Top end bikes really necessary for racing?

[amaferanga]

As long as you've got gears and brakes that work well and wheels that don't flex when you get out of the saddle then you're good to go for lower level (2nd/3rd/4th Cat) racing (it still amazes me how many racers there are running Dura Ace or SRAM Red or Campagnola Record that seem to be incapable of setting their gears up so that they shift smoothly). Good grippy tyres that you have confidence in when cornering make a big difference as well. Deep section wheels will make next to no difference (I've recently changed from 30mm alu rims to 50mm carbon rims and unsurprisingly I haven't suddenly started winning every race I do).

As others have said, fitness is the most important thing, but I'd also say that bike fit is very, very important.

Oh and prize money for 2nd/3rd/4th Cat races will at best cover your entry fee plus travel costs and leave a bit over for a nice meal - no-one is racing at this level for the money.

 

[MacB]

In F1 One tenth of a second per lap performance advantage is rumoured to cost £500'000.

Anyhow here's big Al and his Pinarello

Bikes says young and fit and bars say not so sure

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Bikes says young and fit and bars say not so sure

Wow that is a stunning machine! :drool:

 

[HLaB]

In F1 One tenth of a second per lap performance advantage is rumoured to cost £500'000.

Anyhow here's big Al and his Pinarello

Is he colour blind ?

 

[MacB]

Wow that is a stunning machine! :drool:

Doesn't really do it for me but perhaps that's coz I know just how crap an old fat bloke like me would look on it Given a physique, or a youth drug, I could be tempted.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Doesn't really do it for me but perhaps that's coz I know just how crap an old fat bloke like me would look on it Given a physique, or a youth drug, I could be tempted.

I would have it as a work of art

 

[jay clock]

I have a Trek 1.2 which cost £400 new and a BMC Racemaster which cost over £2500. About 1kg different. I went to Lanzarote twice in 2010 and did the same routes. An 11km climb of about 48 mins was 11 sec faster on the BMC. So bugger all difference. The frame on the Trek flexes noticeably, and I do love my BMC, but there is not a huge difference. I did an Ironman last week on the BMC and would have been almost as happy using the Trek if had to for the same distance (180k ride)

For the record I am as solid as hell!

 

[Alembicbassman]

Even pro level kit can fail. This happened to Mark Cavendish last year.

 

[Smokin Joe]

When the thickness of a tyre means the difference between two highly trained athletes being hailed as a World Champion and a name everyone has forgotten by the end of the season every tiny advantage is worth it's weight in gold.

When you are trying to beat your equally unfit mates in a sportive it isn't.

 

[User16625]

Another thing I fail to understand is the pricing. Heres a couple of links to what I consider "performance bikes"

http://www.google.co...ved=0CHIQ8wIwAw

http://www.suzuki-gb...ike/gsxr1000l0/


At £10000 the £825 price diff is minor so what is it that justifies the cost of the bike in the 1st link when you can get a much faster one for not much more in the second link? The bike in the second one has an engine, complicated moving parts and electronics. The 1st link has a bike that is much simpler in design and technology.Looking it this way, cycle pricing doesnt seem to make sense at all. Does the cost of material of the pedal cycle really make it worth as much as an 180+mph brand new sports motorcycle?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Another thing I fail to understand is the pricing. Heres a couple of links to what I consider "performance bikes"

http://www.google.co...ved=0CHIQ8wIwAw

http://www.suzuki-gb...ike/gsxr1000l0/


At £10000 the £825 price diff is minor so what is it that justifies the cost of the bike in the 1st link when you can get a much faster one for not much more in the second link? The bike in the second one has an engine, complicated moving parts and electronics. The 1st link has a bike that is much simpler in design and technology.Looking it this way, cycle pricing doesnt seem to make sense at all. Does the cost of material of the pedal cycle really make it worth as much as an 180+mph brand new sports motorcycle?

I think it is called Snob Value. That is how the top end of everything is sold. The most expensive must be the best. You also have Goldielocks pricing. Not too low, not too high but just right. The manufactures will over price an item of similar quality to its rival knowing full well that both will sell for two different reasons

 

[iAmiAdam]

Even pro level kit can fail. This happened to Mark Cavendish last year.

That's not a failure, wheels arn't meant to collide with each other. A failure would be it collapsing under normal use.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

That's not a failure, wheels arn't meant to collide with each other. A failure would be it collapsing under normal use.

The wheel is fubar'd either way

 

[brockers]

I would have it as a work of art

By Dali maybe. What was the designer on when he came up with those wobbly forks and seatstays?

I remember His Sugarness once trying to impress a journalist by telling him how the young roadie whippersnappers try to take him on the roads where he lives in Spain, but once they come past he likes to show them who's boss. Yeah. In your dreams, mate.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

By Dali maybe. What was the designer on when he came up with those wobbly forks and seatstays?

I remember His Sugarness once trying to impress a journalist by telling him how the young roadie whippersnappers try to take him on the roads where he lives in Spain, but once they come past he likes to show them who's boss. Yeah. In your dreams, mate.

As it happens I love Dalis' work