Is it the Indians or the arrows (new bikes vs. old bikes)?

[Bombshelter]

I bought an old '93 Bianchi, steel-frame, 7 speed road bike from my sister-in-law about 3 years ago so I could ride with my very experienced friend. She rides a custom-built steel-frame 9 speed. She always rides away from me whenever we climb & she keeps telling me "it's not the arrows, it's the Indian". We started spin classes a year ago & I've definitely seen improvement in my performance, but she still shells me on the climbs. Yesterday we did a group ride with the ladies at our spinning gym. Every one of them had $5000+ 10-speed road bikes & once again I was seriously shelled on the climbs & way behind by the end of the ride. I only paid $200 for my old girl & I can't help feeling that maybe in this case it is the arrows. Does it make a difference what bike you're riding or do I really just suck?

[redrhodie]

I have 3 bikes, and one of them is much faster than the others. Same old Indian. Must be the arrows.

But, the "arrow" is not necessarily the whole bike. You can probably make that bike noticeably faster with just new tires, and better wheels can make a whole lot of difference.

[Chicken Little]

It's not about the bike, and you don't suck. Unless the ole' girl weighs 35 lbs and doesn't fit.

Or your tires are flat. But I've tried that excuse- it doesn't fly.

[ny biker]

I think it could go either way. Could be they have an advantage in terms of gears that are better for climbing. Could be they are just in better shape, or better suited physically for climbing and generally riding fast. Could be their bikes are just lighter and made to go faster.

Best way to tell -- borrow one of their bikes, or test ride a new one at an LBS, and see how it goes.

[Grits]

I believe that if you have two equally fit people and one is on a heavier bike, that person will be slower, especially on hills, than the person on the lighter bike. If being slower on hills bothers you, and it seems to, and you aren't in a position to look at new, lighter weight bikes, a new wheelset can make a significant difference. If you do a search on this forum you can find many threads on that topic. The other possible solution is to train so much you are stronger than the other riders

I was fortunate enough to be able to buy a new carbon bike late last year. I am faster than I was, but one of my riding friends on an entry level all aluminum bike is still just as fast or faster because she is stronger than I am. I ride just as much or more, but she has always been very athletic and seems to have more muscle mass than I do, at least that is my story, and I'm sticking to it

[jessmarimba]

I've had bikes that were slow downhill, so I will vouch that sometimes it is the bike. It could even be the bike fit...for all you know, the bike isn't the right size or isn't set up in a way that will allow you to be your most efficient. Have you been fitted for the one you're riding at a local bike shop?

But sometimes its the rider.

If you guys are about the same size, why not swap for one hill and try? If nothing else, it will be a good experience. I had no idea how uncomfortable my first bike was until I went on vacation and rented one elsewhere. Wow, what a difference!

[jessmarimba]

Oh, and welcome to TE!! Good to meet you.

[Trek420]

I bought an old '93 Bianchi, steel-frame, 7 speed road bike from my sister-in-law about 3 years ago so I could ride with my very experienced friend.

oooooh, '93 Bianchi could be or become a very nice bike

Only about 1/5th of the weight of the bike is the frame. And I'm guessing yours is steel? My Italian steel road bike's hand made for me by the man whose name is on the frame. There are hills and rides I could not do on my cheap old commuter or namesake Trek 420 old road bike however ....

Your bike has the potential to be as good or better than theirs with legs strengthened by doing the same rides on it.

And you have us ahem Unless your friend is here too. And if they are "BE NICER TO HER! Remember your first ride?"

Does it fit? Yes? Then ....

Hmmmmm. New wheels are the most cost effective improvement to a bike. Takes weight and more important rotational weight (weight you gotta get going to move) off. the right wheels will make your bike more efficient too.

Whatcha got on that sweet steel Bianchi

[owlice]

Just go to your LBS and try out a few bikes; you'll definitely see that a bike can make a difference! I was shocked (shocked, I tell you, just shocked!! ) at how easy climbing up a hill was on one bike I was test-riding in comparison to a couple of other bikes I tried. Same hill (one near the LBS), completely different experiences.

So sure, Indian counts, but so does the arrow.

[Bombshelter]

I didn't mean it to come across that my friend was discouraging. So just for the record, the opposite is true. She's helped me many a time to get up some really steep climbs. She's just unwilling to switch bikes with me. This whole thing comes down to a struggle with my own ego. Even the ladies with their newer bikes would wait for me at the top of the hills & some even hung back with me to keep me company. I came to the conclusion yesterday that quite frankly, I am not willing to put in the work required to keep up with these other ladies on their newer bikes & that's purely my decision & has nothing to do with them. So if it's not fun for me to keep up with them, i just won't ride with them. No big deal. Or I'll just bring my iPod next time! I do love my S.O.B. (Sweet Old Bianchi) & enjoy riding her very much and the only person that can make you happy is yourself

So that's it, I'm done whining now

[emily_in_nc]

Or I'll just bring my iPod next time!

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but please reconsider that. It's unsafe to ride on the road and not be able to hear cars come up behind you (or even other cyclists calling out that they are passing, a chasing dog behind you, etc.) iPods are great for the gym, but please leave it at home while riding on the road. Enjoy the sounds of nature instead!

[Geonz]

There's also technique.
I got a whole lot stronger on hills when I learned to focus on making my stroke efficient all the way around the circle -- "round and round, not up and down" was what the lady said on the video we were watching doing an indoor ride in February. I remember physics class and learning that the forces work best if they're pushing perpendicular, so I practiced... and it really made a difference on hills.
Your friend might really be trying to encourage -- get you to accept that it's okay not to be Queen of the Hills. Still, the whole philosophy that talents are Set In Stone holds a whole lot of people back (including the good athletes, who are sure it's their talent behind success, not technique and hard work).
When I added the Xtracycle extension to my bike, alas, I was no longer the person who charged by people on the uphills. Now I'm the one lagging (unless it's a really long hill)... and my ego misses it... but I can always get out the 7.5FX if I *want* to and whoopeeee!:P

[Trek420]

She's just unwilling to switch bikes with me.

Few people will. I hesitate to let anyone else ride my road bike, heck, I don't even like strangers touching it . Three TE'ers though have ridden my bike. All 3 are riders who I know/trust their bike handling skills .... and are my size. When you're 5' nuthin there are few choices out there. So when a few "height challenged", skilled riders are together and there's an opportunity for each to try a Seven a full custom Mondonico (mine) and a lovingly refurbed/upgraded Bianchi there will be test rides.

What I found out is that all 3 are great bikes, but I like mine best.

New bikes are not necessarily better than old.
More expensive bikes not necessarily better than less etc.

Fit means a lot, technique too. But seriously if your bike fits you well you absolutely can have a much better bike. We'd be glad to coach you through the remodel.

After all we get all the fun of a rebuild ... with your money.

[Trek420]

I bought an old '93 Bianchi, steel-frame, 7 speed road bike from my sister-in-law about 3 years ago so I could ride with my very experienced friend. She rides a custom-built steel-frame 9 speed. She always rides away from me whenever we climb

Here it is. I knew it was somewhere. There are quite a few TE'ers who ride a Bianchi. Some of these are classic 80's, 90's. They clean up quite nicely

http://www.sersale.org/bianchi/

[Grits]

I experienced this situation in reverse a couple of days ago. I purchased a fairly high end road bike in Nov. and rode with a couple of friends for the first time with the new bike on Tuesday. They have more entry level road bikes and, after commenting on my new one and asking if it was carbon, proceeded to discuss how it was the engine not the chassis, (or some similar terminology) and it would be silly for them to upgrade implying, of course, that it was silly for me to upgrade since I could have just worked harder like them.

I just smiled. I know they didn't mean to disparage my decision to get my bike, which was purely a luxury purchase for me. They just weren't thinking - and many of us do not far too often- of the full implications of their words.