Why am I slower on my new carbon bike than I was on my old aluminium one???

brownetara · 05-06-2013 09:04AM #1

I just bought a fancy new full carbon bike, went for my first spin this morning and I'm slower (average speed) on the new one than the old one - is this normal???

T

colm_gti · 05-06-2013 09:08AM

No, must be something wrong with the bike, bring it back.

Ole Rodrigo · 05-06-2013 09:10AM

Flux capacitor probably.

brownetara · 05-06-2013 09:12AM

The only difference is I went out at 7am where normally I go after work at 5.0 pm? Think I need a turbo boost!

T

ford2600 · 05-06-2013 09:13AM

brownetara wrote: »

I just bought a fancy new full carbon bike, went for my first spin this morning and I'm slower (average speed) on the new one than the old one - is this normal???

T

Are you the Big Lebowski's alter ego?

brownetara · 05-06-2013 09:14AM

ford2600 wrote: »

Are you the Big Lebowski's alter ego?

Afraid you lost me there, I haven't seen the movie??

Raam · 05-06-2013 09:15AM

brownetara wrote: »

The only difference is I went out at 7am where normally I go after work at 5.0 pm? Think I need a turbo boost!

T

Roads are stickier in the morning so you don't roll as well.

marketty · 05-06-2013 09:17AM

I'm faster on my steel cross bike than I was on my aluminium racer, because I ride it more. Ride harder for longer more often, and as Gok Wan says 'accessorise baby' ie buy more cycling stuff. Every new shiny thing you get helps get you out the door I find

Lumen · 05-06-2013 09:18AM

Muscles get used to firing in a particular position. Your new bike is probably slightly different.

brownetara · 05-06-2013 09:18AM

Raam wrote: »

Roads are stickier in the morning so you don't roll as well.

Sounds as good a reason as any, I'll stick with that one!

detones · 05-06-2013 09:18AM

Is it that Argos Carbon Bike?

brownetara · 05-06-2013 09:19AM

detones wrote: »

Is it that Argos Carbon Bike?

Argos do a carbon bike, oh dear!

Lumen · 05-06-2013 09:21AM

brownetara wrote: »

Argos do a carbon bike, oh dear!

It only comes with Shimano. There's even a matching kit.

Beasty · 05-06-2013 09:28AM

brownetara wrote: »

I just bought a fancy new full carbon bike, went for my first spin this morning and I'm slower (average speed) on the new one than the old one - is this normal???

T

Yo cannot compare after a single spin. As Lumen indicated your position on the bike is almost certainly different and that will affect performance. In addition the road and weather conditions may have been very different, or maybe you were simply not performing as well on that spin.

ford2600 · 05-06-2013 09:56AM

brownetara wrote: »

Afraid you lost me there, I haven't seen the movie??

TBL is a carbon skeptic poster.

Make sure to catch movie sometime..

If you expected new shiny carbon bike to be faster and find it easier; it doesn't work like that.

Give it a week or two and post again

brownetara · 05-06-2013 10:04AM

ford2600 wrote: »

TBL is a carbon skeptic poster.

Make sure to catch movie sometime..

If you expected new shiny carbon bike to be faster and find it easier; it doesn't work like that.

Give it a week or two and post again

I expect anything new and shiny to make me faster

- you don't mean I actually have to work at it??? :eek:

rollingscone · 05-06-2013 10:40AM

Have you tried fitting a Dura Ace chain?

petethedrummer · 05-06-2013 10:55AM

Average speed means nothing unless you are on an enclosed indoor track.

Raam · 05-06-2013 10:57AM

petethedrummer wrote: »

Average speed means nothing unless you are on an enclosed indoor track.

Sure it means something. It means that is the speed which you have averaged for the conditions prevailing during the ride. :P

petethedrummer · 05-06-2013 11:09AM

Raam wrote: »

Sure it means something. It means that is the speed which you have averaged for the conditions prevailing during the ride. :P

Next to nothing.

shaka · 05-06-2013 11:38AM

As lumen said prob slightly different position.

fat bloke · 05-06-2013 12:41PM

petethedrummer wrote: »

Next to nothing.

That's pretty slow alright.

I'd be worried too if I was the OP.

DirkVoodoo · 05-06-2013 12:59PM

Use your main finger and turn the bike topwise...topwise!

07Lapierre · 05-06-2013 01:04PM

New carbon wheels and a pair of Oakley sunglasses! Thats what ya need to go fast!

Zyzz · 05-06-2013 01:36PM

Probably the suspension..

Chips Lovell · 05-06-2013 01:54PM

Troll banned

rollingscone · 05-06-2013 01:57PM

Serious hat on. It took me some time to get faster on my roadbike than on my Hybrid.

The point about adjusting to the new bike stands as your best explanation.

bazermc · 05-06-2013 04:29PM

brownetara wrote: »

I just bought a fancy new full carbon bike, went for my first spin this morning and I'm slower (average speed) on the new one than the old one - is this normal???

T

There could be plenty of reasons why you average speed wasn't faster - you are not comparing like with like for example;

-You could have been more tired than normal?
-Did you do a different route?
-Was the weather different?
-You could have been holding back on the new bike without realising it
-It will take you some time to adjust to the new bike position
-Was it a different time of day (for example I feel much better cycling mornings than evening time when I am more awake)
-Was your moving average higher or also lower than normal - i.e. excluding stops at traffic lights?

petethedrummer · 05-06-2013 05:03PM

Also Carbon doesn't necessarily make you any faster. It might be lighter than aluminum but it's probably not any stiffer.

So if it's not a very hilly route, you shouldn't expect to go much (or at all) faster. Although the temporary new bike +10% power should have kicked in. Maybe yours came with a -10%. Check the receipt.

endacl · 05-06-2013 05:08PM

Did you upgrade the engine too OP? Its normally an engine fault when my bike goes slow. Nearly 40 years old and driven hard. Rarely sees a service.

elduggo · 05-06-2013 05:09PM

better wheels on the old bike?

spin the wheels around on the new one. Make sure the cones aren't too tight and that they spin freely. Check theres no rubbing with brake blocks, etc.

and be patient. if theres a lot of downhill in the spin you're talking about maybe the old bike is heavier (gravity, etc). Over longer spins you might find the carbon is quicker (especially when climbing).

Why am I slower on my new carbon bike than I was on my old aluminium one???

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