Is it worth moving from hybrid to road bike?

[Stonepark]

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.

I use a Cube Touring Pro hybrid (similar gearing), and my speeds have similarly increased from 9mph when I got the bike to a similar 13mph, what I have found is that I need to really push myself on the bike to keep the speed increase going and i am currently about 4kg heavier than you.

At first I was on top chain ring and 7th smallest rear cog as my sustainable speed on the flat at about 60rpm and needed to drop down to the middle chain ring for climbs, I am now on my top chain ring and 4th smallest rear cog as my sustainable speed on the flat and staying in the top chain ring for climbing (admittedly using the biggest rear cog).

I am looking to get so that I am comfortable with large chain ring/smallest cog on the flat as my sustainable target and then up the rpm after that.

Both our bikes are capable of 20mph plus, it just takes more effort to get them to do it, than a road bike due to higher wind resistance, heavier weight and slightly more tyre friction, but that also means stronger muscles and more calories burned.

 

[deanE]

I can’t see that a faster bike will help you with your prime motivation - to lose weight. Load up your panniers , as others have said, to give yourself more work, take a more challenging route, or just sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

[markharry66]

I can’t see that a faster bike will help you with your prime motivation - to lose weight. Load up your panniers , as others have said, to give yourself more work, take a more challenging route, or just sit back and enjoy the ride.

A faster bike will motivate you to go faster the faster you go the faster you will want to go as long as your are careful and safe then its down to you its your choice but I wouldnt get it till next year as you will trash it with all the salt and grit flying around

 

[bjellys]

Eat less pedal faster save the money you would have spent on snacks & a year later you will be slimmer fitter and have money in the bank to fund your new bike,job done!

 

[Hicky]

Wouldnt buy any bike to gain speed, you could be a short bodybuilder with zero CV fitness or a monster of a man but fairly trim(thinking Martin Johnson).
I've got a 2010 Sirrus, it is a decent bike and fairly quick with 23c tyres.

Save the money for when you are closer to the "norm"(again dont know your size) and spend it on things that will encourage you to keep on commuting......speed isnt everything(safety is).....bin the speedo....I only use mine so I know what time it is.....ie am I late!

 

[Scruffmonster]

Commute in.
Race home.

By race, I mean Nail it. Every set of lights, full acceleration. Attack every hill as if it's your last.

You probably wont be able to do that every day, so start with one a week, then two the next week a day apart, and so on.

The bike is not the limiting factor is how fast you're going. Your weight is. If you work high intensity intervals into your commute, you'll see weight fall off quicker.

Stay safe though.

 

[Hicky]

The bike is not the limiting factor is how fast you're going. Your weight is. If you work high intensity intervals into your commute, you'll see weight fall off quicker.

Stay safe though.

Agree.
Learn to listen to your body though to avoid injury Shaun. To do really good HiT training your legs need to be up to the strain.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Yes, you should get a road bike. And a mountain bike. And a unicycle. And a 'bent. And a folder. And an audax. And a cross. And a battered old pub bike. And a retro English Roadster. And a bigger shed/garage. And a...ad infinitum

Anyone who says otherwise is just in denial

 

[HLaB]

A dropped bar road bike IMO is more fun but it's not essential as the sirrus is a good bike and essentially a flat bar road bike. I used to use my Sirrus with the Edinburgh Road Club and in the second slowest group it could hold its own with drop bar bikes, it could probably old its own in the faster groups too if you are fit enough. You lose marginally on aerodynamics, its noticeable downhill or into a headwind but not enough to warrant spend unless you want too The ERC run is 43miles so over 10 any differences would be even less but n+1 and all that

 

[peedee]

Didn't someone once say "It's not about the bike"?


Oh.

 

[Scruffmonster]

Agree.
Learn to listen to your body though to avoid injury Shaun. To do really good HiT training your legs need to be up to the strain.

What he said, hence the advice to start it only one day a week. It's about recovery as much as anything else. If you feel dog tired, take it easy. Also bear in mind that nailing it on a Monday will probably only show it's damage on Wednesday. Learn your body's signals before you ask it to do too much.

My favourite ever quote on the subject;

"Muscles are like work animals that are quick on the uptake. if you carefully increase the load, step by step, they learn to take it. As long as you explain your expectations to them by actually showing them examples of the amount of work they have to endure, your muscles will comply and gradually get stronger. it doesn’t happen overnight, of course. But as long as you take your time and do it in stages, they won’t complain – aside from the occcasional long face – and they’ll very patiently and obediently grow stronger. Through repetition you input into your muscles the message that this is how much work they have to perform. Our muscles are very conscientious. As long as we observe the correct procedure, they won’t complain."