Pimp My Ride - Cycle Edition

Can I just say, if you want to make your commute on a bicycle more enjoyable... maintain your bike properly.

The gains in average commute speed shown below are mostly due to proper maintainance!


Tips for increasing your speed ranked according to effectiveness!

Tip 1. Save 3km/h - If you have a mountainbike - swap the dirt treads for road tyres. Descents are much faster. Dirt tyres have great grip, through high surface area contact to the ground. Road tyres a smooth profile and less grip, but this is only needed while breaking or cornering. If you don't feel confident cornering on road tyres, then try semi slicks, with a high grip profile on the parts of the tyres used in cornering.

Tip 2. Save 1.5km/h - Keep the tyre pressure as close to your tyres maximum pressure rating as possible. The higher the pressure, the less the tyre deforms, the less contact with the ground. This reduces energy loss due to friction, and puts it into generating momentum. Be warned, as you have less grip, and reduced breaking power.

Tip 3. Save 1km/h - Check your brakes. You only want to use them when stopping. Brakes Rubbing against the wheel waste energy, and sap energy on ascents. If your wheel is buckled, you may be able to straighten it by adjusting the tension on your spokes.

Tip 4. Save 1km/h - Grease up! Buy the tools, and find out how your hubs are assembled. If your hubs aren't setup correctly, then the energy lost is actually causing damage to the Hubs. Old or missing grease, creates unwanted heat & noise. Overtightening will squeeze the bearings and increase loss to friction, more heat and noise. Loose hubs, will move off center cornering and cause uneven wear to bearings and brakes.

Tip 5. Save time - Plan ahead. Optimise your route! Shortest does not equal quickest. Consider, road surface quality, traffic and pedestrian congestion, ascents, recovery after ascents... etc.