I heard a story about a guy who commuted in the bay area for the longest time on mountain bikes. Nothing fancy, just mediocre bike shop MTBs.

Then one day he bought a Felt road bike. Suddenly nobody he rode with could keep up with him. He would go up 25% grades in a 30 inch gear. Leading the pack into the wind at 26+ mph. Etc etc.

Really, there could be much truth to his story. I don't think he has anything to gain from lying, other than getting the approval of this group? Heh, seems unlikely.

Anyway, I tend to wonder if he's averaging his speed wrong, or if he's got his speedo out of calibration. If not, it's still possible.

Hell, I'm one big dude. But even I'm pretty damn fast on a road bike, pushing this big frame around all summer on chunky MTB's did some damn good.