Al.canoe

I'm wondering if a more "sporty" road bike would allow me gain significantly in cruising speed compared to my present bike. I'm thinking around the $1500(?) price range. I have no real appreciation how fast these sleeker bikes are, especially for an older, recreational rider like me.

I'm presently road biking on an old steel touring bike with fenders, 38 mm 95 psi tires and a luggage rack ('84 Schwinn Voyager where everything was replaced except the frame/fork. It has STI, and drops). I cruise on level ground at about 15 mph, ride 35 miles twice a week and I'm 64.

I could of course remove the rack and fenders from my present bike and go to narrower tires and rims. But I like the bike and I'd use it when it rains, when the roads are just wet or I know the ride might take me on non-paved road sections. Also, I'm not too interested in riding on my elbows/arms so I would not use Aero bars if that's what they are called.

My goal would be to cruise at about 20 mph or more so I could up my twice-weekly rides to more like 50 miles, but not take too much longer. Also, going fast on a bike is just fun.

Any comments are appreciated.

Al

Joe S

Not only is going fast fun, but riding a nice bike is fun. My new bike (Trek 2100) is about in your price range. I cut 5-7 minutes off my 30 minute commute (over an entry level hybrid), so you could probably show similar improvement over longer distance. And it is just fun to feel the bike accelerate, shift gears on a dime, etc. There is lots of great info on bikes here, and you should get a lot of info from trying out the bikes at your local shop.

Ebbtide

I've been down that road recently with my switch from a hybrid to a road bike. Yours is a difficult question to answer and seems to be an individual thing.

I gained 5mph (15-20) after a month of adjusting to ride in that position....which was difficult to get used to (I had to start doing sit-ups and work my arms & back to get the proper strength to maintain the position over a long ride. I also started with a higher stem and worked it down over several weeks)

But in general, most here would agree you need a new ride.

My advice would be to go to your LBS and give one a test ride. You will have your answer before you leave the parking lot.

Hope this helps,

ehenz

Laggard

The more you spend the faster you'll go.

dexmax

these works on your training too...

DieselDan

Go for it. For $1500 you can get a nice performance road bike from any number of companies. Keep the old Schwinn and use her as a rain/spare bike.

djbowen1

it's all in your head

MichaelW

Swapping to lighter wheels and thinner tyres will give you most of the advantages of a road racing bike.
Its always nice to have something sporty, as long as you have a practical all-weather bike in reserve. If you wan one, and can afford one, go for it.
You dont have to ride sporty bikes in a deep aro position. In the UK, many endurance riders use racing weight, sport bikes in a more relaxed touring position.

roadbuzz

Faster or not, a lighter more responsive bike is just more fun to ride. You'll enjoy it more, you'll probably ride more.

Gonzo Bob

You'll probably be faster on something more racier, but not significantly. At least not because of the bike. But you'll probably be more enthusiastic about riding a new bike so you'll ride more and get fitter which could lead to riding faster.

My general experience is that I cruise about 1mph faster on my unloaded touring bike than I do on my mountain bike (on the road) and about 1mph faster yet on my racing bike. But I think these differences are due to rolling resistance and body position (I am more upright on the tourer and ever more on the MTB) rather than lightness of the bike.

RonH

Hi Al and welcome to BikeForums.

Point #1. There are no "older" riders here. Cycling keeps us young. (I'm nearly 59)
Point #2. Keep the Schwinn for errands, wet roads, whatever.
Point #3. You'll really love the feeling of a fast, responsive bike.
When I upgraded from my Raleigh (now my commuter/backup road bike) to my present road bike it was like magic. It is exhilarating and just as much fun - no - a lot more fun than when I rode a bike as a kid.
I ride with many over-60 folks who have very nice bikes ($1500-$4000).
Get the new bike!

Don't forget to post pictures of whatever you get.

shokhead

Like a sports car,you gota be able to handle it or it can be as sporty as you want but you still have to push it.

slotibartfast

I also just upgraded to a road bike from a hybrid late this summer. I gain 3-5 mph over the hybrid on average. One of the biggest differences I've found is that the road bike gets up to cruising speed a lot faster than the hybrid and it's easier to stay at the higher speed. It's also much easier to climb those pesky hills....especially out of the saddle. In short, I love my new bike. I still ride the hybrid on rides with my wife or when the weather's bad so I feel I have the best of both worlds. At first, the road bike will feel less stable, but that feeling goes away within a couple of rides as you get used to the thinner tires and higher speeds. Also, if you're getting into clipless pedals for the first time with the new purchase, be prepared to fall a couple of times - it's unavoidable and somewhat embarrassing. Everyone does it - part of the learning curve. Your price range was about the same as mine and you'll have a lot of choices so take a lot of test rides. You'll have a wide range of decisions to make - from steel to aluminum frames to drivetrain components. I was amazed at the differences. Right now, you can get some good closeout deals on last year's models. You'll know when you find the right bike - it will sing to you. Make sure to pick a shop that will fit you properly to the bike - it makes all the difference in the world. Shopping for a new bike is half the fun. Good luck!

Avalanche325

Oh CRAP! I am test riding road bikes now. I have had one "sing to me". Of course, that one is way more than I wanted to spend.

PseudoCrow

Yes, the change is worth it. I was riding a mid-80s Panasonic touring bike weighing about 24 lbs., but closer to 35 with rack, panniers containing my laptop, notes, books, and so on. My usual ride was a 6 mile commute each way to and from the university where I teach.

In March of this year I bought a used road bike - Pinarello Opera - for $1600. It weighs a lot less (about 18 lbs) than the Panasonic, and I don't load it up with a rack, laptop, etc. It also is *much* more responsive. I still do the commute (well, until the weather dropped below 35 degrees), but the bike is so much fun that I started riding for pleasure -- 12 miles, 20 miles, and then 30 miles became standard. I've done a couple of 50 mile rides as well. Next summer I expect to ride a century. At age 55, and generally averse to virtually all other forms of exercise, this has been a great purchase.

A good road bike is just one heck of fun to ride. But as others have said, get one that fits. And I'll second the purchase of clipless (cleat) pedals and the best shoes you can afford. Speedplays are great for older folks whose knees are cranky, and the Sidi Genius shoe is as comfortable as they come.

Pat

It sort of depends on how you ride.

If you are comfort oriented, your touring bike is probably about as good a bike as you can have. Touring bikes are very comfortable.

I rode a touring bike when I was starting out. I switched to a racing bike. I found I could corner faster on the racing bike and that it accelerated faster. Maintaining a cruising speed was about the same. But it was easier to get up to speed and maintain it through corners that I did average faster on the racing bike.

Al.canoe

Thank you all for your comments. I don't think the hybrid to sporty bike comments apply to my situation. I'm already riding low on the hoods and often ride in the drops uphill, against the wind and sometimes to just pick up the pace. I sometimes do over 20 miles that way. I've never liked an upright position; not even on my mountain bike. The loss of 20 lbs (body weight) made staying in the drops a lot more comfortable and made climbing a lot easier.

I tend to agree with those who commented that I will see little increase in cruising speed. But, I might in fact ride a lot more with a more responsive bike and that alone might make it worth it. I've never felt better since I started riding more frequently about 3-years ago. I've always had a training program, but biking beats anything else for aerobics and enjoyment. Well almost, as nothing beats wilderness canoing for enjoyment. But you can't do it as often. The wife and I have 9 canoes and four bikes. We have a storage problem.

Pat identified the reason I went to a touring frame to begin with. It's really comfortable. Maybe I need a super light, low drag bike made up from a touring frame. The assumption here is that it's the more relaxed angles that leads to comfort. If it's more the other aspects of the geometry and the material (Graphite, Titanium) that impacts comfort, then possibly the comfort levels of the non-touring road bikes are nearly as comfortable as my old tourer. The Titanium frame thread seems to imply that the newer bikes are more comfortable.

I guess I do need to ride some bikes. However, it's hard to tell much on a 5 minute ride. Well, a lot more food for thought from this thread. Thanks again.

Al

briansvr

I recently switched from a 30 year old Fuji Touring bike to a Cannondale R600. I uped my average speed from about 15 to 17 on my training rides. My century rides are much less tiring and it's just plan a blast to ride. Worth every penny of the $1,100 I spent.