Why are expensive bikes better than cheap ones?



K

Ken Aston

Guest
Recently, I have been using my bike more and more and by now I almost
stopped using any other way of transportation. It's a lot of fun and it
made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just
using a cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.

What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
bike than with a 200 $ bike?

I read that it responds better because it is well built. Of course, if
it really has more gears, that makes a difference. But if gears are the
same, it's gonna be the same energy I put in, so why should I get a
higher speed out of it?

To come down to the point, assuming the same weight, the same type of
tyres and amount of gears, why can I go faster with a high quality
bike?

If you have any ideas, please share your thoughts with me. Thank you so
much.

Ken Aston
 
Ken Aston wrote:
> Recently, I have been using my bike more and more and by now I almost
> stopped using any other way of transportation. It's a lot of fun and it
> made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just
> using a cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.
>
> What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
> sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
> I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
> bike than with a 200 $ bike?


What is your definition of expensive and sophisticated?

The general problem with "X-mart" bicycles is poor quality components
that will never work properly, the inability to upgrade components in
many cases due to compatibility issues, lack of frame sizes to allow
proper fitting, and overall poor design. The worst are likely cheap
suspension components.

> I read that it responds better because it is well built. Of course, if
> it really has more gears, that makes a difference. But if gears are the
> same, it's gonna be the same energy I put in, so why should I get a
> higher speed out of it?


All else being equal, a comfortable rider will be faster than an
uncomfortable rider.

> To come down to the point, assuming the same weight, the same type of
> tyres and amount of gears, why can I go faster with a high quality
> bike?


See above.

> If you have any ideas, please share your thoughts with me. Thank you so
> much.


Depending on you mechanical aptitude (or if you have access to a PROPER
BIKE SHOP), expensive bicycles are not necessary. The older
non-suspended steel frame ATB from the mid 1980''s to mid 1990's are
durable, plentiful, inexpensive, compatible with modern components [1],
and with proper setup can make excellent urban commuters.

For drop-bar road bikes, Japanese steel frame bikes from the 1980's are
also a good choice for the reasons mentioned above.

For the same cost (ca. $200 USD) as an object that looks like a fully
suspended ATB, you can have a bicycle with proper fit, proper brakes,
good shifting and good handling.

[1] Not always true with older bikes, especially from Europe where the
frames are often not compatible with modern headsets and bottom
brackets.

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!
 
Ken Aston wrote:
> It's a lot of fun and it
> made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just
> using a cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.
>
> What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
> sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
> I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
> bike than with a 200 $ bike?
>

Well, you may go a little faster on $2000 bike, but speed isn't the
only reason to upgrade. Nor do you have to spend $2000. As with most
things, there's a point of diminishing returns as you go up in price.
>
> Of course, if
> it really has more gears, that makes a difference. But if gears are the
> same, it's gonna be the same energy I put in, so why should I get a
> higher speed out of it?


There's a point of diminishing returns with gears too. Are 20 gears
better than 18 or 16? Not necessarily.


> To come down to the point, assuming the same weight, the same type of
> tyres and amount of gears, why can I go faster with a high quality
> bike?


Again, it's not just about speed. The most important things when buying
a bike is to get the right type for the kind of riding you do, to get
the correct size, and to have it set up properly. A good fitting,
medium quality bike will be much better than a cheap discount bike for
several reasons. If you buy from a good bike shop the bike will be
properly assembled and adjusted. The brakes, tires, wheels, cranks,
saddle, and other components will be of better quality, and will last
longer, than on a cheap discount bike. Braking, shifting, and steering
will likely be smoother and more positive.

Weight only makes a difference when climbing hills or when accelerating
quickly. And the weight must include the rider as well as the bike. A
difference of a pound or two of bike weight doesn't make much
difference.

These days, there's way too much emphasis on the bike. Being able to
ride fast or long distances has a lot more to do with the rider.

By all means, you ought to consider buying a better bike than you have
now. But before buying, spend some time looking at the different kinds
of bikes available, and think about what kind of riding you want to do.
And try not to be swayed by all the marketing hype.

Art Harris
 
"Ken Aston" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> To come down to the point, assuming the same weight, the same type of
> tyres and amount of gears, why can I go faster with a high quality
> bike?



Faster isn't everything. In fact, it's a secondary factor. For me, comfort
and reliability are top priorities. Since I do touring and events in which I
spend all day on the bike, I want a bike that I can ride for a hundred miles
or two, and not be feel crippled when I'm done. For both that kind of
riding, and also for the daily commute, I want a bike that will reliably
work well. I don't want to break down while I'm on a long ride, in the
middle of nowhere, and I don't want it to break down when I know I need to
get into the office and showered and be presentable for a meeting first
thing in the day. I don't want it to break down in dark when I'm riding home
after a long day, simply for personal safety reasons.

A fast bike is nice, but I wouldn't sacrifice comfort and reliability for
speed.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky
 
Ken Aston wrote:

> What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
> sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
> I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
> bike than with a 200 $ bike?


Because ( on average ) a $2000 bike will be better built and therefore
stiffer than a $200 lump of metal. You'll see the difference when you
really try to put some power through the pedals, a cheap bike will flex
and suck up a lot of your effort whereas a better bike streams that
effort back through the tyres into the road.

>
> I read that it responds better because it is well built. Of course, if
> it really has more gears, that makes a difference. But if gears are the
> same, it's gonna be the same energy I put in, so why should I get a
> higher speed out of it?


> To come down to the point, assuming the same weight, the same type of
> tyres and amount of gears, why can I go faster with a high quality
> bike?
>


Because nobody builds a 13pound bike that can take +400pounds of
pressure at the pedals for less than $2000 and that doesn't flex like
damp piece of bread.



> If you have any ideas, please share your thoughts with me. Thank you so
> much.
>
> Ken Aston


Laters,

Marz
 

> Ken Aston wrote:
>
>
>>What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
>>sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
>>I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
>>bike than with a 200 $ bike?

>
>


I've not followed this thread closely, but there are many, many choices
of bikes that are priced between $200 and $2,000.
 
catzz66 wrote:
> > Ken Aston wrote:
> >
> >
> >>What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
> >>sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
> >>I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
> >>bike than with a 200 $ bike?

> >
> >

>
> I've not followed this thread closely, but there are many, many choices
> of bikes that are priced between $200 and $2,000.


That is a true statement. But it doesn't answer the question of why
bikes are better as thier price increases.

As others have said above there is a law of diminishing returns and as
price increases the marginal improvement of the bike get smaller and
smaller.
But it is also true that generally the more you pay the more you get.
(There are always exceptions to every such rule)
So, generally as dollars go up:
-frame weight decreases
-wheel weight decreases
-component weight decreases
-component reliability increases
-aesthetics (finishes) increase
-ability to choose frame (ride) cahracterics to suit the individual
increases

It is up to each individual to find where they fit in the price x
performance curve.
As to ultimate performance, once you get to the "decent" level of bike
it is much more a matter of the engine (rider) than the machine that
makes one go fast. Lots of us senior riders have really nice bikes
because we like them and can afford them. We regularly get passed by
young racers on steeds half the price.
 
gds wrote:
>
>>>

>>I've not followed this thread closely, but there are many, many choices
>>of bikes that are priced between $200 and $2,000.

>
>
> That is a true statement. But it doesn't answer the question of why
> bikes are better as thier price increases.
> ...
>


True. I should have continued my thought by adding that a person does
not need to spend $2,000 to get a bike that is noticably lighter and
better made than a $200 bike.
 
catzz66 wrote:
> gds wrote:
> >
> >>>
> >>I've not followed this thread closely, but there are many, many choices
> >>of bikes that are priced between $200 and $2,000.

> >
> >
> > That is a true statement. But it doesn't answer the question of why
> > bikes are better as thier price increases.
> > ...
> >

>
> True. I should have continued my thought by adding that a person does
> not need to spend $2,000 to get a bike that is noticably lighter and
> better made than a $200 bike.


For sure!
 
Ken Aston wrote:
> Recently, I have been using my bike more and more and by now I almost
> stopped using any other way of transportation. It's a lot of fun and it
> made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just
> using a cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.

What tires does it got?
If they're fairly wide (like balloon tires), changing to narrower ones
can provide a significant improvement in how the bike feels when
accelerating, which is mainly the only time that being heavy matters.
Try some higher-pressure 1.5 to 1.3-inch-wide, if your rims can handle
the higher pressures.

> What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
> sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
> I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
> bike than with a 200 $ bike?

You can't, other than if the higher-priced product has better
aerodynamic advantage. The only differences between a cheap bike and an
expensive bike are durability, functionality, weight and (possibly)
aerodynamics.

> I read that it responds better because it is well built. Of course, if
> it really has more gears, that makes a difference. But if gears are the
> same, it's gonna be the same energy I put in, so why should I get a
> higher speed out of it?
>
> To come down to the point, assuming the same weight, the same type of
> tyres and amount of gears, why can I go faster with a high quality
> bike?
>

Well,,,, if you bought a highracer or lowracer recumbent, it'd have a
/lot/ better aerodynamics. You certainly do not need to pay more money
for "the same old thing". If you would be able to use a recumbent bike
as well depends on exactly what you do with what you have now. A lot of
people in Europe use bike racks on public busses, and most recumbents
won't fit onto those.

> If you have any ideas, please share your thoughts with me. Thank you so
> much.
>
> Ken Aston
>

Due to the practical economics of mass-production, most-all upright
bicycles are fairly similar. If you pick any major part (frame, seat,
handlebars, cranks) it's difficult to radically modify how they work (or
are used) without impacting all the other major pieces.

Some US upright bike companies are now getting into "relaxed geometry"
bikes that move the cranks forward in order to provide better seat
comfort--but the problem with most of these attempts is that they insist
on using a regular upright bicycle saddle.... -And the models of this
type that are considered most-effective are the ones that /don't/ use a
conventional saddle. RANS makes a number of models, the Giant Revive is
one, the Sun Sunray is another.

I don't know about Euro trends in "consumer" bicycling--but the US
industry is s-l-o-w-l-y bending to the comfort-end of the market.
Research indicates that there is a numerous segment of the population
that refuses to ride (or buy!) upright bicycles because the bicycles
aren't comfortable enough in use. This group drove the adaption of the
MTB, then the hybrid, and then the "comfort" bike,,, but road bikes,
MTB's, hybrids and comfort bikes all used very-similar components--in
particular, they used very similar /saddles/. The advancement of
crank-forward bikes is that they modify the frame to move the BB forward
enough to use a short-nose or nose-less saddle, that is much more
comfortable to ride.

My only "upright" bike is a RANS Fusion and it is easy to ride, has a
much lower stand-over height and doesn't cause any of the pain that
typical upright bicycles do. The reactions I've gotten from people
test-riding it have been pretty much totally positive, other than often
balking at its price.
~
 
Ken Aston wrote:
> Recently, I have been using my bike more and more and by now I almost
> stopped using any other way of transportation. It's a lot of fun and it
> made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just
> using a cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.
>
> What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
> sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
> I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
> bike than with a 200 $ bike?


If you're in shape, you won't go palpably slower on a $200 craigslist
bike fitted with nice tires and tuned properly compared to the $2000.
That's provided the $200 bike isn't a department store tank. If you're
racing and the more expensive bike buys you ten seconds up a mountain,
that's well worth the cost. If you ain't racing, those are expensive
seconds. People whom don't race like to buy luxe bikes, as mainly, they
feel nice.

For recreational use, a brand new $500 hybrid is built as well as most
folks will ever need for casual use. A decent drop bar bike will cost a
couple hundred more. Beyond that it's indeed the law of diminishing
returns. Of course a hardcore rider might like very durable and
expensive components, or the rich chiropractor may like the feel of
Campagnolo Record even though he only rides fifty miles per week. The
serious climber my find investing in a $2000 carbon fiber frame to be
worth it, and the retro geek might like to part with a grand or more to
have a custom lugged frame made.
 
DougC wrote:

> The only differences between a cheap bike and an
> expensive bike are durability, functionality, weight and (possibly)
> aerodynamics.


True in general. But there's a point where "stupid light" hurts
durability.

I'd like to know what kind of bike the guy has now (MTB, cruiser, or
whatever), what kind of riding he does (off road, commuting, casual
road riding, etc.), and what he wants from a new bike. Give us more
info!

Art Harris
 
landotter wrote:
> Ken Aston wrote:
>> Recently, I have been using my bike more and more and by now I almost
>> stopped using any other way of transportation. It's a lot of fun and it
>> made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just
>> using a cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.
>>
>> What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
>> sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
>> I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
>> bike than with a 200 $ bike?

>
> If you're in shape, you won't go palpably slower on a $200 craigslist
> bike fitted with nice tires and tuned properly compared to the $2000.
> That's provided the $200 bike isn't a department store tank. If you're
> racing and the more expensive bike buys you ten seconds up a mountain,
> that's well worth the cost. If you ain't racing, those are expensive
> seconds. People whom don't race like to buy luxe bikes, as mainly, they
> feel nice.
>
> For recreational use, a brand new $500 hybrid is built as well as most
> folks will ever need for casual use. A decent drop bar bike will cost a
> couple hundred more. Beyond that it's indeed the law of diminishing
> returns. Of course a hardcore rider might like very durable and
> expensive components, or the rich chiropractor may like the feel of
> Campagnolo Record even though he only rides fifty miles per week. The
> serious climber my find investing in a $2000 carbon fiber frame to be
> worth it, and the retro geek might like to part with a grand or more to
> have a custom lugged frame made.
>

Ok,
So am I the oddball here because I don't care about spending $2,000
bucks on a bike and consider $50 enough? Exercise is the whole point and
it doesn't take tons of money to through at a bike to get in shape. I
don't think I am going to be competing, unless it's in the over 60
category, and I do manage to get about 3-5K miles per cheap bike. So, in
that case, I am getting more miles per dollar than the expensive bikes.
Quick, somebody tell me why it's more fun to wreck a $2K bike than a $50
bike. I do crash on my off road exploits and have the scars to show for
it, but not the broken expensive bike, just one more parts bike.
Bill Baka
 
gds wrote:
>
>
> As others have said above there is a law of diminishing returns and as
> price increases the marginal improvement of the bike get smaller and
> smaller.
> But it is also true that generally the more you pay the more you get.


Hmm. I beg to differ. With bikes, the more you pay, the _less_ you
get!

Spend $69.99 and you'll get 35 pounds of bicycle, maybe more. Spend
$2000 and you'll be lucky to get even 20 pounds of bicycle. That's $2
per pound vs. $100 per pound - it's obvious which is the better buy!
;-)

- Frank Krygowski
 
Ken Aston wrote:
> Recently, I have been using my bike more and more and by now I almost
> stopped using any other way of transportation. It's a lot of fun and it
> made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just
> using a cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.
>
> What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
> sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
> I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
> bike than with a 200 $ bike?


First, it's great you're enjoying cycling. Doing it for
transportation, like you are, is a Good Thing, in my book.

But regarding the difference between cheap discount bikes and good
bikes, here's my experience, from long, long ago.

When I finished college and got a job, a new ten (count 'em - ten!)
speed was my first present to myself. I knew nothing about bikes, but
I saw a German bike at a discount store and bought it. And I rode it
for almost four years, in a part of the country where there were almost
no cyclists. I liked riding. I liked it a lot.

Then I learned my guitar teacher had a "good" bike in his basement.
Apparently, he bought it, crashed once, and never rode again. It was
rusty, parts didn't work right, wheels were crooked - but I acquired it
and spent a week getting it perfect, then took it out for a test ride.

I was amazed at the difference. The shifters and brakes worked _so_
much better. (The other bike had almost no brakes in the rain.) The
handling was nimble, not sluggish. The bike had a better choice of
gears. The tires had less rolling resistance. It was lighter, so
climbing was a bit easier. Almost all parts were aluminum instead of
chromed steel, so not only were they lighter, they wouldn't rust. The
bearings in the hubs, cranks, pedals and steering were all better. And
the aesthetics were better, too - nice lugs, nice detail paint, chrome
on the dropout wear surfaces, etc. The saddle - well, the saddle was a
narrow leather thing that I _tried_ to like, but after a couple years I
got one that fit me better.

But more to the point, overall, the bike was much more comfortable.
Now, I was lucky there, since I was buying used. My guitar teacher
just happened to be my size. If he were much taller or shorter, I
probably wouldn't have bought the bike. But the bike did fit me, and
that makes a tremendous difference.

I recall letting a couple friends test ride the bike. Even though it
was just a "middle of the line" bike, not top quality, they immediately
felt the difference between the good bike and their discount bikes.

Bike hardware has gotten better across the board. Your discount bike
is probably much better than mine was. But still, most discount bikes
are "one size sort of approximately fits all." And fit is one of the
most important things about a bike - more so than minor weight
differences, for sure.

As others have said, there is certainly a "diminishing returns" aspect
to bike buying. I'd guess that $300 or $400 will get you into the
bottom edge of decent bikes. An $800 bike will definitely be better,
but not really be twice as good (however that's measured) and a $1600
bike will certainly not be four times as good. At a certain point,
you're paying for this month's fashionable design trick, plus extra
polish on the metal parts, plus some tricky, high-tech looking
components that may be unrepairable five years from now.

I'd say, get a bike from the middle of a good company's price range.
Get a bike that fits your body perfectly. If necessary, have the shop
trade stems, or saddles, or pedals or whatever to suit you. Also, get
a bike that suits your intended use - and if you're riding for
transportation, that may mean getting stuff that's not at all stylish,
like fenders and good lights and racks and big bags.

BTW, regarding saddles: I disagree with one poster who implies that
you need an oddball bike to get a comfortable seat. What you need is a
seat that fits your personal butt, and your personal riding style. It
needs to be wide enough to support your sit bones, but not too wide.
And unless you ride only short distances (say, five miles max) I'd
advise against a very soft, cushy saddle. Those sort of swallow you in
foam, and cut off all blood and air circulation until you're in pain.
I'd advise trying for a saddle of moderate width and moderate firmness.

Finally, I'll agree with several posters who said "faster isn't
everything." (Or, in Ghandi's words, "There is more to life than
increasing its speed.")

Speed comes from having the bike fit you well, having a good
aerodynamic position and clothing, having good tires, and being in good
shape. In my experience, if you want to get really fast, you've got to
push yourself until it hurts, and do it over and over for a few years
at least. As Lance Armstrong said "It's not about the bike."

(Well, not very much, anyway.)

- Frank Krygowski
 
"Ken Aston" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Recently, I have been using my bike more and more and by now I almost
> stopped using any other way of transportation. It's a lot of fun and it
> made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just
> using a cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.
>
>
> Ken Aston
>


Ken: $2000 will get a nice light road bike that will be worth keeping for
the rest of your life. This bike will provide decades of fitness benefits,
and take you to many interesting places. You will become a cyclist for
life.

Riding the $200 boat anchor bike (especially the full suspension models)
will be a chore. It's suspension will bob in and out needlessly with every
pedaling stroke robbing you of a significant amount of pedaling efficiency.
Its inefficient fat tires will slow you down on by several miles/hr right
off, and the incessant howl of the tire knobbies on the pavement will take
away a key pleasure of riding: peace and quiet. The bushings on the useless
rear suspension will quickly wear, and this will cause the rear end of the
bike to wander back and forth, leading to loose and scary handling. Besides
the energy-sapping suspension bob, its 35+ pound weight will make
accelerating and climbing a misery. Add to this poorly installed and
unreliable components. The folks that buy these monstrosities give up the
sport after a few tries. Especially kids. Parents: listen up: A 150 pound
adult riding a 40-pound bike is plain inefficient. A 75-pound kid riding a
40 pound bike is ridiculous. The X-Mart full-suspension models that have
pretty much taken over the junior bike market will result in an entire
generation that does not ride.

I've provided several folks with good refurbished second-hand road bikes.
It is interesting to hear their initial: "Oh my Gawd" feedback, in that was
the first decent bike that they ever had, as they had not realized how
enjoyable cycling could be.

So think of it in these terms. A good bike that fits will likely result in
a long-term cyclist.
 
gds wrote:
> catzz66 wrote:
> > > Ken Aston wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>What I still don't understand is, what are the advantages of
> > >>sophisticated, expensive bikes? Parts last longer, the weight is lower,
> > >>I understand that. But besides that, why can I go faster with a 2,000 $
> > >>bike than with a 200 $ bike?
> > >
> > >

> >
> > I've not followed this thread closely, but there are many, many choices
> > of bikes that are priced between $200 and $2,000.

>
> That is a true statement. But it doesn't answer the question of why
> bikes are better as thier price increases.
>
> As others have said above there is a law of diminishing returns and as
> price increases the marginal improvement of the bike get smaller and
> smaller.
> But it is also true that generally the more you pay the more you get.
> (There are always exceptions to every such rule)
> So, generally as dollars go up:
> -frame weight decreases
> -wheel weight decreases
> -component weight decreases
> -component reliability increases...


I would not be surprised if Ultegra and XT were MORE reliable than
DuraAce and XTR (or Chorus more reliable than Record). At some point,
higher material quality will not compensate for less material. The same
is almost certainly true for very expensive, "stupid light" bicycle
frames. Weight is of concern to professional racers who get their
equipment for free, long-term durability is not.

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!
 
Frank Krygowski wrote:
> ...
> BTW, regarding saddles: I disagree with one poster who implies that
> you need an oddball bike to get a comfortable seat. What you need is a
> seat that fits your personal butt, and your personal riding style. It
> needs to be wide enough to support your sit bones, but not too wide.
> And unless you ride only short distances (say, five miles max) I'd
> advise against a very soft, cushy saddle. Those sort of swallow you in
> foam, and cut off all blood and air circulation until you're in pain.
> I'd advise trying for a saddle of moderate width and moderate firmness....


Point of order: uprights have SADDLES, recumbents have SEATS.

As to the relative comfort issue between SADDLES and SEATS, that is as
contentious as whether helmets have any significant effects in reducing
serious head injuries. ;)

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!
 
DougC wrote:
> ...
> Well,,,, if you bought a highracer or lowracer recumbent, it'd have a
> /lot/ better aerodynamics....


Lowracers are for the incorrigible.

--
Tom Sherman - Red and Purple Sunset Lowracers
 
On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 04:31:20 -0800, Ken Aston wrote:

> Recently, I have been using my bike more and more and by now I almost
> stopped using any other way of transportation. It's a lot of fun and it
> made me think about buying a really nice bike. Right now I am just using a
> cheap discount bike which is quite heavy.
>


Many good comments on this thread, here's my 0.02 cents.

Components, yes good parts last longer, for example good brakes stop
better and are easier to keep adjusted. A dragging brake will slow
you down much more than a few pounds. A better shiter set will be
easier to use and not go out of adjustment so easily and correct
shifting can help keep your speed up and a faster cadence ( rpms )
will be easier on you knees. Better bottom bracket will last longer
between adjustments and run smoother and faster, ditto wheel bearings.
Semi-slick tires on mountain bike if appropriate for your riding
conditions will make a MAJOR difference in effort/speed. I cant use
them myself year round because of ice and snow, but when I can I do.
Depending on exactly what you bought you mike consider the cost of
upgrading your current bike, though a high end bike can be a joy
to ride, see how many test rides you can get out of your local store.
 

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