Originally Posted by
TimothyH
We may be talking about two different things - spirited vs race pace.
I've done group rides with both a 48x15 fixed gear and a Niner gravel bike but I wouldn't bring either to a race pace road ride with the big boys. I'm talking about 40 or 50 miles at zone 4/5 heart rate where your legs are shaking after the ride.
I've lost a bunch of weight and have gotten much faster this winter thanks to an actual structured training plan. As I ride with faster groups I find that my bike is more of a limiter, that's all I'm saying.
B group on a gravel bike all day long, no problem, but when the junior racing team shows up and fast guys are on Argon 18's with Bora wheels and Campy Record EPS or Dura Ace Cervelo R5's, then a 21 lb Niner isn't going to cut it. Cipollini or Sagan might be able to keep up but I need every advantage I can get and there are rides where I would have happily paid for a few more percent.
-Tim-
That is a good post. Niner RLT or RDO (carbon or steel)? I ride with a guy who has the carbon bike - its plenty fast and hangs well, although I don't think his 1x gearing is going to get him much over 30mph.
My experience is different than. My bike specs out at ~17lbs, For road (or summer gravel) fairly light wheels and tires (28 or 32mm). Bike doesn't hold me back. Riding with my 40mm gravel tires make climbs a little harder but I like 28/32 on the road (and 32 for most of my summer gravel riding for that matter). The guys on Madones or Venge/Tarmac and with 23mm tires look at me kinda funny at the beginning, but they get used to it.
I'm calling this a "race pace" ride;
~10% of the ride is over 450 watts
Peak is typically ~1000 watts
Average is about 250 watts
Average speed is in the 20's peaking around 40mph
I'm thinking there are a choice of gravel bikes that can hang with good road bikes. Niner RDO, Open UP, Trek Domane, Maybe a GT Grade...
Certainly if one is not sprinting or climbing (i.e. B ride) most any decent drop bar bike with good tires should be able to hang. Weight doesn't make much difference at cruising speed. Heck at the track we'll put on solid disk wheels for a time trial as aero trumps weight when I'm doing steady high speeds in small ovals. ;-)
P.S. 49x15 FG is my baseline track bike gearing. I can't ride that on the road - you must be a monster to ride road with that!