That’s a question I’ve had more than once lately. Professional mechanics? Best equipment with also availability of off-market 2x setups? Glorification of 1x in amateur culture? Better pedaling mechanics (higher cadence) at the WT level? Enough aero testing to debunk the wattages saved in a 1x setting?
For what it’s worth I’m moving from 1x to 2x Aerocoach ARCs this season in part because of the tech I’ve seen at the professional level. And also because I’m tired of the severe cross-chain mashing and the mechanical (and physiological) inefficiency that comes with it on some of the hilly TTs I’ll be facing again.
a) sponsor correct equipment b) they run massive front rings to get in the middle of the cassette. I imagine amateurs would be wiser to run slightly smaller single rings.
I always figured something like a 50T would be perfect for Tri’s back when I was doing that. Chain drops on a 1x TT bike would be a ball-ache I imagine though.
One argument is the world tour often chucks in hilly TTs; but the counterargument is that they have mechanics who could swap out the 1x ring of choice.
Another is cross chaining, but they remain in the big ring nearly all race long.
Chain drops are avoidable with narrow wide profiles and chain catchers.
A bigger ring means less articulation.
But yet - you won’t see a single person riding 1x.
Even when the sponsor offers a native 1x solution (Red AXS has a 1x aero chainring - the only people you ever see using it are gravel nerds).
The only reason I can really come up with is that they just spend a lot of time going small ring to big ring around tight city racecourses.
Does 2x big ring have a better chain line than 1x?
Assuming they’re aiming for the say 15t cog.
(I don’t know the answer)
(I definitely remember seeing some junior/U23 riders had 1x at the world’s TT, and that had a pretty nuggety hill in it - they aren’t World Tour of course)
WorldTour TT tech in the last 2-3 years has been cutting edge, though. It’s seemed like a trickle-down to amateurs than the other way around. Cockpits, tires, wheels, clothing, helmets, visors, shoe covers, and even BIG 2x combos….but 1x seems totally irrelevant to their scene.
Im sure its not the reason but I prefer 2rings as I train and race on the one TT bike. Indoors training is always done on the small ring (occasionally outdoors training too) but racing is always done on the big ring. Occasionally it probably would be ideal to use both in a race but I am always scared of a chain off or getting stuck in the small ring
I use a 60 on the front from Drag2Zero and a 11-30 11 speed on the rear - I swapped last year from a 53/39 - feels much nicer. I don’t have a chain catcher and the chain has never dropped (even when I crashed twice!) Chain line is better and also if you get a raging tail wind like I did once on the E2 last year you can crank it up to 40 mph without spinning out. Never had an issue lacking climbing gears even on the F14/25 but if you lived somewhere really hilly it may be an issue. That said I’m no power house 250-255W for a 25 so it isn’t just for big guys…you do need a good chain though as apparently worn chains are the biggest cause of chain drop on the in/out tooth chain rings.
I was track testing on Sunday, mainly checking for what the new UCI rules allow me (I am 186cm, means category 2), some helmet comparisons and last but not least I compared the teams designated TT suit with the road racing suit + Rule28 aero-base-layer.
To sum it up,
longer reach made me significantly faster, I will order the aerocoach 20deg risers now and also check those later this year as I am not on the hight limit yet.
POC Tempor is plenty fast on me, I am a little worried if I can hold that position for longer races, but I shall try that.
Rule 28 aero base layer is magic…
And of course the photographer of the day didnt get a single shot of me on the bike that they feel comfortable sharing, but they got this (my bike, other person in the background).
Last year i started with TT races and my first race was a 22km TT. (2 laps of 11km).
The first lap was 15:02 the second 14:54 and the end time 29:56. Both laps +/- the same power output 279w.
8 april i ride a 42km TT and i dont know how much power i have to ride. It will be 1 hour and a couple of minutes. I dont think i can manage 280w over 1 hour…
Different distanced races (and lots of other factors too) but at a very simple level and not being 100% scientific on the F2 course here for 10 miles (16km) I’m 239w, for a 15 miles (24km ) I’m 230w and ignoring my best 25mile (40k) TT I’m doing 220w. Generally a drop of but there is massive exceptions to that (I’ve had near zero drop off in some races and others I’ve been stronger with longer events. Google a Critical Power Calculator and it’ll come up with a prediction of what you can hold.
I did a base run with my teams TT-suite (long sleeves, rough fabric on the upper arm and the zipper on the shoulders to get more “material build up” / fabric hight than it would otherwise be allowed), then went on to do a run with the road race suite (short sleeves, normal, smooth fabric on the upper arm and a front zipper) with the aero base layer and last I tested only the road race suite, no base layer or anything.
The results are as follows, the TT suite being the reference:
Short sleeve road race suite + Rule 28 aero base layer → ~~ equal
Short sleeve road race suite + nothing → high single digit watts slower at 45km/h
To save you the hassle of stalking my teams clothing sponsor, its sportful
Regarding the Tempor, I orderd one now and will time-laps film myself once I got it on the indoor trainer to see how good I hold the position. Need to check on the position anyway as we moved the saddle 2cm back w/o adjusting its height and I feel like I sit too high now.
Great information. The base layer definitely seems to add more aggressive trips on the arms. I think it could compliment my new Velotec Pro8 suit well.
I did some rough testing and the pro8 isn’t as fast as the dynamic on me. I assume it’s due to less trips.
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