Speed difference between hybrid and road bikes

[J1888]

Just curious as I've never had a go on a road bike.

I'm getting largely into the top 1/5 or 1/6 of riders on Strava on my Cannondale Quick4 Hybrid.

Would a decent enough road bike speed me up considerably dya reckon?

 

[ianrauk]

It's less the bike, more the engine.

I have seen cyclists on hybrids and flat bars on my commute cycling faster then drop bar road bike cyclists. It's horses for courses.

 

[uclown2002]

Just curious as I've never had a go on a road bike.

I'm getting largely into the top 1/5 or 1/6 of riders on Strava on my Cannondale Quick4 Hybrid.

Would a decent enough road bike speed me up considerably dya reckon?

All things being equal then yes, you'll be certainly faster,

 

[J1888]

Yeah, that's fair enough - I seem to do OK, but still get passed...mainly by serious looking folks in full lycra on road bikes.

I've been cycling a bit less than a year, so was hoping that a nippier, lighter bike would add a bit of speed to my ride.

Probably gonna get one anyway

 

[Markymark]

Bike will make some difference but these other guys n gals may well have been cycling much longer and are possibly much fitter.

 

[uclown2002]

Yeah, that's fair enough - I seem to do OK, but still get passed...mainly by serious looking folks in full lycra on road bikes.

I've been cycling a bit less than a year, so was hoping that a nippier, lighter bike would add a bit of speed to my ride.

Probably gonna get one anyway

I statrted on a Boardman Hybrid 4 years ago and it's now been relegated to turbo duties.
IIRC I was certainly 1 mph, possibly closer to 2 mph faster over 40+ miles when I moved to a road bike.

 

[J1888]

Bike will make some difference but these other guys n gals may well have been cycling much longer and are possibly much fitter.

Pah, not possible.

Yeah, you're probably right.

I powered up a hill on my way home the other day, quite tired, flew past a couple of slower riders...then some cheeky git zooms past me without a care in the world. Grrr.

 

[Markymark]

There's always someone faster I'm afraid.

 

[ianrauk]

There's always someone faster in afraid.

This ^^^^

 

[screenman]

Why do you not try a proper race against proper racers, maybe a time trial with a number on your back. Anything else is will waving, sorry but that is just the way it is.

 

[Globalti]

My son and I ride identical bikes and although I weigh three stone more than him we thought we'd try a rolling test; we freewheeled down a local hill, long and straight, hands on the tops. We stayed absolutely close, perhaps because my greater weight was balanced by his smaller frame and lower wind-resistance. But as soon as I dropped down onto the drops, still freewheeling, I began to accelerate and within a few seconds I was fifteen or twenty feet ahead of him. That's what the difference in position does for you.

 

[nickyboy]

Weight difference and rolling resistance difference will make a road bike quicker. But the bigger difference (other than getting fitter) of a road bike will be a generally more aerodynamic posture on the road bike

 

[J1888]

Why do you not try a proper race against proper racers, maybe a time trial with a number on your back. Anything else is will waving, sorry but that is just the way it is.

Que?

 

[Markymark]

Que?

Think he means willy waving.....ie showing off.

 

[Mo1959]

Probably notice most difference on a day like it is here at the moment. Wind is pretty fierce and it is definitely more difficult battling against it on a more upright hybrid rather than getting down on the drops and making yourself a bit more aerodynamic.