Originally Posted by
dugla
I know this has probably been discussed ad nauseam. But I really need an accurate assessment of how much faster a modern carbon bike is then my lovely, old, custom made Fuso steel bike.
Scenerio: I was riding on the flats in a slight cross wind, zone 2-ish. A guy just cruises past me apparently at the same level of effort as me on a - of course - carbon whatever. He just rolls away. Chill. He appears to be roughly my same height and weight. This happens a lot. I don't get it.
Me? I'm fit, I lift (heavy weights) and weigh 81kg (180lb). I ride maybe half a dozen hours a week. One day a week I do VO2 max efforts.
Should I just throw in the towel and go carbon? Thoughts?
So, yeah, The newer bikes, wheels and rubber are a bit 'faster' than the old gas pipe.
And you will get passed, because some riders are more fit for cycling, producing more watts/Kg of their combined rider/bike mass, knowing how to do it more efficiently.
Most all of this you can not measure through 'sight'/seeing.
Cycling is one of those activities, where the higher levels of performance are just so much higher than the avg recreational level, most recreational level riders have no inkling of how great that difference is.
And, yes, those higher level riders are very rare in any population... But that means that there's a great spread all along that rider performance curve.
SO, hoe do you find out where you stand?
If there are 'fast' group rides in your area; ones which are not 'regroup' rides, ones where once you're dropped you get back to the start by your lone-self.
Find those rides, try to 'sit in' for most of it.
You will find out where you stand in the general better rider population you see in your area. Some areas just don't have these. Some areas abound with these riders.
However... this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere, most of these rides will be at 65-70% of their normal Spring, early Summer pace... relate accordingly.
The Fuso, a fine machine... make sure it's in top condition, it'll then give you it's best.
'Throwing in the towel', is one thing never done by fast riders... they may get beaten, but only after their best efforts are given...
Ride On
Yuri