Time for a change

[vigomag]

I started cycling 4yrs ago in a mid life crisis being 51! Anyway the first bike I got was/is a Boardman Hybrid a couple of years ago I got a Giant Escape . I find that during the summer thanks to the Sky Ride that I tend to do more rides on the roads rather than the cycle ways etc.

Given that the Sky rides tend to be 25-35 miles and that I tend to bimble along at the back of the group anyway.
The question is would a road bike be a worthwhile investment I am looking at something like a Giant Rapid/Defy/ BTwinTriban/ Cannondale Synapse rather than a full blowing style roadie. I have read that the Escape is both classed as Hybrid and others class it a a road bike hence the confusion.

 

[vickster]

I would say the escape is a flat bar road bike. Some narrower slicker tyres may make it feel / go a bit quicker

If you can keep up with the group and the bike is comfortable, you probably won't get a huge amount of benefit, but I'm not going to stand in the way of N+1. Get to an Evans perhaps and get some test rides of a couple of roadbikes in your budget

 

[Big Dave laaa]

The Giant Defy is an excellent bike, not as good as my TCR Advanced but still excellent The Cannondale Synapse is also a fine ride and features disc brakes now for added power. Either one of these will make riding 25-35 miles a pleasure and will encourage you to go a bit faster

 

[Drago]

How can the Defy be 'not as good' when it's a subtly different class of bike from the TCR, that not quite a road bike not quite sportive bracket? They're not really vying for the same market.

As for the OP, vicksters idea of trying some sportier tyres sounds a sensible first port of call.

 

[Big Dave laaa]

I was not being serious hence the little smiley man at the end of the sentence

 

[BrynCP]

I started with the Escape 2 doing rides as far as 50 miles. I then upgraded to a road bike. I did notice a small increase in speed with the road bike, probably due to lesser weight and thinner tyres. As vickster says you could see what thinner tyres you could put on?

I only use the Escape now if my road bike is out of action, and I still find it a very fast bike.

 

[vigomag]

Thanks for the comments probably confirming what I had thought.... looks as if ill be looking for some new tyres this wet day now

 

[vickster]

Thanks for the comments probably confirming what I had thought.... looks as if ill be looking for some new tyres this wet day now

I'm a fan of Michelin Pro 4 Endurance myself, can get in a 25mm or 28mm. If you know your rim width, you should be able to figure out how narrow you can go. Presumably on 32mm now?

Good deal here on the 25mm http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CJWOgMmtpcUCFSrpwgodzJgAFw&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Pale Rider]

Some of the cheaper Escapes are quite heavy, so the OP could get a lighter bike, depending on budget and what he has now.

 

[Dave7]

According to the Schwalbe web-site (if I read it correctly) tyre size has far less influence/affect than we think.
The link is here
http://www.schwalbetires.com/tech_info/rolling_resistance
In part it says..............

"Which factors affect rolling resistance?

Tire pressure, tire diameter, tire construction, tire tread and other factors all have an effect on rolling resistance. The higher the tire pressure, the less is tire deformation and thus the rolling resistance.
Small diameter tires have a higher rolling resistance at the same tire pressure, because tire deformation is proportionally more important, in other words the tire is "less round". Wider tires roll better than narrow ones. This assertion generally generates skepticism, nevertheless at the same tire pressure a narrow tire deflects more and so deforms more.
Obviously, tire construction also has an effect on rolling resistance. The less material is used, the less material there is to deform. And the more flexible the material is, such as the rubber compound, the less energy is lost through deformation.
Generally, smooth treads roll better than coarse treads. Tall lugs and wide gaps usually have a detrimental effect on rolling resistance.

Why do wide tires roll better than narrow ones?

The answer to this question lies in tire deflection. Each tire is flattened a little under load. This creates a flat contact area.


At the same tire pressure, a wide and a narrow tire have the same contact area. A wide tire is flattened over its width whereas a narrow tire has a slimmer but longer contact area.


The flattened area can be considered as a counterweight to tire rotation. Because of the longer flattened area of the narrow tire, the wheel loses more of its "roundness" and produces more deformation during rotation. However, in the wide tire, the radial length of the flattened area is shorter, making the tire "rounder" and so it rolls better.

Wide tires only roll better at the same inflation pressure, but narrow tires can be inflated to higher pressures than wide tires. However, they then obviously give a less comfortable ride"


Very interesting though.

 

[BrynCP]

The Escape tyres I had were 32mm and max inflation of 65psi.

I deliberated a while before upgrading to my road bike; I am happy I did though! The hand positions alone make it a more comfortable ride.

 

[davyboy]

I started cycling 4yrs ago in a mid life crisis being 51! Anyway the first bike I got was/is a Boardman Hybrid a couple of years ago I got a Giant Escape . I find that during the summer thanks to the Sky Ride that I tend to do more rides on the roads rather than the cycle ways etc.

Given that the Sky rides tend to be 25-35 miles and that I tend to bimble along at the back of the group anyway.
The question is would a road bike be a worthwhile investment I am looking at something like a Giant Rapid/Defy/ BTwinTriban/ Cannondale Synapse rather than a full blowing style roadie. I have read that the Escape is both classed as Hybrid and others class it a a road bike hence the confusion.

I ride a Giant Defy 2 composite its light,fast, It climbs well with the compact 20 speed.