Hybrid or racer

Caher said:

Hi all, Now that I've managed a few commutes of 45 miles round trip over the last few weeks I'm
having a reassessment. Last week whilst peddling furiously on my mountain bike (now with
semi-slicks) this guy on a racer cruised passed my almost effortlessly. And as a bad workman I am
blaming my tool. I was wondering about the benefits of upgrading to an out and out racer or
perhaps getting a hybrid. The latter appear about as heavier as my MTB and the former seem far too
fragile for commuting. There is a half-mile stretch along a river, which could stump a fragile
racer. Is there a robust racer? Any thoughts anyone?

I'm not sure whether it would be suitable at all, but touring bikes are often a bit tougher than a
racer. Dawes do some with the stronger 26" wheels.

--
Daniel Auger - [email hidden] (Please remove Granta to get a valid address.)

Caher said:

Hi all, Now that I've managed a few commutes of 45 miles round trip over the last few weeks I'm
having a reassessment. Last week whilst peddling furiously on my mountain bike (now with
semi-slicks) this guy on a racer cruised passed my almost effortlessly. And as a bad workman I am
blaming my tool. I was wondering about the benefits of upgrading to an out and out racer or
perhaps getting a hybrid. The latter appear about as heavier as my MTB and the former seem far too
fragile for commuting. There is a half-mile stretch along a river, which could stump a fragile
racer. Is there a robust racer? Any thoughts anyone?

Road racer's are not as fragile as they look. One could possibly be tough enough just by using 25
instead of 23 or 20mm tyres to better protect the wheels and provide more suspension. Give one a go
if you fancy the idea.

More important practical considerations are: mudguards and rack, so consider "audax" type
bikes as well.

Tell us more about this stretch along the river. What kind of surface?

~PB

Caher said:

Hi all, Now that I?ve managed a few commutes of 45 miles round trip over the last few weeks I?m
having a reassessment. Last week whilst peddling furiously on my mountain bike (now with
semi-slicks) this guy on a racer cruised passed my almost effortlessly.

Yeah, but what sort of guy? I regularly get passed at a great rate of knots by those whippet-like
guys in their 60s+ who look like a puff of breath would knock them over, but who think nothing of
knocking off a hundred miles before breakfast.

R.

In message <[email hidden]>, Caher <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Hi all, Now that I’ve managed a few commutes of 45 miles round trip over the last few weeks I’m
having a reassessment. Last week whilst peddling furiously on my mountain bike (now with
semi-slicks) this guy on a racer cruised passed my almost effortlessly. And as a bad workman I am
blaming my tool. I was wondering about the benefits of upgrading to an out and out racer or perhaps
getting a hybrid. The latter appear about as heavier as my MTB and the former seem far too fragile
for commuting. There is a half-mile stretch along a river, which could stump a fragile racer. Is
there a robust racer? Any thoughts anyone?

Caher

--

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

Changing the tool may not have as much effect as you wish. Learning to use the current one better
may be more helpful.

Back in April Smudger wrote here, "Let's put the record straight. It's the legs that count. Your
legs propel the bike. OK, it has to be half decent but that's all".

Checking the bike's setup might improve things as might using clipless pedals if you don't already.
Fitting slicks and pumping them up would be cheaper than buying a new bike.

Unfortunately even if you have an 'out and out racer' you'll still sometimes get passed effortlessly
by asthmatic old farts on gas pipe clunkers. (Personal experience speaking here.) It's just that it
happens a little less frequently. ;-)

You really do need to ask yourself if the extra speed is worth the expense. And going more slowly
allows you to enjoy the views ;-)

--
Michael MacClancy

"Caher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all, Now that I've managed a few commutes of 45 miles round trip over the last few weeks I'm
having a reassessment. Last week whilst peddling furiously on my mountain bike (now with
semi-slicks) this guy on a racer cruised passed my almost effortlessly. And as a bad workman I am
blaming my tool. I was wondering about the benefits of upgrading to an out and out racer or
perhaps getting a hybrid.

...

Ah, I know the feeling. Of course, as others have said, the legs are the main thing but those of us
not genetically endowed with the heart, lungs and legs of Armstrong, Ullrich, or even your average
club racer need every advantage we can get with our tools! Of course, we don't want them to look too
much like we're really trying to compete either!

Things I think can help get the most out of a MTB on the road are: narrow slicks pumped up hard, SPD
pedals, and posture - if you have wide, raised bars put a narrower flat bar on and consider
lowering/flipping the stem for a more aero position. I'm thinking of putting road tri bars on mine,
but this means changing a few other things too. Changing gear ratios may help - MTBs will have a
fairly wide spread of gears, a narrow spread, eg a 12-23 cassette may help you keep within an
optimal cadence for road speeds. Another thing I'm thinking of is replacing my (heavy) sus forks
with some rigid carbon ones - Pace do some that should just drop right in.

Of course, the other option is just to buy another bike, but I haven't found the right one yet, and
so far the changes I've made have been less expensive!

Rich

"Caher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all, Now that I've managed a few commutes of 45 miles round trip over the last few weeks I'm
having a reassessment. Last week whilst peddling furiously on my mountain bike (now with
semi-slicks) this guy on a racer cruised passed my almost effortlessly. And as a bad workman I am
blaming my tool.

So, don't buy a racer. A few extras on rigid MTBs and its as good as many hybrids. (although I did
see a couple of very skinny wheeled ones with tribars yesterday)

If you go all the way to a decent road bike, you'll have no excuses.

Quoted message said:

I was wondering about the benefits of upgrading to an out and out racer or perhaps getting a
hybrid. The latter appear about as heavier as my MTB and the former seem far too fragile for
commuting. There is a half-mile stretch along a river, which could stump a fragile racer. Is there
a robust racer? Any thoughts anyone?

A variety of bikes almost fit that category. A dawes horizon is one of the cheapest tourers. Looks
like a "racer", can fit skinny tyres, and sit in painful positions for better speed. Also - its not
a real "road race" bike, so theres some room for excuses.

Less excuses can be had with "audax" bikes (designed for long distance semi-races). There are also a
variety of "winter training" bikes, which may allow you to fit wider tyres etc.

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In message <[email hidden]>, Caher <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Hi all, Now that I've managed a few commutes of 45 miles round trip over the last few weeks I'm
having a reassessment. Last week whilst peddling furiously on my mountain bike (now with
semi-slicks) this guy on a racer cruised passed my almost effortlessly. And as a bad workman I am
blaming my tool. I was wondering about the benefits of upgrading to an out and out racer or
perhaps getting a hybrid. The latter appear about as heavier as my MTB and the former seem far
too fragile for commuting. There is a half-mile stretch along a river, which could stump a
fragile racer. Is there a robust racer? Any thoughts anyone?

Caher

--

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

Changing the tool may not have as much effect as you wish. Learning to use the current one better
may be more helpful.

Back in April Smudger wrote here, "Let's put the record straight. It's the legs that count. Your
legs propel the bike. OK, it has to be half decent but that's all".

Checking the bike's setup might improve things as might using clipless pedals if you don't
already. Fitting slicks and pumping them up would be cheaper than buying a new bike.

Unfortunately even if you have an 'out and out racer' you'll still sometimes get passed
effortlessly by asthmatic old farts on gas pipe clunkers. (Personal experience speaking here.)
It's just that it happens a little less frequently. ;-)

You really do need to ask yourself if the extra speed is worth the expense. And going more slowly
allows you to enjoy the views ;-)

--
Michael MacClancy

There's always the gearing as well of course. My MTB (specifically ratio'd for MTB'ing) seems to run
out of useable gearing at the point my racer is just getting going. Oh, and the racers wheels are
bigger. The racer looks like it'd fold under the slightest knock, but it doesn't - personal
experience due to the odd pothole leaping out in front of me, unexpectedly ;-) It's an old 25 quid,
25 year old second hand jobbie off the intranet where my wife used to work. Other advantage - nobody
would want to nick it :-) Cheers, Dave.