a question of performance

[johnnyh]

...or rather the improvements one might get from a different style of bike.

At the moment I use my Giant Boulder MTB to get around on if I am on a call out where I dont need the car to carry kit, but currently only for runs of up to 16 miles or so each way. (time is money and I am not earning whilst I am riding, so I have to be reasonably sensible on where I use the bike and not the car. As such I tend to limit it to where I can get to in an hour).
I fitted it with a Topeak quickrack and trunk bag/panniers, and this means I can carry a mini laptop and other tools/cables as needed. I changed from the nobbly tyres to some slicker 26x1.65's too.

Now my average speed (keeping in mind I have to be semi-presentable when I get to site and not a panting/sweaty mess) is around 15mph over a journey which always includes a couple of climbs.

Since I need the pannier/trunk bag, I am guessing an out and out road bike is out of the equation, but would I gain a significant advantage in speed and thus increase my range if I moved to a hybrid/tourer ?
Or could I get the same gains by ridding the bike of its front suspension and putting 26x1.5 tyres on?

All opinion welcomed as ever,

Cheers

 

[HLaB]

I wouldn't rule out a road bike many have the suitable eyes for guards and a rack. It would offer you the best improvement, I think you'd be easily doing 15mph + with no effort on one. If you're are doing 15mph on mtb you'll easilly do more with less effort on a road bike.
I don't have a mtb but with my heavy (wide tyred) hybrid I only average 13.5 mph in town, with a bit of work I can get it up to 15mph. With my flat bar road bike which is fitted with a rack, I'd average 14.5-15mph on longer hillier rides without really trying; I could get up to around 17.5mph on a flatter rides of about 30 miles but I'd have to work for that. Now I've fitted it with drops, I'll easily do 15.5mph on hillier routes and more if I work. My summer dropped bar road bike is better again but it doesn't easily take a rack, it'll average 16.5 mph without trying and with work I can get it up to higher average speeds yet again.

 

[johnnyh]

so do the drops add anything to the speed equation or is it the geometry of the road bikes frame?

 

[Randochap]

You are a mighty strong rider if you can average 15mph around town on a mtb! Is it exceedingly flat in your "hood?"

You should be breaking records on a lighter bike built for roads.

It's hard to find a very good stock commuter these days, but a sport tourer or hybrid will be much better than your present machine.

Check out my commuter hub for some general info.

 

[johnnyh]

well I am not in too bad shape, playing football until last season and the gym work plus coaching see to that. So my stamina is pretty good and I dont mind pushing myself.

The longest hill is a bit of a climb and was daunting at first, but I tend to just focus on keeping the legs going round and I have a reasonably quick recovery once at the top. That aside it tends to be country type A or B roads, some up some down and the occassional flat.
There is one nasty little hill (thankfully quite short) where the granny ring comes in and speed drops to about 7mph, legs spinning like a good 'un mind

 

[HLaB]

so do the drops add anything to the speed equation or is it the geometry of the road bikes frame?

Having converted my flat bar road bike too a dropped bar bike (same frame) I'd definitely say yes, they offer a more aerodynamic position which shows on descents and in head winds. On a minor point they allow more hand positions which is more comfortable, the more comfortable I am the faster I can go.

 

[johnnyh]

well it seems it might be worth a punt, time to scout the ads...

 

[Randochap]

Not doubting your prowess. However, I'm a marathon cyclist and my average around town tends to be somewhere around 12mph. When I say average, I mean actual average over time, as per computer.

Anyway, my suggestion would be, as I said, a sport tourer or hybrid. But make sure the bike has braze ons for racks and eyelets for fenders.

You don't have to have drop bars for short distances and flat bars are better in traffic, especially for someone without experience on drops. Drops are a great advantage on longer rides because they give more hand positions and allow you to get lower on decents and in headwinds.

 

[johnnyh]

ah I am not "in town" as such, kinda out in the sticks, so I dont have to contend with much by way of stop start - in fact only one set of traffic lights between me and the next little town which is approx 9.5 miles away. As I say, I am only going a max of 16 miles at anyone time, and it isnt too hard to keep a pace up for that - I'm not doubting it would not be possible to keep it up indefinitely, but it is within my "range" of fitness as it is.

 

[bonj2]

16 miles. the time you'd save by riding faster would out weigh the time it would take to have a shower and get changed.
say you rode at 18mph instead of 15mph. That would mean it would take 53 minutes, as opposed to 1 hour 4 minutes. That gives you 11 minutes to have a shower (or just get changed/+ deodorant/baby wipes etc.)

 

[chris667]

You're definitely in the market for a lightweight tourer, with a 25-28mm tyre. They were designed for exactly the kind of terrain you ride on. Full mudguards make commuting a lot more civilised too, and luggage is no problem at all.
The thread where I introduce myself shows my tourer fitted with Nitto Moustache bars. These are superb for everything, all the hand positions and aerodynamic tuck of a drop bar, but with a proper upright position like flat bars.

 

[johnnyh]

cheers chris667, I'll check that out.

 

[ASC1951]

say you rode at 18mph instead of 15mph. ....That gives you 11 minutes to have a shower (or just get changed/+ deodorant/baby wipes etc.)

Does that meet his "arriving semi-presentable" requirement, Ben?

There would be a bit of a stir if JonnyH screeched up at my office, said he'd come to sort out our wiring/plumbing/life support systems/entire database and then dropped his kecks and started going over the crevices with a handful of babywipes. It would be hours before the girls would settle again.

 

[johnnyh]

hahah indeed, being a techy I tend to pull some combats on over my cycle shorts and a company logo polo shirt on over my "breathable" t-shirt, quick wipe of me face, squirt of smelly and into the call.

I certainly wouldnt be dropping me undies to get busy with some wipes

That said, one of the larger places I go to work do have showers and all sorts of facilities, so I could take kit for a quick shower.

 

[PpPete]

You're definitely in the market for a lightweight tourer, with a 25-28mm tyre. They were designed for exactly the kind of terrain you ride on. Full mudguards make commuting a lot more civilised too, and luggage is no problem at all.
The thread where I introduce myself shows my tourer fitted with Nitto Moustache bars. These are superb for everything, all the hand positions and aerodynamic tuck of a drop bar, but with a proper upright position like flat bars.

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