Upgrade tires & rims for faster ride?

[wineberry]

Hello everyone

I’m currently riding a 2009 Sirrus Elite hybrid and was wondering if an upgrade in tires & rims would give me the performance boost I’m looking for. I feel as if I’ve outgrown my hybrid. I ride about 120 miles per week on city streets. I’m not a racer, but would like to ride more efficiently.

The LBS said I would need to spend approx. $1200 for a road bike that performed as well as my ‘09 Sirrus Elite. Or that I should consider better rims and thinner tires (23c or 25c) for the hybrid which would run around $400. I think I would rather invest said amount towards a new road bike.

My main concern is whether I’ll be comfortable on a road bike. Although I’m very flexible, I still experienced neck & upper back pain until the handlebars were adjusted for a more upright position on the hybrid. I also have neck and back pain in general, as well as a torn rotator cuff. Given these challenges, should I still consider a road bike? Perhaps one with less aggressive geometry?

My road bike choices would be limited as I'm 5’1.5”, and presumably would need a size 46/47.

Should I just upgrade the tires & rims on my hybrid, or get a road bike instead?

Many thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[radacrider]

You could always make smaller changes. Just tires can make a difference - depends on brands. I have tried several brands for my commuter mtb and have found the Continentals (SportContact, specifically) to ride smoother and faster than any other brand of tire. Currently, I am running a 26 x 1.3 (32-559) size - very low rolling resistence and very fast.

[Roadtrip]

If you have issues with injuries, I'd see if the shops you looking at bikes offer fitting services, then talk to the fitter and explain.

My gut says you may end up staying on your Hybrd. Efficiency on a bike you can't ride because it kills your back isnt so efficient, is it?

I'm guessing your Sirrius has 700x32mm tires, so if you went to something a little narrower, you could see an increase in speed not sure now the ride would be affected... You'd almost assuredly "feel" more of the road.

I know the Dolce / Ruby are one of the more relaxed geometry road bikes, along with the Canondale Synapes, so I'm wondering if you've tried out any road bikes? How did it feel? Are you able to take a road bike on a longer test ride to see how your back reacts? You mentioned performance boost and wheels.. How much weight would your $400 trim from your current bike? I know wheel upgrades on my hybrid would only give me back one or two pounds at most in weight. For $400 (close to $100 of that in new tires) wouldn't get you the featherweight wheels like the pros ride, so I wonder just how much bang you'd get out of the rims. IMHO.

Good luck!

Shannon

[TrekTheKaty]

Over the years, we've gradually changed my sister's "tundra tires" to thinner and thinner tires with less tread. It was a stability and comfort issue at first, but now she enjoys the increased speed.

I agree--I'd go with the tires first. Rims second.

Everyone's neck & back pain are unique. However, I rode a hybrid because I didn't think I could handle the road bike. SO, we bought a $50 road bike off of Craig's List and I discovered it was actually more comfortable. (The upright position of the hybrid can actually be more jarring on your back).

[Velocivixen]

When you say you want to ride more "efficiently" do you mean you want to roll faster? One thing about your bike, which is similar to mine, is that being more upright means your torso is catching air like wind in a sail. So, although you may go faster with new rims & wheels, not sure you would get what you're looking for. On the other hand it may be just what you like.
I know you said that you hesitate about road bikes, but just to throw it out there-there are many road bikes which are not racing bikes. There are commuting bikes with drop bars. Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

[redrhodie]

You can be comfortable on a road bike. They'll be able to set it up so you're upright, plus with drop bars, you'll have more positioning options, and that might really help your neck problems.

[wineberry]

I’d rather upgrade to a road bike than upgrade rims on my hybrid if I can be comfortable on a road bike. I ordered new tires (Hutchinson Atom Comp (http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/05/bikes-and-tech/reviews/wrenched-and-ridden-hutchinson-atom-comp-clincher-tires_118587)), and hope I’ll see a difference going from size 28 to 23.

I can request a Body Geometry Fit at my LBS. I know I will have trouble finding shops with size 46/47 road bikes. I recently went shopping for a road bike for my 9½ yo nephew. We didn’t have luck trying out smaller/shorter frames because most dealers don’t stock them as they’re considered dead stock.

The Synapse starts with size 48, and the Jamis Femme & Specialized road bikes jump from size 44 to 48. Can anyone recommend relaxed geometry road bikes that come in sizes smaller than 48? My LBS carries mostly Cannondale, Jamis & Specialized.

Thanks.