pallen

In that case, we should all be hyping old steel bikes on here and convincing each other what wonderful machines they are so we get the same effect for less $$

rearviewbeer

My computer actually did this! Said I was cruising at 32MPH - knew it was too good to be true... (new Garmin came in this morning, back to reality)

CrankAndYank

It's called marketing. Every year you give the pros the latest, lightest most expensive gear and send the subtle message to the weekend warriors that they can perform like the pros if they spend the money for that kind of gear. It's done in lots of sports markets.

jaltone

This! I feel less beat up on my carbon bike than on my aluminum bike. Besides the carbon matrix material, the chain and seat stays of the carbon bike I ride are further shaped to vertically flex a tiny bit to absorb high frequency vibrations. I can really tell the difference especially on rough tarmac. I did research though and read a lot on this forum for the better part of a year, so I knew what I was and wasn't getting from my new carbon bike.

coasting 

Riding my carbon bike vs steel bike on the same route is so much more comfy.

alexaschwanden

Just pedal faster that helps.

roadwarrior

There are no such things as fast bikes. There are only fast bike riders.

When I saw the thread title, I just had to look.

roadwarrior

Or $2,500 worth of Zipp wheels. Aero wheels will make you a lot faster.

MetalPedaler

Well, OP- by the diversity of conflicting opinions shared here, it should reinforce the fact that most of the small differences between bicycle frames and components truly come down to a matter of the rider's perception; and have little to do with actual performance. Performance comes from the rider. Aesthetics/feel/perception come from the bike...along with very minute gains in speed, which would only be noticeable to a racer.

".....and that's the way it is."

merlinextraligh

And it's possible that a slight difference in tire circumphrence is masking a small improvement in speed by the OP. Add a couple of centimeters and that speed will go up.

Ricanfred

High(er) end aluminum bikes can ride very, very nice. I'm just sayin'. There are, as you note above, many variables on the frame materials used that make a bike frame behave a certain way. (laterally stiff, vertically compliant, etc.)

MetalPedaler

So true! My Klein rides like a Cadillac, and yet is stiff as a board. -and with 23mm tires, no less.

rearviewbeer

^ this

I am a recent Klein convert and am really enjoying the ride

bt

maybe you're just slow

RaleighSport

No, then you guys would drive up the C&V market even more, please keep buying CF.

Delco

bt - This may be true

Metal Pedaler - I appreciate your sage like advice and dose of reality

I do notice a different ride than my aluminum bike and different sounds (not really relevant to speed but oh well). The bike is much tighter and probably accelerates better than my old Trek. Typically I ride between 16 and 18 mph on average and by the end of last season I was averaging slightly higher (18-19 mph) for a 30-40 mile ride. I'm guessing if I put more time in and get back to that form I may get more benefit from the carbon but time will tell. In the end I will ride more for sure as I have decided not to train for tri's anymore and just ride the bike this season.

If I don't get faster then hell i'll just buy new wheels, my kids will have to pay for their own college education I guess because dad needs carbon fiber...

Jandro 

This.

The rest of this thread is irrelevant to OPs "problem".

cvall91

You're now a true roadie. Welcome to the dark side.

MetalPedaler

Interesting thing, too- for any given advantage you may get in one area from a particular bike or component, you often lose as much in another area- i.e. lighter bike/lighter wheels may accelerate faster....but less weight also translates to losing momentum sooner/losing speed on descents; Deep-dish aero wheels may cut through a headwind a little easier....but you'll get buffeted in a crosswind.....

dtrain

Comfort-wise, my carbon and steel bikes are very similar. Stiffness (especially in the BB area) and to a lesser degree weight are where I feel the difference. My hardtail MTB is the only alloy frame I own these days.

hhnngg1

Actually, reducing the small flapping of your bike jersey by wearing a tighter one will yield far more aero benefits than $2500 Zipp wheels. Those wheels give at BEST 1minute per 60 minutes of racing, and that's assuming you're 25+mph the whole time.

StanSeven

That's what community colleges and stay at home is for

cplager

Wait... He's getting a recumbent???

caloso

Serious answer: somebody did an experiment on a velodrome with a powermeter to find the biggest bang to for the buck, or rather the most watts saved per dollar spent. If I recall correctly, it was clip-on aerobars followed by an aero TT helmet.

Delco

Really, I'm in for a set of clip on aero bars and a goofy TT helmet then. Maybe a skin suit so I can properly embaress my kids in front of their friends.