Is it worth moving from hybrid to road bike?

[shaun2525]

Hi,

My commute is 10 miles each way and am currently doing it 3 times a week, although i do want this to move to 4 times. Ive been doing this since July.

I use a specialised sirrus base model (£270) and average 13mph for the journey. When i first started this was 10 mph but now does not seem to be getting any faster.

My motivation for commuting is to lose weight (am currently 127kg) but all i can think about whilst riding is to beat my pb and increase my average speed.

If i changed to a road bike (Triban 3 in decathlon has had good reviews and is only £300) do you think this will lead to an increase in average speed.

I dont want to lay out the £300 only to find myself doing the same speed.

Thanks for looking, Shaun

 

[Peteaud]

I cant see that it would make a huge diffeence.

£300 is a lot of money for 1 or 2 mph.

 

[DCLane]

You could do - but it'll not make a huge difference. Adding rides elsewhere will, as will having an appropriate diet.

My commute's 10 miles each way as well - it's averaging 20 mph one way and 16 mph the other, which is on a road bike. However, when I started last year the speeds were 16 and 12mph respectively. Speed increases come with time and lower weight.

The MTB I use is the slowest of the 4 bikes available, but not by that much to need to change just for commuting.

 

[defy-one]

I used my Triban for my 40 mile commute,yes it's faster,but not by much. I now use a specialized sirrus elite and it's way way more comfortable.
I would stick with the sirrus .... if you want to go quicker .... look at upgrading the wheels and tyres on your base model sirrus. A carbon seat post would increase your comfort and reduce weight. HTH

 

[Sittingduck]

It's uneccessary if all you want to use it for is a 10 mile commute. If you wish to ride further at weekends, that's a different matter

 

[Twilkes]

If you want to lose weight quicker you should add a tablespoon of sand into the frame of your sirrus every day - cycling is sometimes too efficient for its own good.

I almost bought a new bike to cut down my commuting time, but I'm kind of glad I didn't as over the winter my hybrid is going to get trashed with grit and salt so having to clean it every weekend.

 

[Drago]

Funny you say that Twilkes. A fellow power lifter is also a keen cyclist, yet he always rides this ancient Townsend MTB. A real boat anchor, must weigh as much as 3 modern bikes.

I asked why he doesn't bin it for sonething more svelte and he just pointed to his huge legs and said he likes the workout.

 

[ianjmcd]

If you want average speeds to increase you could make it easier by saving the money you want to spend on a new bike and upgrade a few key components of your current bike such as wheels to a lower weight wheel and tyre set which will reduce the rolling resistance

but best way to increase speed is to cycle more but instead of cycling at a steady pace introduce some interval training into your commute

do you cycle other than to commute ??
Join others in a group ride at weekend for instance its more fun cycling in a group than it is to cycle alone it motivates you and sometimes you dont even realise your going as fast as you are in a group

 

[Nebulous]

It wont make as much difference as you hope it will, but one of the advantages of the road bike is a more aerodynamic position. If you have long exposed sections on your commute with a headwind, then tucking down on the drops certainly helps.

 

[Twilkes]

Heh, I was just remembering an ancient episode of London's Burning where SickNote was being a health evangelist by cycling to work, and each day they poured a little more concrete down his seat tube.... 8o)

 

[wisdom]

I started off with a hybrid which is loaded with mudguards and a pannier rack.I still use this bike for work in bad weather and when i have a lot to carry as i use altura panniers so on a Monday take clean shirts etc for work.
However as i was losing weight (2 stone to date)I bought a road bike which i use on nice days(no mudguards or anything else fitted)apart from bottle cage and lights,computer and underseat bag.This bike is used for pleasure cycling as well.
I have found i get about 5 minutes knocked of my commute and my average speed is higher.
So its nice to have the choice.

 

[gaz]

Depending on where you are, averages are pretty pointless. Such as in a city, where you speed is dictated more by traffic and traffic lights, a different bike won't make you faster.

 

[thefollen]

As Gaz says, unless you have a clear road all the way, traffics/lights/junctions etc ensure the commute usually takes around the same time regardless of bike.

However, if there's somewhere safe to store it I'd always favour the road bike (have both). It's sturdy, sleek, responsive, comfortable and simply glides into work (8 miles each way). Can't speak for the Triban, but it might be worth trying a few out to see what you think. Mine's a Trek 1.5 (around £850 new) and it does an amazing job.

Might be worth assessing your budget if you want to delve into the world of road biking. Mine I'd consider to be the good-end of entry level bikes under £1000; the carbon fork, seatpost and fast shifters are well worth it. You could find switching to road bike leads to long weekend rides and you'll be glad you spent the extra money.

 

[Tynan]

yes

riding a 'racing bike' induces you to go faster, it invites it on by dint of your position

and of course you're duty bound to scalp all MTBS/Hybrids and folders and contest it with all other roadies

seriously

moving from hybrid to road bikes changed the way I ride utterly for the above reasons and I used to ride hard before on a decent sports hybrid

 

[tadpole]

Hi,

My commute is 10 miles each way and am currently doing it 3 times a week, although i do want this to move to 4 times. Ive been doing this since July.

I use a specialised sirrus base model (£270) and average 13mph for the journey. When i first started this was 10 mph but now does not seem to be getting any faster.

My motivation for commuting is to lose weight (am currently 127kg) but all i can think about whilst riding is to beat my pb and increase my average speed.

If i changed to a road bike (Triban 3 in decathlon has had good reviews and is only £300) do you think this will lead to an increase in average speed.

I dont want to lay out the £300 only to find myself doing the same speed.

Thanks for looking, Shaun

I'd say you're better off downloading Strava, and racing yourself to work everyday. You'll both get fitter and quicker, and in a year or so you'll be much faster on your Heavy bike than you'd be on a newer lighter bike now.