And here's where I say, "Right On." I purchased my Swift/Xootr as a frameset, so that I could set it up as a road machine. That's an option for anyone--if you can get ahold of Peter! My position is the same as on my 700c road bike (which has a 72.5 deg. seat angle, by the way--I don't think 75 degrees is very common except on tri/time trial bikes, at least in my 55cm size), so that's a non factor.

I just switched to the IRC Metro tires touted in another thread, and they are significantly more comfortable than the Stelvios I had been using. For rides under 4 hours, the comfort thing isn't significant for me. It's comfortable. I think frame material is less significant than frame design and tires in terms of comfort. I believe I feel vertical compliance in my Swift that I don't feel on my steel road bikes. The handling isn't quite as stable, and that is a factor.

I've got a ten mile time trial course near by, and will try to do multiple runs on my Swift and 700c racing bike to see how they compare. Can't say conditions will controlled enough, or that they'll be enough test runs for it to be particularly scientific. But it should be interesting. I'll do it a couple of times over the course of a couple of weeks, and I'll try not to predict the results so that I can keep an open mind. And no, I don't have and don't intend to buy a heart rate monitor or power meter. But I won't say no to donations!

Jack