Originally Posted by
The Hansenator
Hi everyone. It's dumb question time.
This might seem obvious to some people but I see bikes described as fast or slow sometimes and I'm not sure what that refers to. I assume you can put the same tire on two bikes and the rolling resistance would be pretty similar. Is "fast" related more to the handling or a more racing oriented position? I'm sure lighter weight would help but I've seen relatively heavy bikes described as feeling fast so there must be more to it.
I think a fast bike means it's meant for speed. Short headtube, long toptube. Geometry designed to encourage your shoulders, and head down low. A drivetrain that is all about movement, no wasted swaying, all force into the rear wheel. A bike that is nimble with great control so rider can be confidant while riding at high speeds. It's a lot of things.
Best example to me of a what a fast bike is? Specialized Venge.