Originally Posted by
Seattle Forrest
This is for your wife, right? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume she could not be competitive as a sumo wrestler, based on the fact that she's a female roadie. If my assumption is correct, she's doesn't need a crazy stiff frame. More stiff doesn't mean more fast, about 99% of the power you make goes to the rear wheel on any modern bike, if stiffer frames really were faster they'd be marketed with their watt savings. Stiff frames handle predictably, and stiff is relative to the stress the frame will see, tightly correlated to rider weight.
So take the weight savings and the cost, and decide whether it's worth it to you.
Correct! The bike is for Mrs. NoWhammies. And you are indeed correct. She does not need a crazy stiff frame. I have been trying to steer her away from the S-Works but she likes the look of them. So who knows where we'll end up. There is no rush for a new bike, and it is still early days. Plus I'm fortunate in that she still loves her current bike and is in no rush for a new one. I am trying to gather as much info so when the time comes, I'm ready.