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What can I do to make this bike faster?

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What can I do to make this bike faster?

Old 08-17-09, 03:57 PM
  #1  
ScarcelyAware
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What can I do to make this bike faster?

I have a Schwinn Fastback Sport, pictured below:



It has Alex r500 rims with 28's.

Is there anything I can buy to make this thing a little faster? I'm buying a race bike in the future and want this to be a little faster training bike.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:00 PM
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Ride it more...the bike will never be faster...just the engine
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Old 08-17-09, 04:01 PM
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try skinnier tires
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Old 08-17-09, 04:02 PM
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Sell it to a stronger engine.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:02 PM
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Clipless pedals will make you feel faster.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:22 PM
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TimeXWork Ethic=Speed
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Old 08-17-09, 04:26 PM
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Mount Fabian Cancellara on it.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by ScarcelyAware
I have a Schwinn Fastback Sport, pictured below:



It has Alex r500 rims with 28's.

Is there anything I can buy to make this thing a little faster? I'm buying a race bike in the future and want this to be a little faster training bike.
other than putting me on it, there's nothing that's gonna make that thing faster.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:28 PM
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Afterburners.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:32 PM
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Make YOU faster.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:36 PM
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charliekeri
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Originally Posted by D.J.M.
Mount Fabian Cancellara on it.


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Old 08-17-09, 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by RacerOne
Clipless pedals will make you faster.
Corrected.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:44 PM
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Ignoring all the obvious "upgrade the engine" comments, two things you can do that will make a difference are clipless pedals and 23c tires.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:51 PM
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Have you been fitted for it properly? If not, that could make a bigger difference than pedals and tires. But you should definitely get the pedals
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Old 08-17-09, 04:55 PM
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Plus 1 on all the clip-less pedal post,and some Tabasco sauce in your shorts.
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Old 08-17-09, 04:56 PM
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"Don't buy upgrades. Ride up grades." -- Some Belgian guy named Eddy.
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Old 08-17-09, 05:00 PM
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Start at the top of a hill and end at the bottom.

Seriously, I hate to agree with a book supposedly written by Lance but it is really true: It is not about the bike. Well, except for that 1% to 10% factor depending on how much your bike actually sucks. Your bike is much closer to 1% than 10%.
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Old 08-17-09, 05:00 PM
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Old 08-17-09, 05:09 PM
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Your tires are on backwards. That could be costing you 2-3mph.
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Old 08-17-09, 05:55 PM
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Wheel and tire upgrades will make a difference.

You can get some fairly lightweight, fairly aero wheels for $200 or so:

https://www.interlocracing.com/wheels.html

Add some decent 23mm tires and inflate them to 110 psi. You'll notice a difference.
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Old 08-17-09, 06:34 PM
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upgrade your wheels will make the most noticeable difference to that bike; those wheels are HEAVY
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Old 08-17-09, 06:40 PM
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Are you guys kidding? Pedals before wheels.
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Old 08-17-09, 06:46 PM
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If it's for training why do you need it to be faster? Training is knowing when to go hard and when to go easy. Speed does not fall into the equation.
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Old 08-17-09, 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by ljrichar
Are you guys kidding? Pedals before wheels.
what he said
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Old 08-17-09, 07:01 PM
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They are right. Go clipless. If those wheels have sealed bearings....get yourself some shimano Ultegras with mavics and you'll notice the difference, especially when you're in a group or downhill. That is after you break them in. My friends have Campy and Zipps and they used to take off on me going down hill. Now that I have my Ultegras....they have to pedal to keep up with me. Same goes for when I'm in a group. It's easier for me to coast and get sucked along. And they don't cost an arm and a leg like other wheelsets.
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