GCN Tech Clinic: Does aero really matter on slow endurance rides?

It’s time for another jam-packed edition of GCN Tech Clinic, the place where we answer your most pressing tech questions. This week it’s an extra special edition as it’s Alex’s birthday - and we can only apologise for the glasses and hat. Alex is joined by Manon for this special occasion to answer your most pressing tech questions.

What’s the most efficient way of removing and refitting a chain for waxing?

To start things off, our tech gurus tackle the topic of chain wax which has become increasingly popular in recent years. While it has some benefits, chain wax is a little more complicated to apply than lube as you have to remove the chain each time you apply it. Does that mean that you have to replace the quick link every single time?

While most quick links are only designed to be used once, we’ve always found that they can be used multiple times. Just proceed with caution and swap them out if they don’t clip securely into place. If they only clip in loosely, it’s time to replace them.

Standard or photochromic sunglasses?

We also untangle the topic of sunglasses to decide whether it’s best to opt for standard or photochromic lenses. Most cyclists will have experienced that disorientating moment after entering a tunnel when everything turns to darkness and sunglasses become a hindrance more than a help.

Photochromic sunglasses provide a solution as their lenses react to light and change their structure, turning darker when it’s light, before returning to normal in darker conditions.

Does aero matter for endurance rides?

It wouldn’t be a proper episode of Tech Clinic if we didn’t tackle an aerodynamics question. Whether it’s a bike or components, new products always seem to come with some sort of aero claims, usually in the form of watt savings. Then there’s the matter of riding position with many opting for an aggressive aero setup over comfort. But is aero actually that important for endurance riders or your average cyclist who doesn’t ride at pro-level speeds? Alex and Manon offer their thoughts.

What is a rear mech hanger?

For anyone new to cycling, the wide range of terms and jargon can be baffling. Luckily, most parts are simple to understand and the rear mech hanger is the part near your rear wheel that connects the derailleur to the frame. The derailleur is the mechanism that shifts your chain between gears on the cassette at the rear of the bike.

Are 11-speed wheels compatible with 9-speed cassettes?

9-speed bikes are now rare. That can make things complicated if you want to upgrade your wheels with most modern wheelsets designed for 11 or 12-speed cassettes.

But don’t worry! You can still upgrade to new wheels, you’ll just need spacers. Adding these will ensure that the cassette fits snuggly onto the freehub. You’ll then need to index the gears.

How do you prevent sealant from clogging valves?

Here at GCN, we’re big fans of tubeless setups.

Despite this, there are some downsides to running tubeless tyres and one of the more annoying ones is clogged valves. Luckily, as Alex explains, there are some easy steps you can take to prevent any pesky cloggages.

Check out more useful tubeless tips below.

Using a steam cleaner on a bike?

We end things today with the topic of steam cleaners. This was a new one for us as we had never heard of anyone steam cleaning a bike before.

And, while we can’t say definitively whether it damages a bike or not, we’d probably avoid it just in case. Plus, it’s simply not necessary with conventional cleaning methods still fit for the job.

Have a tech question you need answering? Head over to this week’s Tech Clinic video over on the GCN Tech YouTube channel and add your question to the comments along with #ASKGCNTECH.