How much faster?

rmhodv
rmhodv Posts: 83
edited July 2009 in Commuting chat
I'm currently commuting 14.5 miles each way on a Carrera Subway 1. This takes me in the region of 60-75 minutes.

I am considering getting either a Trek Soho/Giant FCR/Specialized Sirrus.

If I where to buy one of the above, how much time do you think it would cut of my commute?

Comments

  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    It's not going to drop it down by that much.

    Even a 10% improvement (which is a fair chunk) is only going to work out at around 5 minutes.

    The thing I notice about being on a road bike over a mountain bike is less the time saved, and more that I'm considerably less knackered at the end of it.
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    To be fair there you're going from a hybrid to... a different hybrid. I doubt you'd see much difference.

    Now if you were to buy a road bike....

    Just as an example, I am not fit, lean or good looking but I do 20.05 miles in 68-75 mins to and from work every day. I ride a road bike - in full lycra :?
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • rmhodv
    rmhodv Posts: 83
    Aidy wrote:
    It's not going to drop it down by that much.

    Even a 10% improvement (which is a fair chunk) is only going to work out at around 5 minutes.

    The thing I notice about being on a road bike over a mountain bike is less the time saved, and more that I'm considerably less knackered at the end of it.

    Thank you. At the moment, I'm doing this journey 3 times a week, but am considering upping to 5 days. If one of the aforementioned, helps me preserve my energy to enable me to achieve all week then that can't be a bad thing.
  • UndercoverElephant
    UndercoverElephant Posts: 5,796
    prawny wrote:
    Just as an example, I am not fit, lean or good looking but I do 20.05 miles in 68-75 mins to and from work every day. I ride a road bike - in full lycra :?

    Damnit, I thought getting a road bike would make me go faster than I do on my crappy BSO. 8)
    Sun - Rain - Snow
  • rmhodv
    rmhodv Posts: 83
    prawny wrote:
    Now if you were to buy a road bike....

    Would it not be fair to say that they are road bikes, but with flat bars?
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    UndercoverElephant wrote:
    prawny wrote:
    Just as an example, I am not fit, lean or good looking but I do 20.05 miles in 68-75 mins to and from work every day. I ride a road bike - in full lycra :?

    Damnit, I thought getting a road bike would make me go faster than I do on my crappy BSO. 8)

    TTHHHHHHRRUUUUUP! :P
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    rmhodv wrote:
    prawny wrote:
    Now if you were to buy a road bike....

    Would it not be fair to say that they are road bikes, but with flat bars?

    Nope, they are the diet coke of road bikes. :P

    The giant i admit is just a defy with flat bars, but you won't get the aero advantage or the lovely comfy hand positions.

    I did very, very nearly buy an fcr 4. But I'm glad I went for a drop bar in the end.
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • Agent57
    Agent57 Posts: 2,300
    I'm thinking of going from my old road bike to my old mountain bike as a commuting mount. :D Primarily because I can fit proper full mudguards and a rack/pannier to the MTB. It's heavier and slower, bit I reckon the extra work won't do me any harm.
    MTB commuter / 531c commuter / CR1 Team 2009 / RockHopper Pro Disc / 10 mile PB: 25:52 (Jun 2014)
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    Hi.

    On my lightweight hardtail with high pressure tyres I average just under 16mph and am totally knacked at the end.
    On my road bike I can comfortably average 18mph+.

    The speed difference is nice but the comfort factor is much more important.

    I only commute on my hardtail if the road bike is in the shop 8)
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • SimonLyons
    SimonLyons Posts: 203
    I agree with Aidy.

    Over 17 miles going from Ridgeback Storm hybrid(26x1.2) to Giant Defy roadbike(700x23) made about 5 minutes difference (~ a mile)

    but...
    On the Defy...
    acceleration + hilly bits are a whole lot easier.
    Gearing is better as the ratios are closer.
    Head winds aren't such a bind.
    my knees feel a whole lot fresher after the ride.
  • ince
    ince Posts: 289
    Road bike, road bike, road bike ..... you get the idea :D

    I do my 17.8 mile commute in 58 to 65 min on a bad day on my road bike. On my subway 2 at best it was around 70 min and I was ready to chuck up after pushing that hard.
  • Christophe3967
    Christophe3967 Posts: 1,200
    On my 14 mile commute the choice of bike (hybrid, MTB, SS, road bike) makes little difference to the overall time although the effort expended is less on the road bike and more on the MTB. The journey time on the road bike is only slightly quicker and the MTB slightly slower but the other two are pretty even. Traffic density in London and the number of traffic lights negate any real advantages gained using a road bike on quieter roads.

    In terms of fun - that's a different thing altogether. 8)
    Bike1
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N07/3258551288/
    Bike 2
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N ... otostream/
    New Bike
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N07/3479300346/
  • agv457
    agv457 Posts: 32
    rmhodv wrote:
    Aidy wrote:
    It's not going to drop it down by that much.

    Even a 10% improvement (which is a fair chunk) is only going to work out at around 5 minutes.

    The thing I notice about being on a road bike over a mountain bike is less the time saved, and more that I'm considerably less knackered at the end of it.

    Thank you. At the moment, I'm doing this journey 3 times a week, but am considering upping to 5 days. If one of the aforementioned, helps me preserve my energy to enable me to achieve all week then that can't be a bad thing.

    I changed from a MTB to a Hybrid with 700 wheels and its def easier & alittle faster - 10-15% prob is realistic.

    But if you did it 5 times a week regardless your body would soon adapt (3-4 weeks) and you would have greater energy & speed in the long run once you get over that transitional period.

    Just do it! :D
  • Gilbie
    Gilbie Posts: 99
    Instead of all this talk about shaving time from a commute, how about go for the bike you love and enjoy riding. Get one that fits and have fun! :|:mrgreen:
    On road
    Or off road?
  • monkeysm8
    monkeysm8 Posts: 191
    I do 14.5miles on my fixie Pompino in 50mins (did sub 50 yesterday)
  • vorsprung
    vorsprung Posts: 1,953
    rmhodv wrote:
    I'm currently commuting 14.5 miles each way on a Carrera Subway 1. This takes me in the region of 60-75 minutes.

    I am considering getting either a Trek Soho/Giant FCR/Specialized Sirrus.

    If I where to buy one of the above, how much time do you think it would cut of my commute?

    They are flat barred bikes? The sirrus is definitely
    They won't help at all
    Save your cash and buy some better tyres for the subway
    Audaxing Blog - Long Distance Cycling
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  • simon_ramsey
    simon_ramsey Posts: 116
    Gilbie wrote:
    Instead of all this talk about shaving time from a commute, how about go for the bike you love and enjoy riding. Get one that fits and have fun! :|:mrgreen:

    +1 I don't have a cycle computer on my commute bike for that very reason. It takes as long as it takes & I enjoy the ride :) Although I can't ride anywhere slowly on a bike !!
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    vorsprung wrote:
    rmhodv wrote:
    I'm currently commuting 14.5 miles each way on a Carrera Subway 1. This takes me in the region of 60-75 minutes.

    I am considering getting either a Trek Soho/Giant FCR/Specialized Sirrus.

    If I where to buy one of the above, how much time do you think it would cut of my commute?

    They are flat barred bikes? The sirrus is definitely
    They won't help at all
    Save your cash and buy some better tyres for the subway


    +1 try some scwable city jets , i find them a lot better than the standard tryes on a subway 1 , its my current commuter and i am doing 10 1/2 miles on a good day in around 35 mins thats with a pannier rack and all the crap i carry :roll:

    On this set up i can keep 20 mph on the flat , where i live is lumpy so my average is a a bit slower hope that helps
    FCN 3/5/9

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