What difference would an Überbike make?

[XmisterIS]

I have a hybrid road bike which is pretty quick (average about 20mph usually).

I'm wondering, what kind of difference would it make to the average speed of a mere mortal such as myself if I had a professional bike? I.e. carbon fibre everything, aero wheels, frame specially hand built to fit me exactly, with a price tag greater than the value of my house (possibly!).

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Well irrespective of the actual reality of marginally assisting your speed you would be compelled to tell anyone who stops long enough to hear just how wonderfully marvelously easy it is to go extremely very fast and in excellent comfort for as many miles as you could ever imagine doing. How else would you justify spending £M

 

[Globalti]

Not much faster if you're already averaging 20mph!

 

[HLaB]

I can't recall the figures but I think that upgrades only lead to about 0.1-0.2mph increase each on their own. What's more important is the rider.

 

[GrasB]

Biggest difference won't be the bike, it'll be your position. Go from the bar ends to drops (or on the end of the bull horns in my case) at 20mph equals about 1.5-2mph. From there the difference between my 10.8kg Boardman on the bull's & my 8.4kg BeOne on the drops is about 0.5mph if that & most of that will be that the drops of the BeOne are even more aero than the bull's.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Except when climbing - then some differences in wheels/tyres and stiffness of frame/cranks can make a noticeable difference. But it's mostly the rider.

 

[rich p]

You average 20 mph on a hybrid? I'd advise getting a road bike and see if you can find a team to take you on!

 

[XmisterIS]

You average 20 mph on a hybrid? I'd advise getting a road bike and see if you can find a team to take you on!

Lol! Noooo ... I only cycle for fun. I have a 20 mile route near me which has no traffic lights and I can blast round it in one hour. If I tried to keep that pace up for much more I think I would die .... . I set a much slower pace when I do longer rides; e.g. I do a 45 mile ride from Fareham to Winchester and back on which I average about 13mph!

 

[Kestevan]

One of the benefits of having a cheap(er) bike is the feeling of superiority it can generate.

One of the highlights of the cheshire cat for me yesterday was riding my somewhat battered Trek past the bloke in full Rapha kit pushing his imaculate Pinarello Prince up wincle......

 

[rich p]

Lol! Noooo ... I only cycle for fun. I have a 20 mile route near me which has no traffic lights and I can blast round it in one hour. If I tried to keep that pace up for much more I think I would die .... . I set a much slower pace when I do longer rides; e.g. I do a 45 mile ride from Fareham to Winchester and back on which I average about 13mph!

Phew, that's more like it! I found when I got a lightweight carbon bike that I was using 1 or 2 gears higher going up a 10% incline but one of the biggest differences is in acceleration away from a standing start.

 

[GrasB]

Phew, that's more like it! I found when I got a lightweight carbon bike that I was using 1 or 2 gears higher going up a 10% incline but one of the biggest differences is in acceleration away from a standing start.

you know what gear you're using going up hill? you're not trying hard enough

 

[Keith Oates]

On longer rides the lighter weight and the better aerodynamics means that you can go further without burning yourself out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[zizou]

I love getting on my racer after i've not been on it for a few days instead using one of my mountain bikes or the commuter, it just feels so fast and efficient in comparision.

 

[XmisterIS]

I love getting on my racer after i've not been on it for a few days instead using one of my mountain bikes or the commuter, it just feels so fast and efficient in comparision.

Ditto! I also find that when I've been on my road bike for a while, when I get back on my MTB I find it so easy to ride due to the difference in gearing - top gear on the MTB feels like middle gear on the road bike.

 

[beancounter]

One of the benefits of having a cheap(er) bike is the feeling of superiority it can generate.

One of the highlights of the cheshire cat for me yesterday was riding my somewhat battered Trek past the bloke in full Rapha kit pushing his imaculate Pinarello Prince up wincle......

But you'd still rather have the Prince, yes?

bc