{"id":1909,"date":"2013-04-16T00:24:40","date_gmt":"2013-04-16T08:24:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jeffwerner.ca\/?p=1909"},"modified":"2014-10-07T20:46:01","modified_gmt":"2014-10-08T04:46:01","slug":"ride-your-stock-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jeffwerner.ca\/testa\/ride-your-stock-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"Ride Your Stock Bike"},"content":{"rendered":"

With every new bike I want to try a new riding position, not just replicate my old one. I always want to reduce fatigue, get more aero, generate more power. If you just got a new bike, ride it\u2014or better yet race it\u2014straight outta the box. It’s a way to quickly test a number of variables in the hopes of having an ‘a-ha!’\u2014or at least a ‘hmmm’\u2014moment with one of them.<\/p>\n

A new bike is your chance to be a new rider.<\/p>\n

After two races and two big rides on my new team bike I’ve already\u00a0moulded\u00a0much of myself to the new cockpit. So far it feels great. But I’m curious as to what, exactly, has changed that I haven’t noticed, or that I attribute to something unrelated. Is the frame really 2cm smaller or does it just feel that way because of the shorter stem? Do I feel faster because of the new paint job or because my back is flatter?<\/p>\n

You can figure a lot of this stuff out by simply looking up the frame measurements online, or at yourself in a mirror. But another way I’m learning about my position is by a visual hardware comparison with last year’s bike using photography and Photoshop. I want to see what, exactly, has changed in my set-up.<\/p>\n

\"Animation<\/a>
Animation showing this year’s Venge overlayed on last year’s Gennix R1. Major contact and measurable points in blue are aligned on the Venge and remain fixed when the R1 appears, for better comparison. Click for larger version.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Notice in the images above where some of the blue dots for the Venge line up on the R1; I’m surprised how different some of them are and how some are pretty bang on\u2014in particular look at:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • saddle position<\/li>\n
  • wheelbase<\/li>\n
  • BB centre<\/li>\n
  • headtube stack<\/li>\n
  • bar centre vs. bar drops<\/li>\n
  • brake lever throw<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    It’s also kind of trippy to watch the wheels grow big and black, then shrink, then grow again, the rear one all taking a bite out of the Venge’s seat tube…<\/p>\n

    Anyways, at the least it’s visually interesting to overlay photos of the two bikes and see where they differ aesthetically, and in basic frame sculpting. The more I turn the layers on and off, though, the more I’m starting to learn about the subtle differences. At the same time I’m\u00a0cross-referencing and reinforcing the visuals by checking the manufacturer’s specs and my own tape measurements.\u00a0The hope is I’ll start thinking about bike design and my position on them in new ways.<\/p>\n