Hybrid Bicycles - Modify my Hybrid or get a Road bike?

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miller1029
05-31-10, 12:20 PM
I am fairly new to riding, I bought a Trek FX 7.1, as an entry level starter bike to decide if I would enjoy biking for pleasure and fitness. I was immediately hooked and while I don't get to ride as often as I would like I do try to make the most of it.

About 6 months ago my wife started riding and she enjoyed it so much that she is training for her first sprint tri. She has a roadie her sister in law gave her, it's a 4 year old LeMond. She and I went on our first ride together yesterday, about 20 miles on roads with a good amount of elevation change. She smoked me, I couldn't keep up. Now I will admit that she is in better shape than I am, but I also have to think the bikes had something to do with it.

Now I know my bike is much heavier, I sit upright, and my tires have much more friction, but can I change anything, like the tires, that will make it easier to keep up with a roadie? I was looking at some 700x28 slicks as a start. Or should I just bite the bullet and step up to a roadie?

mikeschn
05-31-10, 12:48 PM
You need to trade bikes with Strack!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?650008-Is-it-possible-to-convert-a-road-bike-into-a-hybrid

Mikey
Norboo
05-31-10, 02:19 PM
^ what Mike said

read this thread, it should give you some insights

My awesome but absurd <20lb hybrid / flat bar road bike (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?643853-My-awesome-but-absurd-lt-20lb-hybrid-flat-bar-road-bike)

wunderkind
05-31-10, 03:28 PM
Maybe you need to get fit first. :)
Having said that, it is prolly cheaper and easier to just sell your Trek and buy a road bike. But if you like to wrench it up and welcome the challenge, go the conversion way. I don't know if your Trek has road geometry or not.
qmsdc15
05-31-10, 04:11 PM
^ what Mike said

read this thread, it should give you some insights

My awesome but absurd <20lb hybrid / flat bar road bike (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?643853-My-awesome-but-absurd-lt-20lb-hybrid-flat-bar-road-bike)

You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Get a road bike if you want to go faster. Get an electric bike if you want to keep up with your wife.
Eprobungs
05-31-10, 10:02 PM
[QUOTE=miller1029;10891787] ...but I also have to think the bikes had something to do with it.QUOTE]

Perhaps before you take the plunge,
you and your wife could switch rides to make sure what made the difference.

If you, riding the LeMond, can smoke your wife on that 20mile road then
getting a faster bike is a viable option.

If your wife smokes you again then, you need to work on the engine.
Just ride more. Training on a slower(?) bike will make you get fit faster anyway.;)
miller1029
06-05-10, 06:13 AM
Perfect, not looking to drop a bunch of dough and make my hybrid into a road bike, just looking for a few tweaks to speed it up. Put new tires on and picked up the speed a ton, more than I expected, about 2 to 3 mph on my average 20 - 30 mile ride so that's what I needed. Combination of less tread and higher psi works like a charm. I'll probably break down and buy a road bike at some stage.
EDDIE1963
06-09-10, 08:38 AM
Perfect, not looking to drop a bunch of dough and make my hybrid into a road bike, just looking for a few tweaks to speed it up. Put new tires on and picked up the speed a ton, more than I expected, about 2 to 3 mph on my average 20 - 30 mile ride so that's what I needed. Combination of less tread and higher psi works like a charm. I'll probably break down and buy a road bike at some stage.

I am going to do the same with my Specialized Sirrus. I going to install 700X25. I was going to purchase a Road Bike by the guys on the Road Bike thread talk me out off it. Because i am a new rider those tires will increase speed by 2-5 MPH.