As a background, my interest in cycling is almost exclusively for practical reasons - commuting to work, towing the kids around to the park, etc. Not into it for the sport/racing/fitness etc. So my rig is a ~14 kg flat bar commuter with the works (and a hub gear); slow, but gets me there every day rain or shine.
On the weekend I met up with my brother and some of his friends in the Barossa Valley after they did the BUPA Challenge (if you saw a guy in a pink tutu, that was my brother). Anyway, he loaned my his bike for a loop through the hills - we did about 35km through Tanunda, over Menglers Hill, Angaston and Nuriootpa.
The bike is a Look 585 with SRAM Red and weighs about 6.5 kg.
I knew it would be faster and more efficient, but honestly I was completely blown away by how much more efficient it was, and how quickly it would respond to acceleration. Ergonomics was OK for something that wasn't set up for me - probably a size too small, though it did feel very stretched out on the hoods. Shifting was OK, though the front D was a bit recalcitrant and crunchy. The saddle was very comfy despite looking like a medieval torture device (Selle SMP composit). Decently stable on the downhills. Brakes were so-so - I much prefer my over-servoed disc - but never needed to use them in anger. Probably the main issue there was just accessing the drop bar levers.
Overall a very fun experience, I didn't walk away sore and didn't embarrass myself/get dropped.
First ride on a proper road bike
- MattyK
- Posts: 3257
- Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:07 pm
- Location: Melbourne
- g-boaf
- Posts: 21496
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:11 pm
Re: First ride on a proper road bike
Postby g-boaf » Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:50 pm
Road bikes will always feel different in braking after a disc braked bike. But after that, they are addictive and very fun. But from 14kg to 6.5kg must feel outrageously different.
- MattyK
- Posts: 3257
- Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:07 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Re: First ride on a proper road bike
Postby MattyK » Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:01 pm
Yeah, back on the commuter today was a grounding. It accelerates in the same way that pulling a car with an occy strap would - ie, eventually it's going a bit faster. The LOOK was just instantly going faster as soon as you put weight on the pedal.
Speaking of pedals - road pedals can get bent. SPDs for life.
Speaking of pedals - road pedals can get bent. SPDs for life.
- g-boaf
- Posts: 21496
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:11 pm
Re: First ride on a proper road bike
Postby g-boaf » Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:09 pm
So, when are you getting a road bike?MattyK wrote:Yeah, back on the commuter today was a grounding. It accelerates in the same way that pulling a car with an occy strap would - ie, eventually it's going a bit faster. The LOOK was just instantly going faster as soon as you put weight on the pedal.
Speaking of pedals - road pedals can get bent. SPDs for life.
- MattyK
- Posts: 3257
- Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:07 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Re: First ride on a proper road bike
Postby MattyK » Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:41 pm
When I could either justify it, had space to put it or time or reason to ride it... It was a fun experience but it would make as much sense as putting a Ferrari in the driveway.
I'm curious to know if there is a dominant reason for the speed difference, or is it just a sum of all the parts combined (drivetrain efficiency, weight, rolling resistance, aero position, frame stiffness). What makes the biggest difference and what makes the least?
I'm curious to know if there is a dominant reason for the speed difference, or is it just a sum of all the parts combined (drivetrain efficiency, weight, rolling resistance, aero position, frame stiffness). What makes the biggest difference and what makes the least?
- g-boaf
- Posts: 21496
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:11 pm
Re: First ride on a proper road bike
Postby g-boaf » Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:26 pm
It's everything - aero, light weight, all the parts and pieces put together. But the light weight is the biggest difference, along with the drivetrain efficiency and aero, compared with a non-road-bike. On a road-bike, you were probably a lot more tucked down as well - which also makes a difference
Just makes a road-bike really fly. And you riding a heavy bike, you are used to that, so putting you on a light weight bike and the feeling is hey, this is pretty good!
But at the same time, my road bike, I put a different set of tyres on it, and it was like riding through superglue - they were sort of like all-weather tyres. They were so slow in comparison - swapped them off really quickly.
Just makes a road-bike really fly. And you riding a heavy bike, you are used to that, so putting you on a light weight bike and the feeling is hey, this is pretty good!
But at the same time, my road bike, I put a different set of tyres on it, and it was like riding through superglue - they were sort of like all-weather tyres. They were so slow in comparison - swapped them off really quickly.
- MattyK
- Posts: 3257
- Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:07 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Re: First ride on a proper road bike
Postby MattyK » Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:52 pm
Yeah, squared off Schwalbe Marathons aren't the fastest... could save half a kilo there
Return to “General Cycling Discussion”
Jump to
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
Brought to you by Bicycles Network Australia | © 1999 - 2024 | Powered by phpBB ®
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.