Originally Posted by
Kontact
Lemonds were always understood to be designed for comfort over long race courses.
Talking about this stuff removed from the actual numbers doesn't help matters. "Endurance" doesn't mean anything concrete. It could be a fit, or a kind of handling, or an ability to absorb vibration. And a race bike might have any or all of those traits.
Exactly... The recent one which comes to mind (because I have one and note the difference) is the Spec Roubaix. It was an overall geometry and frame construction adaptation of what was the Spec Race bike - the Tarmac - for difficult race conditions. The 1st generation of that design didn't fair so well with racers, but it did find a market with non-race riders who wanted performance along with a more 'forgiving' ride.
The latest development in the 'Endurance' area has been tires to complement the 'frame' ride. Something which has migrated into all segments of bike riding, even racing. Wider tires with very little of a handling/performance penalty - if there is even one, now... Even gearing and saddles have expanded in selection over the decades. 53/42 and 12-25 is no longer the 'Standard' configuration for high-performance 'road'....
It is just an expression of the expanding universes of all human activities...
Ride On
Yuri
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