One of many things in cycling where you can for sure FEEL a difference but the actual delta in performance associated with the feeling is de minimus. So that’s the dissonance & it’s hard to shake. Stiffer cranks, stiffer frames, higher tire pressure…you may definitely feel a difference but in terms of actual performance there is no difference or a negative difference.
Locking out suspension may be the apex of cognitive dissonance. You can definitely, definitely feel a difference. Is there a difference? If there is it’s not measurable.
Ok, so let’s talk about heart rate. The assertion in the video was that there is a ‘clear metabolic difference’ between a locked out shock and an open shock. Really? This is where cognitive dissonance might be working it’s evil magic. Peak Torque started with the hypothesis that locked out is more efficient. Dylan didn’t see that but Peak Torque thought it must be true and Peak Torque is the guy that can get this correct. After investing some intellectual capital in the matter Peak Torque measured no difference…thus the dissonance.
Now comes the confabulation. Look, Peak Torque is a super smart engineer so if he says locked out is more efficient how can it not be? Either Peak Torque’s hypothesis was wrong or he is correct but the difference just can’t be detected…like dark matter or something. So based on Occams Razor it’s clear that the difference DOES exist j ust like Peak Torque says & it’s just impossible to measure.
One thing it definitely CAN NOT BE is that after doing a number of reps at 300W both seated and standing (first locked out then not locked out) as the morning sun climbed in the sky and the road warmed up…one thing it definitely CAN NOT BE is a little heart rate drift caused by natural fatigue of repeated 300W efforts and increasing ambient temperature and possibly a little thirst that accumulated over what Peak Torque told us was a long session of taking data.
Again, based on Occam’s Razor, the most reasonable explanation for that heart rate drift is that the damper of the shock was causing it. Not fatigue or ambient temp increase or thirst. And because of that, Peak Torque’s hypothesis is not only intact, but confirmed! Whew! That was close. High five, Peak Torque!