Which components actually make a difference?

Stiffness of the cranks make a big difference. Try going from Sugino messenger to Omnoms

This is what I want to find out. How to do a blind test though - turbo?

Wear a dress?

Nice trolling TM, there's hope in it for you.

I switch bikes all the time and notice nothing. All this "huge difference" bollocks is meaningless. Proof is what I want.. Get on it bitches.

Comparing my 653 road bike with DA740x, and my 853 track bike with omniums... Setting off on the road bike feels like riding a piece of liquorice.

Nah. Standing starts, or flying lap

Blindfolded

Fun times

^^^^too many variables there. Bad science.

Blindfolded

out. Would watch though.

I can tell when I ride the S-Works versus the Kinesis but that's like comparing a Ferrari with a Land Rover. As for noticing cranks? Nope. I barely notice the massive wobble in the Kinesis BB.

I want one of you "I can tell, man, yeah" types to be able to prove you can readily identify a difference in cranks.

Just wear one of these innit...

Might affect aero tho.

All this noticable stiffness in crankset argument is a repost from here;

http://www.lfgss.com/thread16519.html

Are you really so strong that you can flex a square taper bottom bracket axle? If so you should call this fella:

I can tell when I ride the S-Works versus the Kinesis but that's like comparing a Ferrari with a Land Rover. As for noticing cranks? Nope. I barely notice the massive wobble in the Kinesis BB.

I want one of you "I can tell, man, yeah" types to be able to prove you can readily identify a difference in cranks.

which S-Works? Buyer... ;)

The fact that BMMF produces many more watts than me, knows an infinite amount more than I do about cycling, and is happy to buy Tiagra cranks makes me embarrassed to own Red cranks with Praxxis rings.

here are frames set up for blind tests:
http://www.tour-magazin.de/typo3temp/pics/c_82cfacaf37.jpg

which S-Works? Buyer... ;)
The fact that BMMF produces many more watts than me, knows an infinite amount more than I do about cycling, and is happy to buy Tiagra cranks makes me embarrassed to own Red cranks with Praxxis rings.

Oh yeah, I have more than one. :)
I meant the Tarmac.

I'm using old 600 cranks, old Ultegra cranks, 6800 DA cranks, S-Works carbon cranks (two types) and certainly could not isolate any difference down to the cranks.

Some people might be able to and I'd love to see them do it but for most, I'm calling bullshit on their claims.

here are frames set up for blind tests:
http://www.tour-magazin.de/typo3temp/pics/c_82cfacaf37.jpg

Gaffa all over the cranks. How trendy.

Foffa all over the cranks. How trendy.

http://www.lfgss.com/post3898872-91.html ...

...etc...

Comparing my 653 road bike with DA740x, and my 853 track bike with omniums... Setting off on the road bike feels like riding a piece of liquorice.

Surly that proves the importance of a frame rather than cranks. I'm sure no one is going to argue about being able to tell the difference between totally different frames. Also your bikes are all pretty big right? So any frame not properly designed to take that into account would be more noticeable than my 53cm ones.

Anyway one of the problems with this thread is deciding whether or not its about "performance" or "feel". OP we need clarification on this point. Please advise.

Yup, frame play a huge roles, BQ did a blind test by asking a builder to build 3 identical looking frame in three different tubing to see if it's possible to notice the difference.

alias I forget what was the conclusion is, will look through my back issues to find it.

Anyway one of the problems with this thread is deciding whether or not its about "performance" or "feel". OP we need clarification on this point. Please advise.

Feel, but that includes it feeling faster! Essentially, if you need a powermeter, garmin, or velodrome to measure it I'm not interested.

^^ excellent contribution Ed. Really helpful.

Actually I do have a bike which is columbus minimax tubing. It is very light, feels like you could dent it with your thumb. the flex on the frame is insane. I've never really noticed a frame flex like that, and I've never ridden a frame that light so maybe I could tell the difference, but maybe I just happened to notice the flex on this one bike because i was looking out for it and it would not be noticeably different on others unless i went out of my way to look.

I find my 531 frame disconcertingly whippy compared to my (pretty much identical-geometried) gaspipe frame. The extra flex might be an advantage on long tours, but I thinks it's not so great in town.

Yup, frame play a huge roles, BQ did a blind test by asking a builder to build 3 identical looking frame in three different tubing to see if it's possible to notice the difference.

alias I forget what was the conclusion is, will look through my back issues to find it.

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/laws-of-physics/

Vol 7 #4 ?