Holy crap!
 

I just tried out a Giant OCR C2 yesterday. First time I've tried an all carbon bike.

Compared to my aluminum LeMond, it was pretty amazing.
It felt like the was no wasted effort, I stepped on the pedals and the bike moved pretty much instantly.
I was going up some small hills using higher gears than I'm used to.
Picked up my Reno when I got back home, it felt like a pig.

Quick, responsive, smooth... is this what it's all about, then?
My eyes have been opened.

I would say that drastic of a difference is likely more placebo effect(new bike effect) than the bike being that much different.

Unless you have issues with your rear hub, stepping down on the pedal should result in an immediate start regardless of your bike.

99% placebo

From a Reno owner: Thank you, wfrogge and paul 858. Even if you're wrong, I'm sticking with your story, at least until the economic stimulus check arrives in the mail.

Well it's easy to test... go ride some other bikes. And bring your current bike along and ride it last.

OK, sounds like lust, then

The first time I rode my fancy carbon bike, I experienced a similar sensation. Maybe it's mostly placebo, but I still think it's at least partly real.

There's no question I was easing up a climb in a higher than "normal" gear. Emphasis on the word "easing".

I had gone out and done 20 miles on Saturday with a fair amount of climbing (keep in mind I'm a middle-aged old noob just 2 years back into cycling. I surely couldn't even begin to hang with you young studs, so it's all relative, OK?) and my legs were tired yesterday... they didn't feel like they were working at all to move this bike anywhere, at any speed. But, then, A) I had nothing to immediately compare it to and B) I need to take it out on a REAL ride and see how it feels. Yesterday, I was just keeping the Mrs company while *she* was testing out a couple of bikes.

Ain't nobody running off to the alter just yet ;)

Carbon rules. Welcome to the club.

sure the cassette wasnt different?

Ah... excellent. No, it's not but mine is geared lower than that on the Giant.
The chain rings, though... a different story and the well-known smoking gun. Maybe.
Seems Giant's on line catalog and descriptions might not be a good match for reality.
For example, they list SRAM components but the bike I rode had Ultegra.
On top of that, they do NOT show an OCR C2 Triple -only a double- and the one I rode was a triple.
So, what was the gearing up front? I have no idea but for the OCR C3 Triple, they list 50/39/30 and my LeMond is 52/42/30. Hmm now. OK, that explains a lot if that's how it was configured.

Sounds like the difference between my Lemond Buenos Aires and my Soloist when I first got it. Night and day.

+1