Stop by your local "pro" shop. Borrow something along the lines of a Cervelo R3 or a some Specialized S-Works or a Moots Vamoots or some such. Take it out for a brisk 25 miles of hills. That may be a short cut to the answer you seek. Let us know *your* conclusions.
I enjoy riding my Rambouillet (Campy 10-speed, Open Pro's and either 25's or 28's, depending on which wheels are along for the ride). It's relaxed, and requires no attention. I call it my "hangover" bike -- if I have a hangover, I can ride it without having to think about what I'm doing, especially if it has 28's on-board. I also choose it on days when I feel like steel, or when I just want a relaxed toodle of a ride, an easy 50 miles of rollers. I have other bikes that climb better and generally scoot better (but lots of folks think I'm wrong about that). IMO, yeah, the five pounds makes a difference (but lots of folks think I'm wrong about that). How significant that difference will be to you will depend partly on your perception (what pleases you?), partly on your riding style (you're on a solid climb -- do you jam your way up it, flirting with your max heartrate, or do you shift back to a low gear, and sit down and spin?), partly on your fitness level, and partly on where on the bike the extra weight is being carried. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k1uOqRb0HU What's the answer? That's what you have to figure out. Caution: performance can be a very addictive drug. Me, I like flirting with max heartrate. pb On Mar 17, 5:54 pm, MichaelH <[email protected]> wrote: > OK, now that we have dispensed with helmets, allow me to raise another > controversial topic. > > This is not like, when am I too heavy, which is easy.... right now. > > I have 4 bikes, well 6 really, but we wont go into those details. All > four of them are around 62 cm and get ridden regularly - a 1988 > classic stage racing frame, weighing around 22 lbs; a Rambouillet, > outfitted with White/ Open Pro wheels, a White dbl crank, Honjo > fenders, a Mark's Rack, and light tires also weighing about 22 lbs.; > a 1984 Trek (Reynolds 531 standard gauge tubing) with Shimano 9 speed > cranks and shifters, SKS Fenders, Passella 32 mm T Guards and coming > in around 25 lbs; and An Ebisu All Purpose, with front and real steel > racks, steel fenders, MA 40 Rims, triple DaVinci Cranks, and 38 mm > Avocet Cross tires that weighs in at a hefty 30 lbs. > > I live in Vermont, which has lots of rolling hills and some > significant climbs. Do you think the 5 lbs alone, between the Trek > and Ebisu is enough to effect the performance? What about the 3 lb > difference between the Rambouillet and the Trek? Or, are the > perceived differences imaginary? > > michael -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
