What will a new bike do for me?
#51
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#54
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
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Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
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Sometimes new bikes can bring a pleasant experience. I like to build one every couple of years or so, to complement the neglected older reborn ones...
This year's bike will be a track bike modified for road use. I expect it to be quite fabulous, but only the riding will tell.
This year's bike will be a track bike modified for road use. I expect it to be quite fabulous, but only the riding will tell.
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#56
Otto
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
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Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
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I am shopping for a new bike. Currently leaning toward an endurance bike like Specialized Roubaix, Trek Domane and Cannondale Synapse.
I am riding a hybrid. It is comfortable on 40 mile rides. I am gradually increasing my distances.
Went on my first ride with a slow D group. No problem keeping up with those guys. Ride leader said he thought I would have no problem with the C group. But I would struggle in the B group.
I do not think a new bike would make the difference between being a C group rider and a B group rider. But I suspect it would help a bit.
Maybe a nicer, better fitting bike would be more comfortable.
And I think I would enjoy riding a higher quality bike, crisper shifting, smoother ride and I admit cooler. Maybe only cooler in my head, but that is really the only place it matters.
And I want a new toy.
Help me out here. I am working on rationalizing a splurge.....![Speedy](images/smilies/speedy.gif)
I am riding a hybrid. It is comfortable on 40 mile rides. I am gradually increasing my distances.
Went on my first ride with a slow D group. No problem keeping up with those guys. Ride leader said he thought I would have no problem with the C group. But I would struggle in the B group.
I do not think a new bike would make the difference between being a C group rider and a B group rider. But I suspect it would help a bit.
Maybe a nicer, better fitting bike would be more comfortable.
And I think I would enjoy riding a higher quality bike, crisper shifting, smoother ride and I admit cooler. Maybe only cooler in my head, but that is really the only place it matters.
And I want a new toy.
Help me out here. I am working on rationalizing a splurge.....
![Speedy](images/smilies/speedy.gif)
woman will swoon and you will get huge raise.
some say hair becomes long. lush. thicker and bank account can never go below $50k.
some say.
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#58
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 226
Bikes: 1991 Diamondback Apex, 2015 Trek Verve 3, 2020 Specialized Diverge
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I will say that when I am out for a ride and say hello to attractive young ladies, I generally get a better response than in other settings. I guess with a helmet and sunglasses, they cannot tell I am a bald headed geezer.
I think the ship has sailed on the long lush hair though.
#59
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
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#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: South Carolina Upstate
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Bikes: 2010 Fuji Absolute 3.0 1994 Trek 850
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I am shopping for a new bike. Currently leaning toward an endurance bike like Specialized Roubaix, Trek Domane and Cannondale Synapse.
I am riding a hybrid. It is comfortable on 40 mile rides. I am gradually increasing my distances.
Went on my first ride with a slow D group. No problem keeping up with those guys. Ride leader said he thought I would have no problem with the C group. But I would struggle in the B group.
I do not think a new bike would make the difference between being a C group rider and a B group rider. But I suspect it would help a bit.
Maybe a nicer, better fitting bike would be more comfortable.
And I think I would enjoy riding a higher quality bike, crisper shifting, smoother ride and I admit cooler. Maybe only cooler in my head, but that is really the only place it matters.
And I want a new toy.
Help me out here. I am working on rationalizing a splurge.....![Speedy](images/smilies/speedy.gif)
I am riding a hybrid. It is comfortable on 40 mile rides. I am gradually increasing my distances.
Went on my first ride with a slow D group. No problem keeping up with those guys. Ride leader said he thought I would have no problem with the C group. But I would struggle in the B group.
I do not think a new bike would make the difference between being a C group rider and a B group rider. But I suspect it would help a bit.
Maybe a nicer, better fitting bike would be more comfortable.
And I think I would enjoy riding a higher quality bike, crisper shifting, smoother ride and I admit cooler. Maybe only cooler in my head, but that is really the only place it matters.
And I want a new toy.
Help me out here. I am working on rationalizing a splurge.....
![Speedy](images/smilies/speedy.gif)
#61
Newbie racer
I've seen really fit folks take their knobbie equipped gravel or cyclocross bikes (with requisite gearing) all the way up to the A ride. Just to sit in at a hard tempo/sweetspot the whole time for something different. One dude even showed up on his hardtail one night and kept up fine. He didn't ever pull, but made it perfectly fine. Just to show there the bike isn't mandatory to be one thing or another in different groups.
I'd say there are two practicalities to going to an endurance road bike over a t-bar hybrid. They're meant to be totally practical and nothing to do with anyone's abilities or anyone's fashion or cache'.
1. As groups get faster, if you ever choose to take a turn up front the wind you're working against on a drop bar is less than a hybrid. Unless you're okay altering how you hold your bars on a hybrid. The roadie is likely lower on the bars and narrower. Less wind to fight.
2. Often in faster groups, to save more energy, people ride a lot closer together front to back and even side to side. I don't think a hybrid set of bars in a tighter B group would annoy anybody at all. It would be fine, but there is the practical nature of hooking bars. The further a set of them sticks out, is worth paying attention to. Nothing mandatory, just something of taking note.
I don't see it mandatory at all what you ride so long as you can keep up, chat, and maybe even contribute. Ride what you wish in the group. Other than that, test ride a few! Have fun! The two things above are just things you might notice. Nothing exclusionary or mandatory.
I'd say there are two practicalities to going to an endurance road bike over a t-bar hybrid. They're meant to be totally practical and nothing to do with anyone's abilities or anyone's fashion or cache'.
1. As groups get faster, if you ever choose to take a turn up front the wind you're working against on a drop bar is less than a hybrid. Unless you're okay altering how you hold your bars on a hybrid. The roadie is likely lower on the bars and narrower. Less wind to fight.
2. Often in faster groups, to save more energy, people ride a lot closer together front to back and even side to side. I don't think a hybrid set of bars in a tighter B group would annoy anybody at all. It would be fine, but there is the practical nature of hooking bars. The further a set of them sticks out, is worth paying attention to. Nothing mandatory, just something of taking note.
I don't see it mandatory at all what you ride so long as you can keep up, chat, and maybe even contribute. Ride what you wish in the group. Other than that, test ride a few! Have fun! The two things above are just things you might notice. Nothing exclusionary or mandatory.
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#62
Senior Member
When you get a new, sleek bike, you'll notice an immediate jump in your rest stop FTP.
![Thumbs Up](images/smilies/thumb.gif)
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#64
Senior Member
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#66
Senior Member
I am shopping for a new bike. Currently leaning toward an endurance bike like Specialized Roubaix, Trek Domane and Cannondale Synapse.
I am riding a hybrid. It is comfortable on 40 mile rides. I am gradually increasing my distances.
Went on my first ride with a slow D group. No problem keeping up with those guys. Ride leader said he thought I would have no problem with the C group. But I would struggle in the B group.
I do not think a new bike would make the difference between being a C group rider and a B group rider. But I suspect it would help a bit.
Maybe a nicer, better fitting bike would be more comfortable.
And I think I would enjoy riding a higher quality bike, crisper shifting, smoother ride and I admit cooler. Maybe only cooler in my head, but that is really the only place it matters.
And I want a new toy.
Help me out here. I am working on rationalizing a splurge.....![Speedy](images/smilies/speedy.gif)
I am riding a hybrid. It is comfortable on 40 mile rides. I am gradually increasing my distances.
Went on my first ride with a slow D group. No problem keeping up with those guys. Ride leader said he thought I would have no problem with the C group. But I would struggle in the B group.
I do not think a new bike would make the difference between being a C group rider and a B group rider. But I suspect it would help a bit.
Maybe a nicer, better fitting bike would be more comfortable.
And I think I would enjoy riding a higher quality bike, crisper shifting, smoother ride and I admit cooler. Maybe only cooler in my head, but that is really the only place it matters.
And I want a new toy.
Help me out here. I am working on rationalizing a splurge.....
![Speedy](images/smilies/speedy.gif)
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#67
Senior Member
as far as frame goes it will give you access to more modern tech , allowing the bike to be stiffer lighter and more efficient giving you more potential for higher performance , parts can be more hit or miss , but on bike shop bikes parts are usually the cheapest quality so they can make the largest profit !
when you do ask a question like this , you have to get more specific and state your budget , and intended uses , brand , and parts desired !
when you do ask a question like this , you have to get more specific and state your budget , and intended uses , brand , and parts desired !
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#68
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 226
Bikes: 1991 Diamondback Apex, 2015 Trek Verve 3, 2020 Specialized Diverge
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I think I will try some different tires. I have 38 x 700 all terrain tires. I would like to try some 28 x 700 smoother tread and some bigger tires with more aggressive tread and see if I notice much difference. I do not think I will notice much difference with the 28 x 700 in speed. I think I will notice a big difference with more aggressive tread in traction. There is a gravel loop I ride frequently that is a little sketchy on the existing tires. They slide a little around corners. I think I would be able to corner faster with a more aggressive tread. I think I will find that the existing tires are a good choice for the way I ride. They have a smooth strip down the middle which I expect rolls pretty efficiently going straight on road when fully inflated. The little bit of tread on the sides seems enough for other terrain without creating too much additional weight or wind resistance.
I suspect I would have enjoyed an endurance bike like Roubaix or Domane very much as well. Honestly, I think I have enjoyed every bicycle I have ever ridden. They all have their own charm. I road a friend's tri bike the other day. That was a cool bike. Not the right bike for me, but I enjoyed riding it. Perhaps one day, I will add a true road bike to the stable. For now, I am really grooving on the gravel bike.