thiocyclist

Why would I brag (humble or not) to a bunch of strangers? The reason I posted this is because I am frighteningly inexperienced with road bikes, yet I think I want one because I really enjoyed the Straggler. But evidence on my commute day after day suggests maybe it wouldn't provide any real advantage to switch bikes, in spite of conventional wisdom.

EDIT: Maybe it's got to be stated but I can't blow money around on n+1 and that's one thing motivating me to post a thread seeking advice. If I could just resell the Straggler at a loss if it really wasn't an improvement on my commute after the honeymoon, I would just do that. /EDIT

If you think this is about bragging you didn't read my full post or you're way too cynical. I know this forum is full of people with more road bike knowledge than me, so here I am. Maybe some of you have also commuted on a 3-speed like mine and can offer some insight... That was the idea.

Since we're talking about competition (you guys brought it up, not me) I've been seriously "pwned" a couple times -- by people on road bikes. The worst pwnage I ever received was from a TINY woman on a TINY Trek. I really had to tip my hat to her, she ate my lunch. Maybe she started a block before I saw her and I'd be going a few miles already, I have no idea, but if nothing else what a great sprinter. We traded places a few times and talked to each other but after a mile or so she got way ahead of me.

Actually, that's a fun thing about commuting where I live, a lot of us do talk to each other at stop lights because we tend to be on similar routes for at least 2-3 lights (there are a couple of "bike thoroughfares" I use). Most of the people I encounter also work around where I work and live a similar distance away from that jobs hub so it's not hard to guess how long they've been riding. Although I live a little further (just a mile or so) from the area than most of the other commuters. Yesterday a girl and I got into a decent conversation over the course of 3 miles, and she was (gasp) on a road bike.

spare_wheel

LOL!


You really should head over to 33 ("The 33"-Road Bike Racing) and seek more advice on this conundrum.

thiocyclist

It makes me sad that I just come off like a bragging idiot when I'm asking what, for me, is an honest question.

I've been making this observation (I pass guys on road bikes more than they pass me) for several years now as a commuter on this 3-speed. Not a racer, a commuter; I'm not talking about what would happen in a race and I'm not suggesting I'm special. I'm asking if a road bike would really help me commute any better than the 3-speed. Why is that hard to believe.

spare_wheel

Spinning out on a road drive train is so much faster than spinning out on a 3 speed that there really is no comparison. Hope that helps.

kbrosnihan

I'm planning on commuting this spring/summer to work. Just under 10 miles one-way. I'll be riding a Trek Cross Rip Comp, which should be pretty good. However, I'm torn because I just picked up a Trek Emonda S4... Light/fast, but the commute is mostly on sidewalk areas. (Roads full of people not paying attention.)

Trek Cross Rip


Trek Emonda S4

grolby

What do you mean by "real advantage?" Are you trying to get to work faster? I can absolutely promise you that you will cover 15 miles faster by road bike than by three-speed. Whether or not that counts as an advantage is really down to your own preferences and personality, but I'm guessing you would see it as an advantage. As you are absolutely smart enough to know - I've seen enough of this "aw, shucks" act from other people that I don't buy it - that you pass some people on road bikes is not evidence that you would be no faster on a road bike. Your performance relative to other people on other bikes is irrelevant. If you think you would enjoy it, just go buy a road bike already and stop asking silly questions.

thiocyclist

That you honestly think I'm trying to humble brag (again, what is the point of doing that to people I don't even know), and that you're cynical about my apparent naivete, is skewing your response I can tell. Here's the deal. I'm NOT smart enough to know a road bike would be better and that's the whole question I'm asking. As for your promise (that I'll be faster on a road bike), I would like to know why exactly? Pedaling is pedaling as some have said. If all this passing people on the commute stuff is down to chance, why don't an equal number pass me as I am passing?

I know I've already been made fun of for using the word "perplexed" but I am. I have been thinking (because surely I'm not more fit than the other riders) perhaps it is something about the issue of getting into the right gear from a cold stop? The "inertia" from this might explain it but no one has offered that idea up yet.

Eventually you may realize I'm asking an honest (if, I guess, strange) question or else you'll decide I'm trolling. But I have to say I'm bothered by amount of cynicism in many of the responses. If my question is silly then don't feed the troll, which would be me in that case, and leave the thread.

thiocyclist

You actually bring up one of the reasons why I posted this thread questioning whether a fast road bike would really be better. I deal with stop-start a lot due to traffic siganls but multi-use areas may be another concern.

If it's not clear, I get that a road bike is faster on a flat surface, but what about in the real world? I'm afraid I'm just going to blow $1000-1500 and all I'll get is an angry wife.

spare_wheel

You might consider that when it comes to bike commuting "real worlds" vary a lot. Many "fast" bike commuters are not slowed down much by magic glowing traffic orbs. I for one really crack up when a commuter gets all Cat 6 on me and then comes to a stop at a red light with no cross traffic.


That's a low end road bike.

hueyhoolihan

the OP's ability to write coherently belies the complete naivety of his or her bicycling knowledge. it's hard to reconcile the two. could be the root cause of some skeptical responses.

rmfnla

?? Do you mean naivety or are we talking about the Baby Jesus..?

tjspiel

Some of the responses have attempted to be helpful without being snarky. Feel free to ignore the rest.

A road bike is going to be faster given the same level of effort, of that there is little doubt. The higher gearing also means that it will have a higher top speed. How often you're able to take advantage of the higher gearing is another question.

However, I will offer what I think is a simple explanation for your observations. You ride faster because you don't have that much of a choice. You've got 3 speeds to choose from and most of the time they are: Too low, much too low, and a little too high. So you choose to ride in the highest gear a lot of the time. Am I right? If so, in order to be at all comfortable, you need to spin those pedals at a reasonable rate, so you end up riding at a faster pace.

Somebody on road bike with lots of gears can choose a gear that lets them move along at an OK pace without a lot of effort and at a cadence (pedaling speed) that's comfortable.

FWIW I experience some of the same thing on a fixed gear. There is no shifting down. In order to avoid mashing (turning the pedals too slow) while going up hills, I've gotten in the habit of standing up and taking them fairly fast. It's not that bad, the hills on my commute are not large and I've gotten used to it. It wouldn't surprise me at all if I tend to go up hills slower on the road bike.

I really don't know how my average commute times compare on my fixed gear vs the road bike. I don't have a speedo on my fixed gear but I'm guessing there's not a lot of difference. If I want to get home in record time, my best choice is the road bike. However, the difference between a record time and a good time isn't all that much. If you're hoping a road bike can shave a lot of time off your commute, you will probably be disappointed. It can shave off some time for sure. It may also be more responsive and fun to ride. I don't know if that's enough to justify it.

hueyhoolihan

fixed

so... there IS at least one person that doesn't have me on their "ignore" list.

TransitBiker

I have noticed that. I go full throttle every time, as fast as i can manage in that moment. It's all i know. Been teaching myself to slide it into the low ratio and take the time. Still not there, but perhaps by the summer?

- Andy

gregf83 

Who said it was down to chance?

it seems you like to make this more complicated than it is. You'll get less snarky remarks if you include some info:
1. How far is your commute? How long does it take now?
2. How valuable is it to you if you shave a couple of minutes off your commute?

if your commute is relatively flat and gearing isn't an issue the primary benefit of a road bike is being able to get in a more aero position which is important when you're going above 20mph. Even there it might only give you an extra 1 mph or less. If more of your time is spent in stop and go traffic it will likely be more enjoyable on a road bike but not much faster.

if your commute is under 30 min and you're comfortable on you bike and have no desire to do other types of riding, i.e. with others or on hills, stick with what you have.

Saving Hawaii

I felt this way a lot before I got into more competitive riding. I'd crush everyone on my commutes. I still do. There is still a bit of joy in passing a roadie on my obsolete cyclocross bike with a kid and trailer in tow. I think I've been passed once in the past year commuting.

But since I've started doing fast rides I don't think it really says that much. I go and do the local 50km club ride and it's a struggle to hang on at times. And I still haven't even tried my hand at the A or B groups.

Since I started doing harder rides I've also been that roadie with no gas left, putting along at 15mph like it's all I've got left, because sometimes that really is all I have left. You can pass me. I'm not going to chase. I'm tired and want to sleep.

How about you find some groups to ride with and then decide whether you need to change things? Cat 6 is easy.

PS: I do fast group rides on my fancy road bike, not my '70s cross steed. If I tried to ride the Cat 6 champ I'd drop.

kbrosnihan

The Cross Rip (under $1,000) is great because you get the road bike frame and drop bars, but it can handle a beating. It has two sets of brake handles. The normal shifters brakes, and another set on the top bar for when my hands are in the middle of the bar. This will allow me to stop quickly if someone pulls out in front of me. Also, the frame is a tough aluminum and tires are not traditional road tires, they're more like cylco-cross tires, built to take a beating on pot-hole streets and rough sidewalks.

My commute will be in Metro-Detroit (known for cars, not bikes). As soon as we get some decent weather I plan on riding. The Emonda will be for fun at a large metro-park with a big track. Once I'm more comfortable on it, I may take it to work... we'll see.

I totally understand the wife comment. The Emonda is probably the last bike I'll buy. I've gone through 4 now, Trek 3500 MTB, Trek DS 8.2 sold both of those, and now have the Cross Rip and Emonda. Wifey noticed a pattern...

Good luck!

jfowler85

Well obviously it's because you're freakin awesome. You don't need a real road bike...in fact you could proabably smoke some motha truckas on a pogo stick.

rmfnla

Are you kidding?

I'm a huge fan...

rmfnla

Wow, where's the flame emoticon when you need it..?

esmith2039

Couple rough folks on here but unfortunately accurate. I get passed and pass on occasion. Never know how far one has biked or how long. I restarted only at the first of March so most will be faster!

On the road bike I'd like to get one also. Wouldn't be for commuting though just the weekend rider. Also the gearing of the 3 speed might match you better and with the multiple speeds you may find it harder to find the "perfect" gear. Noticed that between a few of my bikes.

grolby

You want to talk perplexed? I am perplexed that you think there would be no point in bragging to strangers. Call it the cynicism of too many years on BF, but exaggeration and bragging about blowing the doors off of "poseur roadies" is an integral part in the rich historical tapestry of human thought and discourse that is the commuting forum. But nevermind; I'll take your word for it.

As for why you would be faster - I explained this to you already:

Pedaling is not really just pedaling. The relationship of your contact points (hands, feet, butt) to one another influence your ability to efficiently produce power, and a road bike and three-speed typically have very different relationships between those points. For the same level of effort, you can pedal quite a lot harder on a road bike because the fit is biomechanically more advantageous for the production of power. There are other factors as well, such as aerodynamics, drivetrain losses, weight and probably rolling resistance.

Otherwise, this is silly because I can't give you any meaningful advice or opinion on whether a road bike is "worth it" or how your wife will feel about it. For one, I don't know what your "real world" commute is like. For another, it's just not an objective thing. It sounds like you enjoy going fast. If that is the case, who cares if you don't get to work any sooner? It doesn't matter. What matters is if you will be having more fun on your ride. Fun is a legitimate reason to get a new bike. You're spending a lot of time on it every week, you might as well enjoy it.

Just one more note on the passing thing - I do ride and race bikes as my primary hobby. My commute is not my main or only cycling outlet and I don't like getting to work all sweaty, so I don't usually go particularly fast on my commutes. In spite of that, I'm a lot fitter and faster than the large majority of bicycle commuters, so I don't get passed that often, even when I'm going easy. But I do sometimes get passed by a dude booking along on their hybrid bike, or sometimes their fixed gear or something. Whether they're doing it to feel like they just schooled some roadie or just like going fast, I don't know. I do have a competitive side, so it annoys me every time, but not enough to motivate me to chase them down. I've got nothing to prove, in theory at least. When you're passing those people on road bikes, it's hard to know what it means for you - are they racers? Recreational riders? Slow? Fast? I don't know. If you are interested in seeing how you really measure up, fitness-wise, (and there's nothing wrong with that) why not take that shiny new road bike and show up at a local club ride? See how it goes.

snow_echo_NY

honestly i think you should go to your LBS and rent a road bike that fits you well for a week and commute and see what the difference is yourself. there are some good theories here. i'm actually wondering what it is and eager to hear you report back.

then make a decision about actually buying a roadie for the commute. i commute with a roadie and love it but i think most people prefer cyclocross/hybrid etc. eh. to each his/her own.

grolby

Well, the Straggler the OP has tried is really more of a cyclocross bike to the extent that it is anything, but that's close enough to a road bike to call it one. Renting might be a good option to try for someone who is really on the fence.

snow_echo_NY

Well in that case...maybe just go for the Straggler or test the Straggler for a week and see how you feel. either way. seems like it's calling you