Jens Voigt: The Hour, Chains, & Marginal Gains

The effectiveness of the lube relies on the fact that it is still in place. Ideally shortly before you ride you would apply a wet lube, but without riding to displace it, it shouldn’t be affected unless there are some really long gaps between use.

How effective is wet lube when applied at different times before riding a chain? I.e., is it the same effectiveness when applied the night before vs a week before vs a month before riding assuming no riding between application? Similarly, does that effectiveness last the same duration based on different application times – eg 10 k? 50 k? 100K. Eg, does applying it a month before riding without riding it for whatever reason mean the lube will last longer or shorter’ than applying it the night before?

I have always remembered that Jens had a special relationship with us Aussies. Now I somewhat understand why, though still mostly a mystery …thanks Jens. Not spilling any beans?

As a Cervelo rider myself, I’ve always also remembered Jens on the sexiest ever TdF bike riding that naked carbon SLC bike @ CSC way before his legs had a voice. Don’t any current bicycle companies know about sex appeal and bikes anymore? Not ‘fashion’ just raw innovation. Surely the first of the major ’MG’s bicycles in the TdF since Gregs aero bars?

It was great to hear Jens speak on his long and successful career and to hear in his speaking that at heart he is almost an Aussie now too. No expletives (ha ha) & no censoring too!!!! Play before work, not work before play, he does understand us down here but still lives ‘there’? Having 6 kids has to involve more play than work!!! ;) …but I won’t ask his wife about that as I’m certain ‘delivery’ is a harder task than ‘the hour’ is. Mwah to all the Voigts!

Now I’m dying to ask Matt or Stewie about what exactly they taught Jens about Down Under and our way of enjoying life.

Best ever MG folks.

Very entertaining conversation with Jens! Huge fan of everything on this show.

I had a question for the next AJA. I was reading the “Tire Test Results” article by Jan Heine on the Rene Herse blog (https://www.renehersecycles.com/bq-tire-test-results/) and saw a bit of contradicting information from what I’ve heard on this podcast. The roll-down testing protocol he uses is shown here: https://www.renehersecycles.com/how-we-test-tires/

The first claim is that 44 mm tires are no slower than 28 mm tires of the same construction at 29 km/h (No aero penalty for wider tires).

The second claim is that there is a middle tire pressure that is actually slower than a higher or lower tire pressure due to increasing rate of suspension losses.

The third claim is that the determining factor is a tire’s rolling resistance is the suppleness of the casing, all other factors a basically insignificant.

(Aside I would love to hear Josh’s opinion on resonant frequencies regarding hysteresis losses. I have seen in my simulations a huge increase in power loss as the speed over a bumpy surface increases, but once you get over that speed the power loss drops off precipitously. (i.e. it’s easier to ride faster over cobbles))

Thanks, keep of the amazing work!

I have a question for an ‘Ask Josh Anything’ Episode:

While riding on the weekend I began to ponder tyre ware and the varying rate from front to rear on my road bike. I typically get around 5,000 – 6,000 km from a rear tyre versus 12,000 – 15,000 km on a front. Given the amount I ride, I go through at least 3 rear tyres per year. Over the years while occasionally discussing tyres with fellow cyclists, it seems my rear tyres wear at a faster rate than many other people. Initially I jokingly wrote it off to just having too much power! However, upon further thought, given my fellow cyclists generally ride the same roads, are in a similar weight category, could the higher percentage of climbing I do contribute to a variation in tyre wear?

So my question is, all things being equal (road surface, rider weight, bike weight distribution, temperature), does the amount of climbing and descending affect the tyre wear rate of front versus rear tyre? If so…why?

I love the show and have been a big fan since the first episode. Keep it rolling.

Cheers,

Michael