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The fastest bike for Cobbled Climbs

  • 9.5 km with the 0.3 km lead-in
  • 137 m of climbing
  • 14.6 m/km climb ratio
  • 2 named climbs
  • Surface94.4% tarmac5.6% cobbles
0 km4.7 km9.5 kmThe dashed start is the lead-in, which has no measured profile, so its shape is approximated.

Fastest eligible setup · Standard (Road) · verified data only · Halo bikes hidden

with Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc wheels

18:30

30.7 km/h averageestimated for 1 lap with the lead-in

Data
Frame and wheels bot-tested
Upgrades
Ranked at upgrade stage 5, assumed for bikes you don't own
Rough surfaces
Rough surfaces cost this setup about 2 seconds here
See the full ranking

If time-trial frames are allowed

Canyon Speedmax CFR with Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc (Time Trial)

TT frames are barred in many races.

17:58

33 s faster

What's the fastest bike for Cobbled Climbs?

ZwiftBikes predicts the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 with Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc is the best bike and wheels for Cobbled Climbs in Richmond: the fastest road setup for a 75 kg rider at 225 W, finishing in 18:30 (~30.7 km/h). The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 with Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc is 0.52 s behind. Where TT bikes are allowed, the Canyon Speedmax CFR with Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc is 33 s quicker.

75 kg / 175 cm / 225 W / solo; 1 lap, including any lead-in once. Standard (Road); verified only; unowned Halo bikes excluded.

Every setup, ranked

Gap to the fastest. Open a row for its wheels, upgrades and the numbers behind it.

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Pick up to 3 setups in their rows to compare them.
# Frame and wheels Time Gap Gap axis Aero / climb Style Details
1

Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc

18:30fastest
95 / 83all-round
2

Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc

18:31+0.52 s
93 / 83all-round
3

Shimano DURA-ACE C99 + Disc

18:31+0.70 s
94 / 82climbing
4

Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc

18:31+0.85 s
93 / 81climbing
5

Same frame in another paint: Canyon Aeroad CFR Alpecin Premier-Tech

Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc

18:31+1.07 s
95 / 74aero
6

Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc

18:32+1.23 s
96 / 72aero
7

Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc

18:32+1.37 s
95 / 75aero
8

Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc

18:32+1.40 s
95 / 75all-round
9

Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc

18:32+1.45 s
94 / 78aero

Something here look wrong? Report it – corrections with a source get folded back into the data.

Why this bike wins here

Cobbled Climbs is hilly, with 14.6 m of climbing per kilometre, the kind of course where aerodynamics usually counts for a little more than low weight. The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 is an all-round frame, the kind of frame that terrain favours. Disc or regular wheels is a close call: the Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc is 1.1 s faster than the Princeton Wake 6560 White, but 0.55 kg heavier.

What the terrain rewards, from its climbing alone: aerodynamics against low weight

Aerodynamics 57%Weight on climbs 43%

Drag area against the stock bike
−0.0360 m²
Mass against the stock bike
−1.59 kg
Rolling resistance change
−0.0003
Time lost to rough surfaces
2 s
Physics model
Dynamic, measured geometry

The course

1 lap; kilometre positions include the lead-in, ridden once.

  1. Fastest bike for Richmond KOM

    Climb · km 5.2 to 5.8

    0.6 km · 6.4% 40 m

  2. Fastest bike for 23rd St.

    Climb · km 6.7 to 7.0

    0.3 km · 10.0% 27 m

Dynamic physics model active

Every time below is simulated for your weight, height and power over this route’s real, measured elevation data.