger chainrings.
Handlebars - Save Up To 10-14W
The leading edge of your bike is crucial for aerodynamics as it is the first area to encounter wind resistance. Streamlining this front-end section can significantly enhance your performance. Many bikes come equipped with a standard round drop handlebar and stem, suitable for casual rides but less efficient for competitive cycling. To optimize your bike's aerodynamics, consider upgrading to an aero handlebar like the ZIPP SL-80 Aero, which offers a 6.5-watt saving over a traditional round bar. For even greater efficiency, an integrated bar/stem combo can save you up to 10 watts compared to standard setups.
After selecting a new handlebar, you'll need to consider how to mount your head unit. Standard out-front mounts are not designed with aerodynamics in mind. Upgrading to an aero mount like the Silca Chisela Computer Mount can provide an additional 3-6 watts of savings. By refining your handlebars and mount, you can achieve a combined wattage gain of 10-14 watts, significantly improving your cycling efficiency.
For those riders who occasionally neglect bike maintenance and have prioritized durability over speed in their component choices, we've outlined our top road bike upgrades to help you save over 100 watts for your next race. Paying attention to the little things can really make a big difference, and investing in the right upgrades can lead to the best marginal gains.
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