im a fat boy, 6’2 240-260. I got a carbon bike, and tend to disparage it and my need for it, especially when thinking about watts per kilo on the hills, is a lighter bike meaningful when the rider is fat?

after returning to a steel commuter, I think the main performance differences show themselves when trying to accelerate. On the light bike, it’s a tad easier to accelerate, and in a race or a group ride environment, the acceleration is the aspect that will drop you.

this is an argument for fancy bikes helping you in group rides.