What is the difference between a road bike and a commuter bi

giggles57

Hi , I've had a giant Fcr 2 commuter bike , its excellent it really does the trick when it comes to going to work and riding around the town . But here's the issue , I was passed up by a young fellow the other day jeans , sandles , no riding shorts on and he flew pased me , in my rage I tried to catch him , but away he went and my pride , So what makes his bike better. Eveyone tells me its my bike , its my age , up yours I say (50) . But I am interested in a felt z85, defy 1 composite and maybe a scott speedster 30 . Anyway will these choices and my wanting to know still what makes the difference solve my dilemia. Thanks .

zardoz

Well for a start if another cyclist passing you is all it takes to get you in a rage then you need anger management counselling. Truth of the matter is that he is probably just a lot younger and fitter than you are. Doesn't matter what bike you have it will still be the same heart, lungs and legs propelling it and that is most likely the main difference.

That said, if a new bike encourages you to train harder then it may have the desired effect.

hatch87

Imagine how angry you will be when you buy a road bike, and some OAP wizzes past you on a 100 year old steel frame bike. Happens to the best of us.

OverTheHillAt21

Agree with zardoz I'm afraid, at 50 it can take a fair amount of training to just match the VO2max of an untrained guy in his 20s. You'd be better off posting your training schedule and asking for tips to improve. Mind you, I've just bought a nice shiny new bike so no harm at all in doing that, as long as you don't regard it as a route to going a lot faster.

cougie

Road bike puts you in a more aerodynamic position than you'll be on your commuting bike. That helps.
Fitness is paramount though.

You could get something like the ribble winter bike. Drop bars and full mudguards. Sorted for commuting and faster.

If thats not enough - you need to train.

cookeeemonster

99% fitness, 1% bike

(ok, unless it's windy/up a big hil and so on)

Daz555

Any bike you commute on in a commuter bike.

giggles57 wrote:

Hi , I've had a giant Fcr 2 commuter bike , its excellent it really does the trick when it comes to going to work and riding around the town . But here's the issue , I was passed up by a young fellow the other day jeans , sandles , no riding shorts on and he flew pased me , in my rage I tried to catch him , but away he went and my pride , So what makes his bike better. Eveyone tells me its my bike , its my age , up yours I say (50) . But I am interested in a felt z85, defy 1 composite and maybe a scott speedster 30 . Anyway will these choices and my wanting to know still what makes the difference solve my dilemia. Thanks .

You'll need an electrically assisted bike to catch this young rider I'm afraid.

arran77

Re: What is the difference between a road bike and a commuter bi

It's only the former that has a proper cyclist on it :P

chris_bass

arran77 wrote:

Re: What is the difference between a road bike and a commuter bi

It's only the former that has a proper cyclist on it :P

yeah - the second option is only curious about cycling!!

arran77

Chris Bass wrote:

arran77 wrote:

Re: What is the difference between a road bike and a commuter bi

It's only the former that has a proper cyclist on it :P

yeah - the second option is only curious about cycling!!

giggles57

Well thank you all I really appreciated the comments , I think after riding for at least 30 km I had just run out of juice , oh well, I'll keep up the conditioning and still look at a bike locally that will perform better . Oh , and next time someone flys passed me I'll say , good job, instead of betting myself up . Thanks to all

slowbike

You want to jump on his wheel and get a tow. I did when a couple of lads passed me last month. I did put a stint in at the end, but was rather glad when they turned off!

navrig

As someone, of no significance, said "It's not about the bike..."

rolf_f

giggles57 wrote:

Well thank you all I really appreciated the comments , I think after riding for at least 30 km I had just run out of juice ,

If you are out of juice after only 30km or so, then you are some way from a fitness level where a road bike will make any difference! 30km is about the length of my morning commute.

night_porter

Navrig wrote:

As someone, of no significance, said "It's not about the bike..."

He was right it WAS all about the drugs!

Mr Will

At pace or in to the wind, aero makes a big difference. Going from the hoods to the drops can be worth 1-2mph. Odds are his position was a lot lower than yours, so he'll go faster for the same effort.