Fast bike??

[rij73]

Yes, well, the person riding the bike is the biggest factor. However, you can put the same effort into two different bikes and get a completely different speed. The factors that make one bike faster than another with the same effort include:

• weights of bike, components, and wheels (lighter=faster)
• aerodynamic profile of bike and rider (less frontal area=faster)
• inflation, width, and tread of tires (highly inflated, narrow, smooth=faster)

[OakLeaf]

Also stiffness. Carbon wheels = power to the ground rather than lost in spoke flex. Same with stiffness of framesets (although there are tradeoffs in terms of comfort - design has a lot to do with making a frame flex in certain places to absorb bumps, but be stiff in other places to deliver power).

For an easy example of stiffness and power transfer, compare riding in cycling shoes vs. riding in sneakers. I still remember the 1-1/2 mph I got out of my first pair of cycling shoes

[violette]

OK now I get it. I have a GIANT OCR3. It's the first road bike I ever had and it's the low end of the OCR. I've never riden another bike so I couldn't understand how one bike could go faster than another.

Thanks for the info. Now I want a carbon bike!!!!!!!!!

[tulip]

Part carbon works well, too. I have a steel bike with carbon fork and seatstays. Ooooh, smooth!