Losing MPH on my new TREK FX 7.6 WSD Hybrid

[OakLeaf]

Titanium fasteners?

Seriously, that's a LOT of weight difference, and 2 mph isn't going to make that big a difference in how soon you get wherever you're going.

Wheels are traditionally the biggest bang for the buck, because they're rotating weight with a very large radius. But I thought you didn't want to throw another few hundred dollars at this bike?

Tanks are fun to drive (or so I hear). Just don't expect to drive them at Ferrari speed. Better spend your mental energy enjoying the things you can do on the hybrid that you *can't* do comfortably on the roadie, like ride in sand or gravel, strap on unwieldy loads, or run over random stuff.

[kajero]

You are right, I absolutely do not want to spend any more on this bike!

And your advice is great! I will do that. Hopefully, I can keep up with my friends on the crushed limestone part of the Luce Line trail. They haven't been available to ride with since I got the bike.

I keep track of my mph to see how I am doing. I think I will start keeping two ledgers, one for each bicycle.

[Owlie]

That's sort of the nature of the beast. You're comparing a carbon fiber road bike to a hybrid. The roadie is built for speed. The hybrid...not so much.

My cross bike is the same way. He's a tank--sturdy, comfortable ride, but definitely not speedy and zippy. (Half of that has to do with the fact that it has the cross tires on it, but still.) I can do 14 plus average on my road bike. It's 12-13 on my cross bike.

It's a different bike, meant for different things. I can't do mtb trails on my roadie! I just put a separate column in my spreadsheet to note which bike I was riding.

[Crankin]

You are comparing apples and oranges.
I would not expect to have the same average. When I had my Jamis Coda, my speed was anywhere between 2-5mph slower than on my carbon road bike. That was not the purpose of that bike. I did do some 25-50 miles on the Coda, but they were not speedy rides... most of the riding I did on that bike was for errands or short fitness rides.

[kajero]

I am relieved. Thank you for your suggestions. I will treat my bikes as cousins, not as identical twins. I still wish I could go faster. It will come. I was sure I was going to walk up one of the hills with the hybrid today, but I didn't' have to (just barely). I must be doing something right. I do like the trunk bag on the TREK so I take stuff along our put stuff in it.

Three years ago I rode my old hybrid in the MS150. It was a two-day ride. Each day was 75 miles. The old hybrid seemed a lot lighter than this one, but then was a $400 price difference. I finished both days and didn't use Sag. Maybe I am nearly 3 years older and things are just harder

Thanks for your help.

[TigerMom]

Exactly what Owlie and Crankin said.

However, you will be able to ride the crushed limestone paths with your hybrid which is NOT safe to do with your Ruby road bike. If you ride road only and want speed only, ride your Ruby. I'm glad that you were able to get your Ruby back from the thieves!

[Tokie]

You will probably build new strength by pedaling about on your new hybrid too- so your Ruby will feel light as a feather & you may pick up some speed from "cross training"! Tokie

[kajero]

TigerMom

The trail ended and turned into crushed limestone. I knew I shouldn't ride my Ruby on the crushed limestone, but I did. I mean how little could 6 miles hurt until we reached asphalt again? It was awful. I was scared. There were all kinds of things that have damaged the tires or made me crash. I slowed way down to about 5 to 6 miles an hour and kept looking for any thing that would "get" me. My other two friends had hybrids so they didn't quite understand why I went from a speed of around 13-14 miles per to half of that. They following me most of the way around 13-14 miles. The all of sudden I am following them and I was way behind.

We will all be on hybrids now. It will interesting to see how the next ride goes.

[fallstoclimb]

The plus side is if you regularly ride the hyrbrid for a while, and then take out the road bike for a spin, you will feel SO fast and strong. I commute on my Trek 7.2 hybrid, with a loaded pannier, and am SLOW. Luckily the route isn't long. When I take my Specialized Dolce out on weekends....I feel like I can conquer the world

[kajero]

So I can be forgiven for riding slow????