Bike Forums - View Single Post - Buying a bike at Walmart?

11-09-13 | 09:49 AM

#87

ThermionicScott

Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 22,676

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From: CID

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duane Behrens

Actually, it has EVERYTHING to do with the frame material. Our typical Sunday morning ride includes 2 separate climbs of 1300 and 1400 vertical feet, respectively. As I learned, a 30 lb. hybrid bicycle is not necessarily the best tool for this ride. If you rode your steel bike and your clone rode carbon, he'd be waiting for you at the top . . . slightly annoyed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cplager

Oy.

3) When comparing hybrid to road bike, you seem to be forgetting the large differences in rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag.

This. Apparently, I was way too subtle in my earlier post.

There is such an aerodynamic penalty to the upright hybrid position that any road bike will be an improvement. Shaving off a couple pounds with a carbon frame only makes a trivial improvement on top of that.