Originally Posted by
Jomayo112
I know this is a very subjective question, but I was wondering what type of performance difference i would be seeing with a tour bike vs a road bike. When I ride my road bike over relatively flat roads I can average about 16 mph for 40 miles. Obviously, if I were to get a touring bike it would be loaded up with more weight and would be more upright so I would expect my average speed to drop. And I know that touring is not about speed, its about enjoying your time on the bike....im just looking for a ballpark on performanc. Curious what people have noticed between the two. Am i looking at a marginal 1-2 mph drop or something much higher 4-5 mph average drop? Thanks guys, appreciate the input.
Personally I prefer to
not use a more upright position on my touring bike. The bars are at the same 4-5" below the saddle as on my road bike so the aerodynamic differences are minimized. Given that the biggest difference is mostly only when accelerating or climbing. I do find that if riding with a group that is accelerating hard out of the corners and from stops the difference is pretty noticeable. The difference is pretty small for steady speed on the flats (assuming bars at the same height).
BTW, the reason I have my bars that low is mostly comfort, but better aerodynamic drag is a nice plus. Raising the bars and sitting more upright just leads to less efficiency (due to biomechanics and drag) and saddle discomfort IMO. I find an upright posture decidedly less comfortable on long rides.