Hill climbing calibration
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 10:36 am
I'm looking for comments about whether my recent experience makes any sense to anyone. On two consecutive rides on the 7%-10% section of Ventoux 1, I found myself pushing a much higher gear than I could ever do in reality. I had grade reduction modest (7% to 20% real became 7% to 15%), I maintained my usual 85 cadence and 150 watts, noted credible speed of about 4 mph- but was pushing gears of 50 (front)/18 (rear) or so. There is no way that I could really do that, and even in VeloReality, I am usually in 34/24 or so on similar inclines. Only after the second ride, I noted that the rear brake caliper was askew, and the brake was dragging slightly on one side of the rim. Subsequent rides have not shown any peculiarities in gearing/incline relationships.
Is it plausible that the increased resistance from the dragging brake could cause such an aberration? How? I'm curious about this, but before trying to reproduce the dragging brake condition, on the same segment of Ventoux 1, any comments (other than " Are you completely daft?") would be welcome. Thanks.
Is it plausible that the increased resistance from the dragging brake could cause such an aberration? How? I'm curious about this, but before trying to reproduce the dragging brake condition, on the same segment of Ventoux 1, any comments (other than " Are you completely daft?") would be welcome. Thanks.