genejockey 

You could get an Aeroad with 12 speed Dura Ace for only $11,000!

genejockey 

I think answered a question - or questioned an answer - you didn't state.

bruce19

I've been thinking about what "feel better" means to me. The first thing that comes to me is how quickly it spins up.

eduskator

Feeling is importantER than being. Once in good physical shape, the rest happens between your 2 ears.

Aerobikes will most likely feel and be slower than all-rounder road bikes when not riding on flat terrain.

Jughed

I guess my question would be - how much faster is a full on aero bike than many of the newer sorta aero frames with the same wheels as the aero bike?

ctak

The million dollar question

PeteHski

You could argue that the Aeroad is one of those newer kind of all-round-aero frames. It's typically only about 0.5 kg heavier than the Ultimate, which is a more traditional "climbing" race bike.

loggie24

They look a lot cooler so does it even matter?

eduskator

A pound is a pound!

500kms so far and I am still getting used to my N+1 Aero Race bike (Propel) which is 1lbs heavier than my all-around climbing bike (TCR). The difference is noticeable when you switch from one to another.

PeteHski

In what way is this 1 lb noticeable?

eduskator

The bike is and feels heavier; it's harder to accelerate and maintain a certain speed, especially when climbing.

More efficient at higher speed though.

genejockey 

Hmmm. It boils down to what your riding is primarily composed of, then - long flat stretches or long, steep climbs. BUT, if you're coming from a heavier bike, like, say, an endurance bike, then the aero bike may be lighter, and feel like a climbing bike by comparison!

Hey! I just made a cogent argument for getting an aero bike, despite all the hills where I live! I wonder what my wife will think of this reasoning.......

ctak

Omg u guys - imagine how much faster Marchand could be on an aeroad!

eduskator

Indeed! My average 50km ride has roughly 800m of elevation (30mi and 2600ft for the US of A people). Previous ''primary'' bike is a TCR that's lighter so yes, there was and is still a significant difference between them on that terrain, but I aim to ride more often on flatter terrains this year (trading elevation for speed to see if I like it better).

Sy Reene

I like the idea of the Cervelo Soloist -- a somewhat inbetween geometry and weight, ability to take wider tires, and not locked into single integrated bar/stem combo.

VegasJen

2600ft, regardless of total distance, is just masochistic. Hard pass.

tomato coupe

2600 ft would make for a pancake flat century — the kind where cyclists would be breaking 4 hours.

eduskator

Rode a total of 260km (161mi) last week with 2550m (8400ft) of elevation

We're all used to ride on the terrain we live on I guess. You'd probably get used to it, just like I'd get used to riding on flat terrains even if it sounds boring as hell. I see 100km rides with only 100m (330ft) of elevations sometimes and I'm like .

big john

The standard for what is considered hilly varies with the rider but many agree on 100 feet per mile being pretty hilly. So the example given of 2600 feet in 30 miles is significant.
2600 feet over 60 miles would not be considered hilly but there's more to it than that. If there is a 1000 foot climb in the last 5 miles after hammering the rest of the ride it's going to be noticed. If the 2600 feet is spread out over the 60 miles with nothing steep it's going to feel like a flat ride.

Jughed

Will an aero bike get me a 4 hour century? Maybe that's what I'm missing...

Oh, and I fixed it for you.

RChung

Probably not much. He died a couple of years ago.

big john

There's a century called the Tour de Tucson where riders break 5 hours. I've never done the ride but friends have come in under 5 hours. 4 hours sounds a bit extreme for a recreational rider.

tomato coupe

Not pros, just solid riders. (I did a 4:13 and I'm very, very, very far from pro level.) Regardless, 2600 ft. is a very flat century.

tomato coupe

People break 4 hours on that ride as well. (2900 ft.)

RChung

Once again, that depends on how perceptive a rider is. Can you feel the difference between, say, butyl and latex tubes? We can measure that difference but many (most?) of us can't feel it. Most of us can feel the difference between a 0.5% climb and a 1% climb, but many of us can't feel the difference between a 0.5% climb and a 0.6% climb. Most of us can feel the difference between tires pumped up to 80 psi and 100 psi but without measurement it's hard to know which is faster--lots of riders have been fooled about that.