cedricbosch

I currently ride a hybrid on my 13-mile morning commute. It's a Trek 7500, with all the geeky hybrid trimmings like a flat bar and a front suspension fork... you get the picture. Its got semi-skinny tires though (panaracer urban max.)

Anyway I'm going to be getting a Fuji Team Pro in a few weeks. I currently average about 20 mph on flats and 15 on mild uphills on the hybrid.

How fast can I expect to be going with my new bike?

Thanks! =]

austinspinner

12.255789634893645% would be my guess.

But only your computer will know for sure.

race newbie

I went from a Giant hybrid with road tires to a Scott road bike. The biggest difference is when you're on hills, less bike to push up so much easier. It's lighter, has less rolling resistance, and your position is more aerodynamic so will likely be a couple mph higher. Obviously depends on you, the fit, and your comfort with the transition. I don't ever want to ride my hybrid, it has been gathering a nice layer of dust.

Punx

I'm not sure probably alot as Race Newbie said you will be going faster because the bike is lighter and takes less energy which you can go faster lol.

Jinker

On my ~10k commute I average 27-28kph on my hybrid with 32mm tires on it. My roadie with 25mm tires gets me to 31-32kph.

Jinker

The numbers for me match up approximately if you use this:

https://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

And use 'hands on tops' for a hybrid like position and specify wide touring tires vs. in the drops on skinny high pressure tires.

idcruiserman

Not much.

Dabbo

Same speed but a lot less effort.....

JJakucyk

I gained 1, maybe 2 mph at most when switching from a hybrid (with hybrid tires) to a road bike. I wouldn't expect to get any more than that right away.

bbattle

20mph on the flats is pretty good for a road bike; wowsers on a hybrid. Once you ride that Fuji, the hybrid will feel like a tank.

slowandsteady

1-3 mph depending on the kind of tires you have been using. And at first, you won't be any faster. The different position uses different muscles. At least that was my experience going from a MTB with slicks to a road bike. Within 2 weeks, I was feeling good and was used to the new position and about 1-2 mph faster.

Though, I can tell you that on my MS150 bike tour last year, I was able to easily pass those on hybrids. I ride a Fuji road bike with 23c tires and about 19 lbs. They looked like they were putting in more effort with the upright position. I also zoomed past them on hills even though I was considerably overweight. Go figure.

The biggest difference I noticed was my ability to sprint. The stiff frame and wheels minus the suspension fork really make a huge difference.

merlinextraligh

Play around with this https://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

It would indicate that your speed would increas about 1 mph going from a unsuspended MTB with medium width slicks (essentially a hybrid) to a road bike with narrow racing tires. More if you ride in the drops on the road bike.

Two major factors are at work here 1) rolling resistence of the tires, 2) aerodynamic position on the bike.

Its' possible that to get to 20 mph on your hybrid you're already assuming a pretty aero position. In which case you're not going to see a huge increase in speed (particularly if you've already got slick tires on the hybrid.)

Conversely if your position is bolt upright on the hybrid, and the road bike is set up with a very aero position, you'll see bigger increases in speed.

And of course there's always the new bike effect.

recursive

I subjectively gained about 2-3mph coming from a hardtail hybrid on 700x38s to a roadbike.

charlisity

I'd say about 20 mph on flats and 16 on mild uphills

steaktaco

20mph on flats, on your own, is no great feat... but really not bad either. that's a decent cruising/commuting/trying-to-not-sweating speed. I bet you'll be able to maintain 20mph on your roadie with a lot less effort and sweat.

the big difference I think is when you go all out—you might find you'llo have a heck of the time getting to 30mph on your hybrid compared to your roadie.

bccycleguy

My metric century time on a Trek 7500FX was 4 hrs, 20 minutes. One year later my time on my Lemond Sarthe and on the same century ride dropped to 3 hrs, 40 minutes. I was in roughly the same physical condition and weight (maybe slightly better condition but a few lbs heavier on the Lemond). This century ride has some good-sized hills on it, and it was 34 degrees C (93F) with a bit of a headwind with the 7500FX century, about 28 degrees C (82F) and calm with the Lemond.

The 7500FX weighs about 26 lbs, the Lemond just under 20 lbs. Both have triples, although the 7500FX has an XT drive train with 11-34 cassette (set up for loaded touring) while the Lemond is full Ultegra with a 12-27 cassette. I was using 700 x 32c Panaracer's on the 7500FX and 700 x 23c Conti's on the Lemond.

I attribute most of the difference in time to windage and higher rolling resistance on the 7500FX.

I would always use a road bike on a century ride, but the 7500FX is far superior to any roadbike when it comes to commuting in traffic, which is where I mostly use it.

BassoCoral

Man, you're doing 15/20 on a suspended hybrid? I don't know, maybe my old hybrid fifteen years ago really stunk, but I'm pretty impressed. It used to kill me to draft on roadie groups easing along at 18. I'm betting you should see mid-20's no problem, and that's totally respectable for any "enthusiast" in my book. You're going to be loving it.

markwebb

My sister rode a hybrid 3 years ago. I beat her up every hill. The next year she got a newer Lemond with drop bars and we were even. Last year she migrated to a Ti Litespeed and it's no contest - she laughs at me as she blows by me on hills.

You'll be less fatigued after any longish ride on a road bike. You will be a lot faster up sustained hills and grades on a road bike.

FYI - contrary to SteakTaco - 20mph on flats, on your own, is a great speed. I sweat a lot and it takes a lot of effort to sustain 20mph for many miles. And, I'm faster than 90% of the riders on large group rides. SteakTaco is that 10% of above average fit riders - not like the rest of us rather ordinary casual riders. And I suspect these BF are more biased towards the enthusiast like SteakTaco that just us average Joes with more folks like SteakTaco contributing and posting on BF than is representative of the total population of riders. If you read these posts about speeds and distances rode you may think to yourself "I really suck" when in actuality I think BF represents maybe the top 10% of riders.

steaktaco

aw shush now webbster. I'm not trying to be a jerk.

on flats, 20mph can be recovery for some, base for others, and flat out hard for others yet. for me that pace is base, hence I don't think it's all that great (disregarding percentiles, just based on the spectrum). however, it is not bad—in fact a helluvalotta work on a hybrid. you know what? I don't make sense. I apologize I meant for not bad to be a compliment.

markwebb

SteakTaco - you're definately that 1 out of 10 rider that passes me on those rides!! What makes me feel even worse is they tend to pass me in a pack/paceline of several riders so at the time it feels like everyone is passing me. I attempt to quicken my pace and keep up but it's no use - you guys are just flat out better cyclists thatn me. So I must resign myself to OCP status, and eben being Fred-like at times.

DigitalRJH

The one thing to keep in mind is that the gearing is going to be different on the road bike. So while the road bike will be lighter on the hills you may have to get used to the more "difficult" gearing.

billallbritten

+1

I'm about 30-40 min. better on 60-70 mile rides on the Veloce v. 7500FX. I've got the FX set up with 28mm Armadillos and fenders - I can ride it in the rain/wet conditions all the time when I'd not want to mess up the roadie (23mm Tricomps, no fenders ) from the slop on the road.

Keep the 7500. I do not like commuting on the road bike as I have much better visibility in the upright position I'm in on the FX.

Also, a lot of folks recommend training heavy and racing/charity romps/club rides light. The FX really requires more effort, not a bad thing under many conditions. As messy as post New Years weather has been, I've only missed 3-4 days riding when I've been in town. The hybrid is very stable on wet roads, etc.

YMMV

Bill

recursive

Unless you're on the lowest gear, you can always downshift. Just because you use the big ring on the hybrid doesn't mean you have to use the same relative gear indices on the roadie. If you are on the lowest gear, and are finding it difficult, you probably got the wrong bike.

DigitalRJH

I'm just saying the gearing is a bit different that's all. I came from mtb riding years ago when I switched to road and found a bit getting used to the low end compared to the low end of my mtb.

Hoppy

I think that the performance oriented design and configuration of a road bike will make a noticeable difference to your riding. You will have less comfort levels, that's for sure, but your pedalling effort will be more effortlessly transmitted into propelling you forwards and upwards.

Just like with a performance car, the supension would be harsher compared to a less performance
based machine. Just so with the bike, as the ride of a road bike will typically be harsher than a hybrid
because of the more upright frame geometry with less clearances, to give you more responsiveness
for explosive 'all-out' effort. A hybrid is still a very efficient machine, but nothing compares to a good
road bike!