Fast bike??

[violette]

I always thought that it wasn't the bike that was fast, but the person on it. Some of you say this bike is so fast, or this model is fast on hills...Are there some bikes that are "fast"?

[Aggie_Ama]

Racing style bikes are faster. They are stiffer, usually lighter and made for speed. Touring bikes are usually heavier to accomodate the load they are designed to carry.

Still, the engine matters. I have a stiff carbon bike (granted a Shimano 105 triple is heavier than Dura Ace doubles) and get smoked regularly on the hills by people riding touring bikes. Sometimes they are even carrying a load. Did I also mention they are usually about 30 years older than me, so age isn't helping me either?

[alpinerabbit]

Then there's handling, weight and wheels (with the subdivisions weight, hubs and spokes)...

possibly followed aerodynamics of the frame itself or the position the rider has...

and last but not least eternal bike lust that usually makes us think the shiny new model is faster

[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!