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Re: OT: Interesting Bicyling Experience on A Hybrid Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 06:20:31
In Reply to: OT: Interesting Bicyling Experience on A Hybrid, Caarma   [Profile/Gallery]
, Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:16:12
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A better bike will make you a little faster. Not a whole lot faster. Depending on when the second to last person crossed the line, it might bring you out of last place. But it won't make you competitive all by itself.
I don't know your physical shape, or how often you work out, so I'll do some hypotheticals here - no insult intended!
Think about how athletes work. Somebody that rides a dozen miles a week is in decent shape compared to most of America, but as riders go, that is down on the scale. As folks become more serious riders, we are now talking about a hundred miles a week, and at a fast pace. More serious yet, and we're talking about a few hundred miles a week. At that point it is diminishing returns - to get that extra 1% better performance, you've got to really strain. At that point, saving 50 grams off the bike is a big deal. Getting the aerodynamics just right is a big deal.
Check out the Tour de France riders - on some parts of the stages these guys are tooling down the road at 25 mph in an upright position just joking around, with a heart rate of 125. I'm hard pressed to hit 25 mph on a flat. Put one of those guys on a three speed Huffy, and you bet they'd drop back in the pack. But they'd still blow the tires off anybody you or I know even on the best carbon-fiber wondervelocipede.
You can go farther and faster on a lighter bike with narrower tires. You won't threaten Lance Armstrong. I will say that a lighter bike is just plain nicer to ride - you feel faster, and they are much more responsive. But be VERY sure of what you want. A true racing bike can be a real pain in day-to-day riding. In very general terms, racing bikes have smaller frame angles, so the wheel base is shorter. This gives a more responsive bike, but it can be darty. I've got an old racer where I'm afraid to look over my shoulder - it'll change lanes on me.
If you want to ride because you like to ride, think more about a touring frame - they're more comfortable. Save weight by leaving off extra stuff. My recommendation is to find a few bike shops where they'll let you ride a variety of bikes. Compared to what you have now, all will feel like sports cars. But ride a few, because each one will be different. There are end-of-season sales coming up. But I'd keep an eye out for decent used bikes. Unless you've got the Gotta Be New jones, you might be able to get a decent 4-5 year old bike for half the price of something new.
But the biggest part is to find a bike that is comfortable for the way you ride. It doesn't matter if the other guy has a carbon-fiber chain, titanium tubes, and aero handlebars. Most high-speed bikes are a real pain to ride. Be very sure that's what you want. No matter what, there is someone that is much faster than you. That isn't an insult - it's to realize the pressure is off.
Will a lighter bike make you faster? Not much. Will it be more fun to ride? You bet. But don't go from a Yugo to a Formula 1 car in one jump. Find yourself a nice road bike after a little shopping around.
posted by 192.249....
, Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:16:12
, Mon, 14 Aug 2006 17:20:31, Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:31:37, Mon, 14 Aug 2006 07:42:19, Mon, 14 Aug 2006 10:07:52, Mon, 14 Aug 2006 06:20:31 <-- Viewing This Message
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