Wheel Upgrade
 

I had to get rid of my road bike and switch to a hybrid due to an old neck injury. I bought a Sirrus Comp and I really like it, but I miss going fast. I've been told that upgrading my wheels will get me the most noticeable difference, but I have no clue what to get or how to even research. Any tips would be appreciated. Here's a pic of my new bike:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439952

I have no specific suggestions, but some thoughts to possibly help you search for what you want.

I would personally swap the tires to see what you can do there first, since you can decrease the rolling resistance with a nice set fairly cheaply. No recommendations, since I don't necessarily ride for speed. Also, at higher speeds, wind resistance is a bigger limitation than rolling resistance.

I did a quick search and saw a comment that Axis 1.0 wheels are a little heavy, but some people make that claim about any wheel with more than 8 spokes. :) Even with that, if speed is your objective, then I don't think lighter is the answer, I think more aerodynamic would be... but I am not sure how much difference that would be on a hybrid when your wind resistance is impacted quite a bit by riding position. You could accelerate marginally better, and possibly climb marginally better with lighter wheels, but once up to speed, the weight is pretty irrelevant... that is where aerodynamics would be the biggest pay-off... deep rims and bladed spokes are said to provide aerodynamic advantage... but going to the extremely deep rims could impact the weight, and decrease your acceleration and climbing ability.

Good luck on your decision.

Your previous fast rides were almost certainly due to the improved aerodynamic position your road bike offered you, but I suspect that due to your neck injury, that position is no longer viable.

With that being the case, what you now seek, may not be possible.

You could always try fitting some aero bars to your hybrid's handlebars to see if that works out for you.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=440007

I don't buy the areodynamic factor in speed - I think it exists, but it's not a big deal. Where I think it makes the most difference is in going downhill. I don't think it makes a big difference on flats and certainly no difference going uphill. I do think that changing to a narrow, smooth and high PSI tire will make the biggest difference. Another thing you can do is narrow your handlebar so that your arms are parallel to the bike and not pointing outward. Use toe clips or use clipless pedals. Ride it like a road bike.

OP,

Assuming everything else is of more-or-less equivalent quality, and assuming correct fit/positioning of you on both, then the only difference in "speed" between a drop-bar road bike and a flat-bar road bike such as your Sirrus is a factor of wind resistance, and especially the wind resistance generated by 'you'! That difference is real, but not nearly so great as some like to claim (or fantasize about).

You might in reality take 5 to 10 minutes longer to complete a 50 mile 'sportive' course with some climbing on a flat-bar as opposed to drop-bar road bike, for the same effort. However, that's only if you can use the drops where appropriate: descending; into headwinds. If, like me, you can't use the drops anyway then the point is moot.

Little Darwin summarizes the points re. "wheel upgrades" above very well.

A link to the actual bike so one could see what wheels & tires it has would be useful.
The picture shows a 24 /32 spoke combination.

Often factory tires are built with flat protection in mind and tend to be heavy & stiff.
IF you want to compromise on flat protection to some degree, you can probably get a lighter, more supple tire.
That is usually the best bang for the buck.

My advice is to go with what came on it for quite awhile --- the wheels and tires on the Comp aren't too shabby to begin with.

Unless you are a professional racer, you probably won't notice any speed difference with 25 vs 30mm tires(5mm isn't even 1/4 inch), and the rims aren't that heavy either. Those 30s aren't exactly fat tires. But, they will ride lots better.

Get used to your new bike, and spend money elsewhere for awhile.

Specialized Bicycle Components

Actually, one point I forgot to add on the wheel issue. Based on my reading concerning rolling resistance, I have come to the opinion that narrower tires definitely make you feel like you are going faster... whether you are or not.

Some of this is could be related to crisper handling. I know I like the snap of a bike with narrower higher pressure tires, but I prefer the relative comfort of a wider tire. There are at least some cases where rolling resistance is marginally lower on wider tires, but there could also be a marginal increase in wind resistance because of the wider profile. And better acceleration could potentially make you feel faster... and in reality your average speed could be higher if you do a lot of climbing, or acceleration after cornering etc.

Actually, it is too bad that you got rid of your road bike, because I was going to suggest that putting the road bike wheels on your new bike would provide a clear indication of whether the higher speed on your road bike was due to the wheels and tires. If you know anyone with a set of road wheels/tires to borrow, you could discover whether they make the difference you are looking for. Even if 130 mm spaced, they should work well enough to let you know... although you may have to adjust the shifting to test, as things would be shifted slightly.

Whether you have zero gain in speed, or double it, it could be worth the effort to determine how best to recapture the joy of cycling for you!