Originally Posted by
North Coast Joe
I can only gauge by how much better my current bike performs after replacing both steel rims with alloy, conversion to FG, and stripping off fenders, replacing bars and seat, and losing the bag with pump/tubes/tools, etc. Seems to accellerate and climb much better. I just figured it might make a difference between steel and alum, but if cheap alum/carbon fork may be heavier...well, I like the ride on my steel bike!
placebo effect. professionals and high performance riders can notice a difference. and if youre taking on a lot of hills, you'd probably notice a slight difference. otherwise its irrelevant to the average rider.
and the irony is, stripping your bike of gears and moving to fixed is going to make your bike perform less efficiently.
anyways, ive heard good things about the sst al, i was tempted to get one myself. if it gets you out there riding more, thats all that matters.