edgewater16

I currently ride a Cannondale hybrid (Quick 6). I have only ridden in town so far - less than 3-4 mile distances, but with the weather, I started commuting to work.

Work is in NYC, I'm in NJ right by GWB. So I'll cross a bridge, connect to bike path / greenway and ride all the way to downtown Manhattan.. 14 miles each way.

I rode my hybrid yesterday at regular pace - 16-18mph and it took me 1hr 12min to get to work.. Coming back with all the elevation and exhaustion, it was 1hr 32mins.

All I thought was; "Damn, this thing is so heavy and has a lot of roll resistance".

I'm on 700x35C tires, Kendas.

So if I was to have $2K max budget and want a nice specialized road bike, what would you recommend? I'm 6'2" and 250lbs.. 84cm inseam (I think) , 50cm shoulders.

10 Wheels

Switch to 700 X 28's They will feel faster.

Try to drop your body weight.

I bought Two New Race bikes in 2012.

They did not make me faster.

TrojanHorse

Can you take your bike into your office?

If you keep your eyes open you can probably find a carbon fiber Spec. Tarmac or a Cannondale SuperSix with shimano 105 on it for about 1600 (usually when they try to offload last year's models, and that should be coming up reasonably soon). It's not always easy to find a 58cm bike, which is what I assume you're looking for. Giant TCR, Trek Madone are also good models, it kind of depends on what's available near you and what fits.

14 miles sounds like a perfect commuting distance. Watch what you eat and do that every day and you'll be shopping for new clothes in no time.

ill.clyde

Does not compute.

Regardless, your problem isn't the bike, it's the motor. As suggested above, narrower tires will help a little, but more miles in your legs will help more.

Drop some body weight, continue commuting as often as you can and reward yourself down the road with a better bike.

Dropping $2K on a new bike won't be the panacea you hope it would be.

Question though ... why did you choose a hybrid?

Wanderer

And it is highly doubtful that those 35mm Kendas are any help at all...... Before the new bike, I'd try quality tires, at maybe 28mm... with lots of pressure.

Specialized makes several road bikes with big frames; but, I'd lean more for a Tricross for the ability to have larger tires, and racks and fenders, and more comfort, and the awesomeness of disc brakes for bad weather commuting. They still have good granny gears for stiffer hills, and even like to go fast. You can pull the fenders and rack, if you want to, on the weekends, and almost have a full blown race bike, even if it is a tourer.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...ross-comp-disc

Pamestique 

Just my lame 2 cents... I think Specialized bikes are really nice (and beautiful) - good products - but they are so overpriced (becuase they are popular and just because they can be) for what you get. At $2,000 the Spec. bike will have low end components, cheap wheels etc. I have helped friends purchase Trek bikes (not a fan of Trek but the product seeems good - one got the Madone and the other a Domane - which I recommend for you) for the same price with better components (one got 105 and the other Ultegra) and wheels. Also look at other brands such as Jamis or Cannondale or Giant etc. You really want ot make sure for your price point you get the best bike.

Whatever you choose physically sit on a bike... I am 5'8" and fit anything from 52 - 55cm depending on the brand and design of the frame. FIT IS KEY. WIthout it, no bike is good...

edgewater16

Well, there's climbing up to the bridge, walking the bike in hand while coming down (too narrow to ride with people and bikes) and traffic lights/cross guards that stop you in the city and on the greenway.. They're all included in the commute time.

When I was riding in Manhattan, it's flat, I was going 16-18mph average.

I got the hybrid to ride around town, which I've been doing past 2 years, but it was my first "real" commute back and forth and that's how I felt.

I'll switch to skinnier tires in the meantime, shed some weight and I'll set up a target - say 210lbs. I'll reward myself with a new bike when I reach there.

ill.clyde

Got it ... now it makes more sense

I'm never one to talk someone out of buying a bike, but there's a lot to be said for riding lots and getting in better shape before dropping more coin on a bike. Definitely consider skinnier tires. However, my CX bike that I commute on has Kenda Kwick Tendrils on it and they're 700X35, like what you have on your C'dale. I averaged 15 mph, rolling time only (not counting stops/etc), on those tires.

Also bear in mind, a skinnier tire will usually provide a bit harsher ride, because of the higher tire pressure.

The only reason I asked about the hybrid was because it's a pattern we see here ... big guy (gal) buys a hybrid because they want to start riding, and then down the road, the tire of the bike because it's slow.

And I'll echo what Pam said too ... consider Trek, as well as brands like Jamis, Kona and another Cannondale when you're ready to start shopping.

jaxgtr

I was commuting on an older Trek 7300 that I did a lot of changes to. Rigid fork, upgraded components, changed the cassette from an 11-32, to a 12-23. I live a very flat existence in Florida. However with all that said, I decided I wanted a more roadie commuter and just ordered a Trek CrossRip and will be replacing the drive train with some parts off another bike I no longer use and was going to sell anyway. I kept holding on to it for some reason, not sure why, but it will come in handy now.

Anyway, on the Trek 7300, I replaced the 700*38 and use 700*25 and and it helped a lot. Is the ride any harsher on the thinner tires...I dont think so...but that is just my opinion.

Black wallnut 

Roubiax sport 105 can be had for under $2k on sale. However it does not have eyelets for a rack. If comfort is any consideration I'd steer clear of a Tri-cross, I find the ride of those harsh, components not on par with price which always seems inflated.

WestPablo

+1

This is exactly what I was going to say!

JCNeumann

IMO keep what you have. That is a great bike, and a Specialized anything will not make you faster. I would also avoid using a narrower tire in NYC - way too much crap on the roads do deal with if you are commuting. maybe a little better tire when you replace, something like Schwalbe Marathons, something with good puncture resistance and smooth rolling.

I'm about the same size as you (6'2 and 245), and you will see you times improve. 16-18 on a hybrid is damn good, and with some targeted hill training you will rip through the return leg. You obviously have some good speed, and a road bike or components will give you increments, not exponents.

Don't worry about the weight. Focus on general technique and ride planning - think about what you need to do at each step if the ride, and then execute it. You have an opportunity to break down each step of the ride and improve it, since you are doing it every day.

...having said that, having a new toy can be a lot of fun and an excellent motivator. ;-)