96% of Cyclists Get Their Tyre Pressure Wrong. How To Get It Right

Summary

This video explores the critical impact of tire pressure on cycling performance, using the advanced pedling efficiency rig at Silverstone. It reveals that even a cheap tire at optimal pressure can outperform an expensive one at the wrong pressure. The test compares tire pressure effects on different surfaces, like cobbles and asphalt, and shows how pressure adjustments can significantly alter power output and comfort. The results suggest that tire pressure is more crucial than bike quality for efficiency and that wider tires at lower pressures offer comfort and grip, especially on rough surfaces.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Tire pressure significantly impacts cycling efficiency and speed, with incorrect pressure potentially slowing riders down more than骑着不合适的轮胎压力可能会比骑着一辆昂贵的自行车更慢。
• 🎯 Proper tire pressure can make a cheaper tire outperform an expensive one when optimized, highlighting the importance of getting pressure right over spending more on high-end tires.
• 🚴‍♂️ The Silverstone Sports engineering Hub's pedling efficiency rig offers a unique opportunity to measure the impact of tire pressure on cycling performance.
• 🌐 Different surfaces, like cobbles and asphalt, require different optimal tire pressures to ensure the best performance.
• 📉 On rough surfaces like cobbles, tire pressure becomes even more critical, with significant power savings possible by adjusting pressure correctly.
• 🚲 Wider tires allow for lower pressures without bottoming out, providing a comfort and performance advantage on rough terrain.
• 📊 The rig's high data resolution (100 Hertz) provides precise measurements, allowing for detailed analysis of骑行效率测试仪的高数据分辨率（100赫兹）提供了精确的测量，允许对骑行效率进行详细分析。
• 🔬 Rider efficiency can vary, emphasizing the need for consistent rider input when testing to ensure accurate results.
• 🌡️ Tire temperature is monitored to ensure consistent results, as tire efficiency can change with temperature.
• 🏆 The Paris Olympics course was replicated on the rig's drum, showing how Olympians used this technology to optimize their setup.
• 📉 On smooth surfaces like tarmac, both tested tires were optimal at five bar, aligning with the Silca tire pressure calculator's recommendations.

Q & A

How important is tire pressure for cyclists?

Tire pressure is massively important for cyclists as it can significantly affect speed and performance. Getting it wrong can slow a cyclist down more than骑着一辆昂贵的自行车但使用不当的轮胎压力。

What does the Silverstone Sports engineering Hub's new pedling efficiency rig measure?

The rig measures the rolling resistance effect of different surfaces and can provide insights into how tire pressure affects cycling efficiency.

What was the Paris Olympic course replica made for?

The Paris Olympic course replica was made for the drum of the pedling efficiency rig to help Olympians optimize their setup.

What is the significance of tire pressure on different surfaces?

Tire pressure can greatly affect a cyclist's performance on different surfaces. For example, on a smooth surface, the optimal pressure might be different from that on cobbles or rough road surfaces.

What was the optimal tire pressure found for the tested 28mm tires on a good tarmac surface?

The optimal tire pressure for the tested 28mm tires on a good tarmac surface was found to be five bar, which is approximately 72 psi.

How much power loss was observed when the premium tire was at the wrong pressure?

When the premium tire was at the wrong pressure, a power loss of 23.7 Watts was observed.

What was the power loss when riding on cobbles at four bar pressure?

Riding on cobbles at four bar pressure resulted in a power loss of 95.9 Watts, which is highly inefficient.

What is the recommended pressure for a 32mm tire according to the script?

The recommended pressure for a 32mm tire, as tested, was four bar.

What was the observed effect of tire width on performance?

Wider tires, when tested at their recommended pressures, were found to be slightly slower than narrower ones. However, the wider tires offered better comfort and grip, which could be advantageous in certain conditions.

What is the role of tire temperature in testing rolling resistance?

Tire temperature plays a crucial role in testing rolling resistance as it can affect the efficiency of the tires. The rig used an infrared sensor to monitor and maintain consistent tire temperature during tests.

How does the rig's sensitivity allow for precise measurement of system efficiency?

The rig's sensitivity allows for precise measurement of system efficiency by measuring at a sample rate of 100 Hertz, which is much higher than standard power meters, providing more detailed data and allowing for the detection of small changes in efficiency due to variables like tire pressure.