bubbies

Hi,

This is my bike. Thanks to some helpful people on the Vintage forum it has been identified as a '85/’86 Team Miyata.

I ride a 20 mile loop 3 or 4 times during the week and usually do a 50 – 60 mile group ride on the weekend. I usually average about 19/20 mph on my short rides and 1 or 2 mph slower on the longer rides. This is all on rolling hills type terrain, no huge climbs. The bike works and fits fine; the only thing I would change is to get some road pedals.

I don’t race but it would be fun to be able to ride with some of the faster groups so I’m wondering, will a new bike instantly give me a few extra mph for the same effort or should I just keep working to build my power and endurance?

Thanks!

bubbies

Forgot the pic...

MONGO!

No.

banerjek

The bike doesn't make that much difference by itself, but a new bike could conceivably make you significantly faster in the medium to long term.

If you drop a couple grand and get humiliated by people riding junkers, you will have the inspiration necessary to apply some real effort to improve your speed.

lesdunham

A new bike will give you motivation and technology quickness. Like brifters and probably better wheels. These can make you faster in some respects. But age and gravity eventually offset them. Keep riding and get better no matter what you ride.

alanbikehouston

Of course not. And, why do you want to "go faster"? The point of riding a bike, unless someone pays you money to "go faster", is to enjoy the ride. And that may require going slower.

One easy upgrade on any bike is the tires. Top tires from Continental or Panaracer make a dramatic difference in how a bike performs, if you are riding just "average" tires. New tires and a tune-up can make a twenty year old bike a joy to ride.

meanwhile

The new bike will make go faster if it fits better; fit matters much more than technology on a road bike. Alternatively, look at the fitting section on Sheldon Brown's site and tweak your current bike. Pedal clips or powergrips will work just as well as clipless road pedals and save you $200, btw.

nocondorfx

yes. the more you pay the faster you'll go.

mr handy

what price range/type of bike are you considering?

I would bet that your bikes weight is in the mid 20 lb (idk 22/24) range, going to a 18/17 lb or lighter bike with brifters and new components would give you a little extra speed, but I would not expect more than 1 mph if that.

However a new bike will make you want to ride more (at least it does me) and that will make you faster.

Buy a nice new bike, get a good fitting, than ride the heck out of it... You deserve it.

alanbikehouston

By the way, I'm all for buying new bikes. But, don't buy one hoping to go faster. Buy a bike you will enjoy riding. For most folks, that will be the one that is fire engine red.

KZBrian

Bubbies, My bike is around the same age as yours and I (so far) am not tempted to upgrade.

jkizzle

merckx said it best - dont buy upgrades, ride up grades.

dutret

Or it may require going faster. Or perhaps the same speed with less effort.

lol "continental or panaracer".


A new bike won't make you faster. It may make riding easier and smoother and perhaps as a result more enjoyable which may make you faster.

caloso

Yes, it'll also make you better looking, thicken your hair, and lengthen your penis.

Ralleh

My dream has been to beat people in a race with a bike that costs 1/4 or less what theirs does. This thread gives me hope.

maddyfish

I went from an 88 trek 1000 to a new Orbea with Campy. I am 2-3 mph faster cruise speed on flat ground. My sprint speed is about the same. On my favorite 1 mile hill I was immediatley 20 seconds faster.

bubbies

Thanks for the replies everyone. It seems unanimous that I would not gain too much from a new bike and many of you are buying new bikes for motivation to keep riding not to get faster. I will just keep riding this for now and buy something later if I notice myself getting bored or needing encouragement to go ride.

I agree the bike probably weighs in the 22/24 lb range. I hadn't settled on a budget but I would want something pretty nice that would last a while before needing any upgrades. I'd guess in the 2 - 3k range.

CharlieWoo

Only if you spend so much money that Guilt > Drag

dutret

go to a couple alleycats on a $300 bike it shouldn't be a problem.

mattm

when i went from a bianchi eros to a ciocc (w/ ksyrium SLs), i got a little faster. well i didn't get faster, but the same effort equalled a faster speed by 2-4 km/h.

having said that, keep your bike! the problem with newer, sometimes faster, bikes, is that they don't accept real fenders - yours probably does.

rocoach

Keep your bike and upgrade its wheelset.

Wested

Amen, brother.

ShadowGray

A new bike won't make you faster, if anything it may make you slower if you're not used to the way the new bike handles.

The only advantage you will get is a little extra speed from the lighter weight, besides that it's still two wheels connected by the same gears and the same chain. Spend your money on a better wheelset, as well as personalizing your bike to your liking, you'll ride better because then your bike fits the way you want it to.

spry

Everyone knows you can buy speed and red bikes are faster.
Clicking you shiney shoes together will also send you back to Kansas.

austropithicus

Yes.