Should I sell the Boardman CX for a road bike?

[jamin100]

Had my cx about 18 months now, mainly used it to commute with, but recently I've been going out on 30 milers with my friend who has a specialized Allez.

I can mainly keep up with him on the flats and downhills but as soon as we hit any kind of decent hill I fall way behind.

I've been putting in as much mileage as possible but am wondering if the gearing on the cx is slowing me down up the hills?

I'm thinking of selling up and pheraps getting a triban 5 or even an Allez

What do people think?

 

[RWright]

N + 1

 

[Hill Wimp]

Specialized, the only way forward, can't believe you asked after watching your mate on one ???

 

[cyberknight]

edit
misread the OP and wrote twaddle

 

[potsy]

I doubt it's the gearing holding you back tbh, more likely fitness and the extra weight of the bike.
You would however get a slight placebo speed boost by going for a lighter road bike

 

[jamin100]

ha ha, Id love to N+1 but thats never going to happen.
Wife would chop my legs off....

The weight of the CX isnt too bad as its just under 10KG and has 30c marathon racer tyres on so Its not like its still on the nobblies

 

[vickster]

Put lighter wheels and road tyres on?

 

[TissoT]

You need to put some miles in your legs ... trades man and his tools scenario !

 

[DRHysted]

I have both and Allez and a Boardman CX, and my difference in average mph is only about 3mph. have you tried fitting slimmer slick tyres and removing any excess weight (rack, mudguards etc, not rider).

 

[jamin100]

I have both and Allez and a Boardman CX, and my difference in average mph is only about 3mph. have you tried fitting slimmer slick tyres and removing any excess weight (rack, mudguards etc, not rider).

No i havent to be honest, the marathon racers are the only tyres ive used...
Would thinner less treaded tyres make much of a difference to hill climbing?

I still had (thin) mudguards on and my lights etc where he didnt I suppose.

 

[vickster]

Is he built exactly the same way as you? We are not all the same, even on the same bike

 

[jamin100]

Is he built exactly the same way as you? We are not all the same, even on the same bike

No he's probably a stone lighter

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Maybe swap bikes for a ride or two and see if he struggles on the same bits as you do on your bike. If so you can be more confident in pointing at the bike, if not then *ahem* MTFU

 

[vickster]

That could well be it then - you should have advantage going down, but he will have the edge on hills. I'd change the tyres for a performance 25mm assuming the wheels will take them. An allez won't be much lighter than 10kg

 

[Saluki]

Rule 5?

Change the tyres. My MTB is way faster with summer tyres on than it it with its nobblies on.