Commuting - Got a compliment, now I need a road bike.

I pulled in to work at the same time as another guy. Later in the morning, I went to talk to my boss and the other guy (happened to be there too) said "Have you seen this guy? He is fast! I pulled in the same time as him this morning. We oughta call him the Orange Streak." [I had been wearing my neon orange don't-run-me-over shirt].

This is on my hybrid. With a terrible headwind. Makes me want to get a road bike and REALLY show 'em what fast is...

Or at least buy a computer. My Performance coupons just arrived, I need to get over there... :D.

Hopefully your boss doesn't expect you to get more work done withing the day. I took my dad riding yesterday and we hit the "fruit loop". That is a little circle of Memorial Park (Houston) that is used by roadies and bladers. I was on my SS mtb, and had the same cadence as some roadies that were passing me. It had me wondering too. Just in my case it was adding more to me wanting a fixie.

Maybe the other guy is just slow...

A co-worker once remarked that she saw me at an intersection on the way to work. "Man, you were cookin'!" she told me. Actually, this woman seemed to respect my commuting - she even rode in a few times, which really blew MY mind, since she had MUCH further to ride than I did every day.

it's good to be acknowledged :D.

The difference between a roadie and a hybrid is striking. I used to commute on a hybrid exclusively. I have since gotten a couple of more road oriented bikes. It adds at least a couple mph to your cruising speed in my estimation. Now I only ride the hybrid when it's raining, but I think at high levels of effort the difference can easily be 4mph or more.

A-1 takes trade ins....they may not be overly generous, but they'll give you something. You have any inclination at all to do like a 10-12 mile ride at a fairly fast pace after dark? I have a fairly short loop that goes right by you, and on weeknights the traffic is almost non-existant. I'm not a rocket, by fairly fast, I averaged a little over 15 tonight.

I don't have good lights, so I dunno about the "after dark" part but it's light so late nowadays that 8:00 or so would be fine with me.

I doubt I'd trade in my current bike, I'll probably keep it as my winter or rain bike. It has discs and all. I'm thinking at this point to get a more road-oriented bike as my good-weather commuter.

I should have specified, I was on my bike, the coworker was in his car. I'm no rocket either but I guess I seemed fast "for a bike" to him.

The difference between a roadie and a hybrid is striking. I used to commute on a hybrid exclusively. I have since gotten a couple of more road oriented bikes. It adds at least a couple mph to your cruising speed in my estimation. Now I only ride the hybrid when it's raining, but I think at high levels of effort the difference can easily be 4mph or more.

I have the same experience but not quite as extreme with 2-3 mph difference under normal conditions. When the wind is blowing in your face like it was this morning though....more like 5 mph difference.

I have the same experience but not quite as extreme with 2-3 mph difference under normal conditions. When the wind is blowing in your face like it was this morning though....more like 5 mph difference.

Yeah, the 4mph+ is only achieved (by me) with pretty high levels of effort that I probably wouldn't be able to sustain long.

what about city streets? my route is on some well maintained quiet side streets, but there are some dips, bumps, and such. just curious what the potential for long term damage on road bike would be with day after day commuting for months.

i've considered a road bike, and would love the extra speed, but i don't race, i commute. would it be suitable? or is the damage worry ill founded.

with my hybrid on my 9.5 commute it takes me 45 minutes to work (mostly uphill), so avg 12.5 mph, and return takes 40 minutes, avg 14 mph. this is total time with lights.

i always carry a 10-12 lb trunk rack, (clothes/lunch, etc),

no complaints with the hybrid, but would love to try road bike, the trek pilot looks great.

what about city streets? my route is on some well maintained quiet side streets, but there are some dips, bumps, and such. just curious what the potential for long term damage on road bike would be with day after day commuting for months.

i've considered a road bike, and would love the extra speed, but i don't race, i commute. would it be suitable? or is the damage worry ill founded.

with my hybrid on my 9.5 commute it takes me 45 minutes to work (mostly uphill), so avg 12.5 mph, and return takes 40 minutes, avg 14 mph. this is total time with lights.

i always carry a 10-12 lb trunk rack, (clothes/lunch, etc),

no complaints with the hybrid, but would love to try road bike, the trek pilot looks great.

If you continually hit potholes head on, your rims might suffer, but any decent frame is designed for less than optimal pavement. If you're talking about jumping boulders, that's another story, but you don't need a perfectly smooth track for a road bike. They're made to be ridden on real roads.

stop telling me what i want to hear :) yeah i should test ride a few, there's been some posts on good bikes in the 7-$1,1000 range, which would work for me. well maybe when i save some more money