the guys in the race are significantly stronger than strong dudes just riding in the hills; they’re pros. i meant the average strong recreational wannabe fast rider in teh hills is not gonna beat lance. because lance’s chain is rusty or he just has one speed (although hed have to get to pick the gear). it is not like basketball in the sense that it’s primarily about power and ability to keep going. but he has a lot more power than the average dude buying a bike locally who shaves his legs and rides 100 miles a week in the hills..
aluminum’s ok i guess. but because it’s a lighter weight metal that fatigues they just end up making the tubes real fat and they weigh as much as steel anyway. the best advice probably is just to buy whatever excites you and motivates you. for me thats steel. maybe thats why im being this way. i dont think of a bike as apractical purchase like a computer or fridge wher eyou reserach and buy the best. it’s more like love. or sex.
so ok. maybe i overstated the case. i admit it. maybe lance ona rusty old bike might get overtaken bya strong young dude under the right elevation conditions and if the bike is too rusty and messed up to actually roll.
but if you gave him a steel road bike with relatively fat tires from teh 1970’s that is heavy (like, say 35 lbs, and pit him against any young dude on a carbon road bike from yesterday. no contest.
and for you, none of it matters except that the bike excites you.