and dont even get into tire pressure factors and the varying "fast" or "slow" feelings that come back from varying pressures. Just like frame diff, its deceiving how high pressures seem "faster" vs lower pressures (said pressures of course differing with rider weight and tire size)

I never believed it until being more trying diff pressures and relating times and shock impact on regular rides that I do.

Heck no.

If you ride with fast people, you'll feel slow. If you ride with slow people, you'll feel fast. Unless you're slow.

One for seypat

I feel slower on my steel framed bike than on my carbon bike on the same commute route to work where I climb up into the mountains. In fact, I am slower, just over 2 mpg average speed slower. In fairness, the carbon bike is lighter, not just because of its frame, but lighter components and narrower tires, etc, all those things folks will tell you make no difference.

Oh ya, I was sure my workout on Sunday was my fastest I’ve ever done that route, I was flying…….I was 1mph off my average over the 35 mile run, I was not even close to a PR, but it felt fast.

I feel faster when it is dark and also when it is raining.

If you ever get the chance, read the book, Influence. People are programmed to do comparative analysis poorly. If you ride bike A, and then ride bike B, slight variations will be mentally magnified: if it felt slower, you will perceive it as feeling much slower. When you ride item C, you will end up comparing it to B, and magnifying the differences to A.

Its all in your head, as that is the way we are built.

I remember a marketing class I had in college. We were reading about flavoring taste tests in jellies and chocolate puddings. If they took the colors out of the jellies the people could not tell what flavor they were. The tastes of the chocolate puddings were primarily based on the darkness of the chocolate. Lighter chocolate meant "smooth and creamy" while darker was richer and bold even though it was the same chocolate.

ditto on that one. When its dark and raining, it feels positively TDF

usually when I feel faster, I enjoy the moment with the understanding that I probably have a tailwind

that comment is probably the truest one yet. I know its certainly the case with me. (and or when drafting behind a truck....)

This. My CF is stiffest, followed by Ti (custom where I spec'd rigid rear stays), and steel. My speeds are iden tical but the CF probably accelerates quickests and just feels the fastest.

I'm fascinated with this phenomenon too. There is no way the mind can tell .2mph differences. I have two bikes, both Al, but one does feel faster but I suspect I'm equally slow on both. If I have to make a guess it would have to do with the feed back from bike/road. I have the same feeling when I drive a stickshift vs an automatic car.

This. I was going to say the same thing.

I believe it. My eyesight is very bad. I have found that when I eat without my glasses on, the food doesn't taste as good.