roadbike v hybrid
andyb99
Posts: 229
in General Chat
Hye guys, i recently got a new bike, its a hybrid bike claud butler urban 300.with road tyres replacing the grippy ones it has on.i got a hybrid cause i live on the canal and i sometimes like to ride down there with my mrs on her MB....anyway i'm pretty pleased with it but i've recently been going out riding with a mate and his brother...all on road bikes (though of similar value 500-1k) anyway they totally leave me behind....i make it up the hills but they make it look effortless and seem to be able to have a turn of speed so quick it devastates my ride.
Now as i'm doing tri (and none of them would dare) i'm not too bothered long term as a few sprints is my goal for this year but i was wondering how much of a difference the bike is making and how much its just their 'bike fitness', i'm back on a pushbike for the first time in 25 years after all....btu could it be the bike??
Now as i'm doing tri (and none of them would dare) i'm not too bothered long term as a few sprints is my goal for this year but i was wondering how much of a difference the bike is making and how much its just their 'bike fitness', i'm back on a pushbike for the first time in 25 years after all....btu could it be the bike??
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I have a claud butler san remo 2008 15million tonnes in weight. I have altered it slightly but its still too heavy.
I will testify that its the rider and the bike combination that makes the difference. eg sunday there I pased some carbon blings on my road bike so its the rider that can do the damage.
I would say that if you spend time on the bike working away at technique, attacking the hills, interval training etc I bet you'd catch those folk easy.
Save up, get a good road bike thus meaning good rider + good bike = good times.
Bad rider + good bike = shit times
bad rider + bad bike = go home.
There is an almost infinite number of reasons why.
A road bike will always be faster - ie - out you on one and you'll be faster than on your hybrid.
I read your post and think to myself you finding a reason to go and buy a road bike......... do it and you'll love it. It is much much easier... then once you've had that for 6 months, you'll want another one, then comes the kit, then comes the new shoes, then come another bike.......
go on, take the plunge
Basic fitness is the foundation to improving bike speed and a racing bike will further improve your speed. What size tyres do you currently have? A lot of hybrids have 25 or 28s as racing bikes generally have 23s.
See my old thread here about choosing my tri bike
http://forum.220magazine.com/tm.asp?m=14306&mpage=1&key=㟢
I just cant see how it can be that much faster because of thinner tyres and drop bars...my bike is not heavy at all..only slight lighter than one of the guys brand new bikes he got this weekend....is the gearing different?? making speed up hill easier??
or just their legs??....i hope thats the case so i'll get better.
A road is miles faster, look at formula 1 when the move to slick to intermediates, they slow drastically.
At the end of the day the rider makes the difference. The bike can only do so much, its the effort that goes into the bike. My bike is really heavy but I'm still rattling out 30kph (depending on the course).
The big thing is to chose the correct road bike that suits you and one that you'll like. At the end of the day you'll upgrade it anyway with better components that will marginally trim times, as zacnici says its the deminishing returns.
Yes, I am sure that you will go faster on a proper road bike, but I have used mine in three triathlons (sprints) and not done too badly. So I would say that it is a great beginner bike and I will continue to use mine when cycling around town etc, but I do intend to get a better bike for next season.
Given what a complete bike numpty I am, I think I made the right decision when I bought it. The more substantial frame and wheels have given me the confidence to keep at it, whereas a better bike probably would have scared me more and put me off completely.
SEX ON WHEELS.
do it.
Just don;t feel dirty....
didds
Buy the best bike you can afford you won't regret it.
A hybrid would obviously be somewhere in between but as you can see the differences are only in the 10%-20% range so its not twice as fast or anything. A lot depends on your budget and more importantly whether you'll keep it up. Its no good spunking a grand on a bike for just a season. I see a lot of folks splashing big cash on bikes and its clear that not everyone keeps it up.
Its also a good idea to use new kit and upgrades as a motivational tool. don't try and buy a fast time. Get into the sport then grow into it gear wise. A gradual improvement over time due to a mix of training and gear upgrades will be much more rewarding and motivational in the medium to long term than buying everything up front. This is what a lot of folk do and when they plateau performance wise they get bored.
It also gives you a chance to build a solid opinion on what you like and need as training will show you what your personal style is and what gear suits you best. Don't just go on the opinions of others, we are all different.
As regards bikes. its a big investment and there is a lot of shiney metal out there looking to kill your credit card. so tread slowly.....
I just bought a normal road bike as it looked less freaky for training on and I'd potentially just like to cycle sometimes. Second hand prices can be a joke and I found people looking for 60-75% of new purchase price for gear that was 18 months old.
all the best
Cammy
Triathlon heaven for the soul, hell for the wallet!!!!
I put it down to a more tucked position, and less rolling resistance.
And improving my pb with no extra effort (probably a little less), priceless!!