{"id":41210,"date":"2022-09-15T16:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T14:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=696972"},"modified":"2022-09-15T16:21:41","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T14:21:41","slug":"bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics\/","title":{"rendered":"BikeRadar Podcast | Josh Poertner on 3D printing, the benefits of quality chain lubricants, tyres and aerodynamics"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Oscar Huckle\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 15 September 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Senior technical writer Simon von Bromley recently got the chance to sit down with Josh Poertner, CEO of Silca.<\/p>\n

In a fascinating conversation for the BikeRadar podcast, they covered subjects such as the use and future of 3D printing, Silca being a brand at the cutting edge of the technology.<\/p>\n

They also discussed the benefits of quality chain lubricants, as well as why more expensive tyres are worth the investment.<\/p>\n

The pair also explored the benefits of aerodynamic wheels and the evolution of aerodynamics and its associated testing.<\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast for the full conversation \u2013 otherwise, we\u2019ve included an edited Q&A below featuring some of the most interesting questions.<\/p>\n\n<h2>3D printing<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-653005\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/TopSection-sw_1800x1800-2771645.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Silca\u2019s titanium cleats are one example of its 3D-printed products.<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"> <i>Silca<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<p><strong>Simon:<\/strong> What are the advantages of 3D printing from a manufacturer and consumer point of view? We hear a lot about it, but it hasn\u2019t gone mainstream yet.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Josh:<\/strong> I look at this technology and there\u2019s no doubt in my mind that it\u2019s the future of all manufacturing, maybe not the two-, five- or 10-year future, but certainly the 50-year future.<\/p>\n<p>The real advantages are that you can essentially print anything in any geometry, almost without limit.<\/p>\n<p>You can print unlimited geometries on the inside of things, which has never been possible before.<\/p>\n<p>The last [benefit] is, with really one or two raw materials, a 3D printer can make anything.<\/p>\n<p>If you think we\u2019re going to build a colony on the moon or on Mars, you\u2019re not going to send lathes and mills and multi-access machining centres because with all those machines, you have to use specific inputs. You have to have bar stock, tube or plate stock. Each machine requires its own type of material and can only do limited actions.<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=298%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?quality=90&resize=298%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=403%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?quality=90&resize=403%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=553%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?quality=90&resize=553%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=619%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=406%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?quality=90&resize=406%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-652008\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Six-of-the-best-GPS-computer-mounts-05-fd07e9d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Silca\u2019s Mensola computer mount was its first 3D-printed product.<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"> <i>Russell Burton \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<p>If you have a 3D printer and powder, in our case titanium powder, and a printer, you can print anything with that.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s clearly the future and [another benefit] is the environmental impact of these machines.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re machining titanium or aluminium, you have what we call in aerospace the \u2018buy to fly\u2019 ratio and typically, you\u2019re buying 10 times more material than ends up in your finished part, and so you have a roughly 90 per cent scrap or waste rate and that material needs to be cleaned or recycled, and in some cases the material can\u2019t be recycled.<\/p>\n<p>Whereas with powder for 3D printing, we end up with about a 98 to 99 per cent use rate because the powder that isn\u2019t solidified in one print just gets recycled through the machine and can be printed in the next print.<\/p>\n<p>So while the tech is pretty new, it\u2019s super-expensive, I want to make sure we\u2019re at the cutting edge of how to do it because when it starts to become mainstream, I want to make sure we have a 10-year head start on everyone else.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Simon:<\/strong> What\u2019s preventing us from getting on the moon?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Josh:<\/strong> Well, the machines are very expensive\u2026 Titanium bar stock or plate is somewhere in the order of $50 a pound and titanium powder for 3D printing is somewhere in the order of $500 a pound. You do get a much higher use percentage of it but the investment to get into this space is pretty high.<\/p>\n<section class=\""highlight\"><div class=\""highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> <h2><span style=\""font-weight:\">Who is Josh Poertner?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Josh Poertner is the CEO of Silca, one of the oldest and most innovative companies in cycling.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Silca manufactures cutting-edge products that often differ from convention and prioritise quality and function over cost. It was the first cycling brand to put a gauge on a pump and to develop a regulated CO2 cartridge. Now, its products range from tools to chain lubricants to 3D-printed items.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Before running Silca, Poertner worked for over 13 years at Zipp, developing aerodynamic wheels and components. He has also been a technical consultant for a number of professional teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Poertner is also the host of the Marginal Gains podcast, which we\u2019d thoroughly recommend and is full of rich tech nuggets.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p> <\/p><\/div> <\/section><h2>Chain lubricants<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=298%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?quality=90&resize=298%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=403%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?quality=90&resize=403%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=553%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?quality=90&resize=553%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=619%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=406%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?quality=90&resize=406%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-659382\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/silca-synergetic-723d30d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Silca\u2019s Synergetic chain lube attracts virtually no grime or grit.<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"> <i>Stan Portus \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<p><strong>Simon:<\/strong> One of the aspects Silca has been at the forefront of in recent years is drivetrain efficiency. Silca has massively expanded in the field of chain lubricant, with [both] wax-based and synergetic lubricants. Can you talk about why that makes such a big difference?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Josh:<\/strong> Efficiency\/friction is exciting in that it\u2019s a lot like tyre pressures. We\u2019ve been right at the forefront of changing people\u2019s thinking and I think the opportunity in these areas is fun. It\u2019s a space [where] conventional wisdom was believed to be settled\u2026 When you really dig into the technology, what you realise is we don\u2019t fully understand it and there\u2019s a lot of opportunity here to do better.<\/p>\n<p>I initially came into this way back in my Zipp days when we were looking at hot-melt waxing chains and we were trying to find a watt, or a half-watt of efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>It was really Zero Friction Cycling from Australia who brought in this element of wear in extending life and this concept of using the wear reduction as a proxy for friction, which ultimately we have multiple machines in house that can do a combination of things. As you can imagine, if you pack a chain with grease, you can really cut the wear, but the friction goes up.<\/p>\n<p>I think all of that groundwork laid over a 10-year period or so really came to help us during the pandemic when all of a sudden, you couldn\u2019t get a chain or cassette and this concept of \u2018we can make your chain last five to 10 times longer\u2019 [came to light].<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=355%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?quality=90&resize=355%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?quality=90&resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=556%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-275016\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/1450672897074-1l2ugrovbm9xu-964caf6-e1663227393388.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> A better-quality chain lubricant reduces wear.<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"> <i>David Rome \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<p>One of the companies now has a 600-day lead time for a chain \u2013 what are you going to be doing 600 days from now? That\u2019s a long time and in light of a shortage, that starts to make a lot of sense to people, and when you really get them thinking about the true cost of the chain wearing out, it takes the cassette with it and then the chainring.<\/p>\n<p>Some of these modern drivetrains can be $500 or $600 for a cassette and for me, it\u2019s a fun area because it hits those marginal gains or efficiency things, but it has all of these other pay-offs.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re also able to do it with very environmentally friendly ingredients and non-fluorinated ingredients such as PFAS.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re really hoping to drive this movement in the industry of removing PFAS from lubricants \u2013 we\u2019ve published our lubricant recipes because it\u2019s important.<\/p>\n<p>If you look at a traditional bottle of chain lube, it\u2019s like an environmental hand grenade. It\u2019s like 90 per cent heptane or pentane or some nasty chemical and maybe 10 to 15 per cent PFAS chemicals. They cause birth defects, cancer rates and we\u2019re pouring that crap on our chains and letting it fall off our chains into the environment. It\u2019s just madness.<\/p>\n<p>Those lubricants are all quite high chain wear \u2013 so it\u2019s like a triple disaster and there\u2019s half a dozen companies that have built their companies on that. This is why we tell you what\u2019s in our products.<\/p>\n<h2>Tyres<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-659370\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/12\/20211220_SB_5DSR_MG_4880-45acd59.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Quality tyres grip well and puncture infrequently, while upping your average speed.<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"> <i>Simon von Bromley \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<p><strong>Simon:<\/strong> Why are good tyres so important, and what are the differences we can expect between a good and bad road tyre, for example?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Josh:<\/strong> This one\u2019s just beyond huge and really does highlight the challenge we have as humans of the limits of our perception. Just like the \u2018can you really tell the difference between this chain lube and that chain lube?\u2019 Probably not.\u201d People feel the difference between tyres, even when the differences are quite large.<\/p>\n<p>One of the challenges is that humans are really bad at perceiving speed. Our eyes are set a little close together and our brains process it at a rate\u2026 we\u2019re really not great at processing speed, that\u2019s why people get hit by trains. They look and they see the train coming and it\u2019s hard for them to process how fast it\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, when we\u2019re riding, is this 25 or 26km an hour? You really can\u2019t tell that very accurately.<\/p>\n<p>So our brains use proxies for speed sense, so things like wind noise becomes a proxy for speed\u2026 The big one we use is vibration as a proxy for speed.<\/p>\n<p>The higher the frequency the vibration, the faster we feel like we\u2019re going. Of course, the problem with this is it biases us towards things like higher tyre pressure, which makes more vibration come through.<\/p>\n<p>It biases us towards stiffer-casing tyres or tyres with lower-quality rubber compounds because they\u2019ll transfer more vibration through to the rider.<\/p>\n<p>If you think back 20 years, it was really cool to buy some Tufo tyres and pump them to 160psi and feel like you\u2019re flying. Now, of course, we have power meters and wind-tunnel data, you actually feel like you\u2019re going slower on more watts compared to a supple tyre.<\/p>\n<p>The optimum word for tyre selection is \u2018supple\u2019 and what that really means is you want the lowest amount of damping in the tyre, or as engineers would call it hysteresis.<\/p>\n<p>You want a tyre that\u2019s super-flexible and pliable and that will give you the truest spring rate relative to the air pressure you\u2019re putting in the tyre.<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-690726\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/20220721SvBX-E3DSF7897-c468fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Tyres are the most meaningful upgrade you can make to your bike.<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"> <i>Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<p>If you think of it like a suspension fork, the air pressure controls the spring rate and the tyre construction controls the damping and in the case of efficiency, comfort and even handling. You want as little damping as possible because you want the tyre to respond as quickly as possible to changes in road surfaces.<\/p>\n<p>What is the benefit of this? Well, it\u2019s faster-rolling, so you\u2019re losing fewer watts from heat where the tyre meets the road. You\u2019re improving grip and grip consistency and you improve comfort.<\/p>\n<p>The tyre is literally the only thing connecting you to the road. It is the only thing that\u2019s transmitting all of the forces, it\u2019s doing all the physics. You want traction, cornering, acceleration, deceleration \u2013 all of that has to go through that tyre.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re going to start spending money somewhere to improve your experience, the tyres are the best place and the best bang for your buck by far.<\/p>\n<h2>Aerodynamics<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-653520\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/11\/Orbea-Orca-Aero-M10iLTD_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4346-938d172.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> As aerodynamics have come to the fore, bicycle design has changed considerably.<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"> <i>Simon Bromley \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<p><strong>Simon:<\/strong> Why do people get rubbed up the wrong way between aero and lightweight?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Josh:<\/strong> I think it\u2019s a problem we\u2019ve had since the beginning of Zipp. You can\u2019t really feel it.<\/p>\n<p>Weight is so obvious, you can pick up two things and generally tell which one is lighter. You can put it on the kitchen scale. We have easy and cheap tools for measuring it and you think you have this mental model of \u2018why does weight help you?\u2019 Well, you don\u2019t have to take it up the hill. It\u2019s super-obvious.<\/p>\n<p>Aero is much harder \u2013 you can\u2019t feel it. It\u2019s affected by wind speed and not ground speed, that\u2019s a big thing for people and we don\u2019t have great tools to measure it. It\u2019s coming \u2013 in a way that people can sense straightaway.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest tool for me in my career that enabled aero to happen, at the level it\u2019s happened, is the power meter. I think I spent two years talking with literally every single European team director about aero wheels and not one of them would even take a meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Bjarne Riis would take a meeting with us and he had been on SRM for a couple of years, really understood power. When you put him on different wheels back to back, you could see the speed differential at a given power in the data clear as day, and he was really the first one to say \u201cI get this\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Up until that point, you had a lot of people doing things that seemed or looked aero. I\u2019m a huge fan of the crazy superbikes of the 90s, but the reality is that other than the Lotus or Zipp bike and maybe one or two others, most, if not all of them were just designed to look cool by people who had no idea what they were doing and with no development or testing of any type behind them.<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-686613\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1241647082-e10fe19.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> The exploration of aerodynamics transformed the pro peloton.<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>I won\u2019t name names, but there are definite instances of bikes that looked exotic, fast or super-cool, but they were no faster than the bike they were replacing, so I think it became easier for people to start discounting aero. If aero is so much faster, why aren\u2019t the riders going any faster?<\/p>\n<p>The one that changed everyone\u2019s mind was [Greg] LeMond, 1989 Tour de France in the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es time trial where he [managed an] unimaginable performance because he used aero bars and [Laurent] Fignon didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s clear as day when you put a person on clip-ons, the math is right there \u2013 you go fast enough to win that race. That started the change but people were doing what they thought was aero rather than what they knew or could prove was aero. Adoption was slow for that piece.<\/p>\n<p>I think aero sensors are the next power meter in my mind, and that\u2019s going to be the thing for people to see the differences.<\/p>\n<p>This is all marginal gains. To make it not marginal gains, you take the Cerv\u00e9lo S5 road bike of today and put a power meter on it and take a steel, such as the LeMond TVT from behind me, and we put two riders on those with power meters and the difference from then to now is absolutely massive.<\/p>\n<p>The challenge we have for a lot of people is the relativism that\u2019s happening. This year\u2019s S5 doesn\u2019t seem that much faster \u2013 that\u2019s because the S5 of two years ago was a bloody fast bike.<\/p>\n<p>The marginal gains are becoming even more marginal because the level of optimisation is becoming so high, but when you look at it on aggregate, you are seeing it from a <em>Moneyball<\/em>, if you\u2019re familiar with that book or film, what happens when every rider from every team is aero-optimised and has some proper understanding of tyres and pressures \u2013 the whole peloton goes faster in a notable way.<\/p>\n<h2>Subscribe to the BikeRadar Podcast<\/h2>\n<p>Make sure you subscribe to the <a href=\""https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/bikeradar-podcast\/"\">BikeRadar Podcast<\/a> via <a href=\""https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/gb\/podcast\/the-bikeradar-podcast\/id1461106709"\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>, <a href=\""https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/6aLvE13Bge7WC7AWbiR3LS"\">Spotify<\/a> or your chosen podcast provider, so you don\u2019t miss an episode.<\/p>\n<p>The BikeRadar Podcast takes you to the heart of the issues that matter, whether you\u2019re a roadie, mountain biker, gravel rider or commuter.<\/p>\n<p>From the latest tech news, reviews and debates, to interviews with the biggest personalities in cycling, the podcast is your direct line into the BikeRadar team.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Oscar Huckle Published: Thursday, 15 September 2022 at 12:00 am Senior technical writer Simon von Bromley recently got the chance to sit down with Josh Poertner, CEO of Silca. In a fascinating conversation for the BikeRadar podcast, they covered subjects such as the use and future of 3D printing, Silca being a brand at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":41211,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"13"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/bikeradar-podcast-josh-poertner-on-3d-printing-the-benefits-of-quality-chain-lubricants-tyres-and-aerodynamics-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Oscar Huckle Published: Thursday, 15 September 2022 at 12:00 am Senior technical writer Simon von Bromley recently got the chance to sit down with Josh Poertner, CEO of Silca. In a fascinating conversation for the BikeRadar podcast, they covered subjects such as the use and future of 3D printing, Silca being a brand at…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/41210"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}