M
Matt J
Guest
So we were sitting around after my school's bike club meeting, talking about riding and racing
and training, and the subject of me and my bike came up. Now, I ride a 1987 Trek road bike that
was my dad's and was never used until I got to it last year. I've upgraded tires, saddle, a rear
wheel (sort of) bar tape, and added a computer. Full suntour, except for the brakes, which are
DiaCompe. I ride it all the time on group rides and in pacelines up to 28 or so mph. Someone
says, "Man, you could be fast if you had a new bike." I'm puzzled by this - what is so different
about a new bike than my current one? STI shifters: ok, those make shifting easier, but don't
directly make me faster.
9/10 speed drivetrain: also doesn't directly make me faster.
Carbon fork: sure it "feels nice," maybe, and is a little more aero, but not significant... right?
Frame: They claimed that a frame would make me faster. Different geometry, ligher, etc. How? I can
see how geometry might help comfort or make it a little quicker around turns, but faster? How? I'm
always the first one off from stoplights, so lightness can't be that much of an issue. And my frame
now fits just fine.
Wheels: This I can believe. I've got simply 32 hole wheels with box-section rims, nothing aero or
anything like that. But still, these can't make a significant difference.
So, what is it about a new bike that would make me faster? Is it worth saving up months of
allowance, pay, a birthday, etc, for a new bike? Thanks Matt
and training, and the subject of me and my bike came up. Now, I ride a 1987 Trek road bike that
was my dad's and was never used until I got to it last year. I've upgraded tires, saddle, a rear
wheel (sort of) bar tape, and added a computer. Full suntour, except for the brakes, which are
DiaCompe. I ride it all the time on group rides and in pacelines up to 28 or so mph. Someone
says, "Man, you could be fast if you had a new bike." I'm puzzled by this - what is so different
about a new bike than my current one? STI shifters: ok, those make shifting easier, but don't
directly make me faster.
9/10 speed drivetrain: also doesn't directly make me faster.
Carbon fork: sure it "feels nice," maybe, and is a little more aero, but not significant... right?
Frame: They claimed that a frame would make me faster. Different geometry, ligher, etc. How? I can
see how geometry might help comfort or make it a little quicker around turns, but faster? How? I'm
always the first one off from stoplights, so lightness can't be that much of an issue. And my frame
now fits just fine.
Wheels: This I can believe. I've got simply 32 hole wheels with box-section rims, nothing aero or
anything like that. But still, these can't make a significant difference.
So, what is it about a new bike that would make me faster? Is it worth saving up months of
allowance, pay, a birthday, etc, for a new bike? Thanks Matt