TripleAce

Hi everyone, So far loving this forum. Iv got some real honest answers and Decided to post another issue I noticed while riding today and would like to get some input please.

Just for a little background, I just bought a road bike, this is my first summer riding a road bike like almost everyday trying to improve on speed, power and distance. Before this I never really road since I was maybe 14, except the occasional once or twice a summer for lesiure. Im 28 now

Riding today I noticed, as much as I thought I could ride releatively 'fast'. I think I was wrong. I go on mainly desginated bike routes and roadies usually with their expensive bikes (giant, kyoto, trek, connadale) always blow past me, no matter how fast I think im going, girls and guys. I always look at them and wonder how in the heck are they not just passing me but blowing by me, even the girls, they just seem so relaxed, barely sweating or tired and im like giving it my all. Then I think wow, I have a lot of work to do.

** side note, I ride a ccm presto that I think it weights around 25-30 pounds or so. yea so not the best bike out there. Also I think the bike is too big for me. But if I adjust the seat and handle bars doesnt that make it ok? I seem to have all the criterias for a bike to fit properly minus the frame size being to big.

Now what do you think the reasons are that many roadies are destroying me when it comes to speed, is it because;

A) They have Better bikes
B) They have Better pedalling techniques
C) Larger chainrings
D) slicks 120psi tires vs my non slicks but 700x28mm tires at max 85 psi
E) My legs are weak and I need more power
F) I need more stamina and endurance
G) Proper bike size and better bike fit
H) all the above

Thanks all

SlimRider

I'd say, several of the above...

dissident

In Soviet Russia, bike rides you. I know old.

jim9090

Yes. Basically you have lots of work to do. Sorry.

neneboricua

Youve just got lots of work to do. Slick tires vs. knobbies does make a difference but its just about time in the saddle.

When i first started riding, i had to work hard to keep a steady 16-17mph on a bike path. At the time, that felt pretty tough. Now, thats a very liesurely pace.

Just focus on riding more and being comfortable on the bike. Work on increasing your mileage and the speed will come. As a new rider, you will get faster naturally just by riding more.

Machka 

+1

Of the options listed ... mainly choices E and F.

chasm54

If the bike is too big, it's too big. Get someone who knows what they are looking at to have a look at you on the bike and advise you.

For the rest, slicks are going to help. Apart from that, it's just about getting fitter.

Wesley36

I would say mostly E and F, but do not underestimate D. Slick tires are worlds faster (or rather, have much lower rolling resistance) than non-slick tires. There are even 700x28 tires that have reasonably low RR. As far as bike upgrades go, it is a relatively inexpensive way to buy speed. Non slicks are much slower on pavement.

Like you, I did not ride for a number of years and came back to it in my 20s. I started out again on a POS mountain bike, a Canadian Tire Anvil (that is right, Anvil, an apt name). It got me from place to place, but it was pretty crappy - as in the brakes were not so good at stopping the bike crappy. Anyhow, I sacked up and bought a better used bike, and the new (to me) bike was much better, but what got me hooked on cycling was when I changed the tires on the new bike to slicks. It was like I was FLYING. That feeling got me hooked on cycling, and I have never lost it (this was a bit over a decade ago).

In terms of which slicks to go with, I started out on Continental Gatorskins, which impressed me at the time, but I am now a fan of Continental Grand Prix 4000 tires (of the GP4000 series, the black tires use the Black Chili rubber compound, it is reputed to lower the RR of the tires and boost longevity). I have run them in 700x23, 700x24, 700x25 and 700x28, all great tires.

Homebrew01

E, f, possibly g

LowCel 

Mostly E and F.

Going by your previous posts you seem to be worrying about things way too much. When I got back on the bike I was amazed at how slow I was. However, I was very happy to be back on the bike. I decided to just ride for a year and not worry about my speed until I got at least 5,000 miles in. Until then I just enjoyed being on the bike.

thump55

I always tell people this, and I think it really applies to you:

If you are not as fast as you want to be, and you think it is because of your equipement, you will never train hard enough to get significantly better. You will always use the equipment as an excuse (in your own mind). So I urge people in your position to upgrade until they reach the point that they realize what the rest of us already know: The bike isn't that important.

I mean no disrespect in saying this, I was once in your shoes. I am also not one of the guys riding a $6K bike saying the bike doesn't matter. I ride a $900 aluminum Raleigh with $500 wheel upgrades.

Yes, you will be happier after you upgrade, but you won't be magically fast. So ride hard now and upgrade as you can. The sooner you make the realization, the better off you will be.

Terry66

Yeah, mostly it is just you. I mean don’t get discouraged by that. It really isn’t that hard to get up to speed if you’re patient and you don’t mind pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. I have several friends who ride in the 16-17 range and want to “work on their pace”, but when we go riding, they continue to stay right in their comfort zone. Sometimes I wonder if people know what it means to push themselves. I think one of the best things you can do is ride with someone a little faster than you. That way you will have to push and struggle to keep up the entire way. It sucks while you’re doing it, but it will feel great when you’re done.

Tires/bike weight do make a difference. I know I am probably 2-3mph slower on my steel touring bike with 700X42 tires compared to my carbon road bike with 700X23, but like Thump55 said above. It isn’t that big of a difference and don’t use it as an excuse.

njkayaker

It's also rather conventional for somebody who calls himself "dissident".

RT

The most overlooked and popular answer in this silly forum is:

I) We are all too fat for this sport.

Vlaam4ever

I recommend trying to keep up with the people blowing by you. I mean really reach down and launch an attack. Get on their wheel and just stick to it. If the say something to your, tell them you are trying to HTFU.

Terry66

Normally I wouldn't be to happy with some strange person attaching to my rear wheel, but if they said that, I would have to let them hang...That's awesome

njkayaker

Or, maybe, you might not really want the attention of somebody following your spandex-clad ass saying this.

Jaymadd

I just find it funny that CCM makes bikes and they sell them at Canadian Tire.

hyhuu

Sorry but wheel-sucking isn't HTFU. It's exactly the opposite.

tagaproject6

Ride more enumerate less.

Seattle Forrest

Girls ride fast, FYI.

I'm always amazed at how much wisdom comes out of the mouth of a rabbit with a pancake on its head.

pallen

+1

If it bothers you, get on a serious training plan and follow it. You will be amazed at how much you can improve. Then, when you start feeling like you can keep up with anyone you see out and around your area, go look up stats on the pros and be amazed at how much stronger they are

Wesley36

You know that CCM stands for "Canada Cycle and Motor Co", right? Seems kind of fitting.

TrojanHorse

Then why the heck are they making ice skates?

Regardless, a bike that doesn't fit will affect e and f, so I'd say a & g affect e and f.

I think thump has a good point - when people are asking which bike they should buy I like to tell them to get whatever makes them want to go ride every day. The rest is gravy.

pdedes

You have a crappy bike and you suck.
Fix the "you suck" part first.