my old Boardman is faster than my new fancy Canondale..!

[240Cup]

Long story short, cheapish Boardman Team Carbon (I think I paid about £600 for it after a load of discounts) replaced with Canondale Synapse Evo Hi Mod Di2 which cost me many leptons £££££ last year. The Canondale came with fat tyres on Hollowgrams, I think the tyres are 28s. The Boardman then got relegated to a Winter bike.

The Synapse always felt a little sluggish to me compared to the Boardman, but now I have put a set of Hollowgrams on the Boardman too, running Michelin Pro3 tyres. Although it feels a bit twitchy and the Canondale feels more stable and comfortable, I'm pretty sure I am about 1 or 2mph average speed over a 50 mile ride on the Boardman than the Canondale.

The Canondale looks fancy and I love it, but given that my aim is to beat the clock each time I go out I'm pretty p@@ed off...!!

[Gary29]

That's why I'm more than happy on my Evans special 'Pinnacle'

A bike is only ever as fast as the idiot riding it.

[outnumbered]

How does the fit compare between the two ?

[240Cup]

Had both fitted by the same guys, they both fit well with no issues.

[Your Dad]

Reminds me of the heavy Canyon that needed more work to keep going.

[bigdom]

240Cup said:

I'm pretty sure I am about 1 or 2mph average speed over a 50 mile ride on the Boardman than the Canondale.

Either you know, or don't know. What do your times show on the same route?

[anonymous-user]

I think this happens a lot and the usual answer to these cost vs actual performance is that whatever is more expensive feels faster, that’s what matters.

Also if it’s more expensive it might make you ride it more so it’s good for your fitness.

When all that gets proven wrong with actual data, the answer is I bought it because I can and I’m worth it.

[240Cup]

The Boardman is definitely faster according to my Garmin.

Not convinced by these big fat tyres on the Synapse!

[Matt_N]

Same route, same weather conditions etc?

So many variables over a 50 mile ride.

[TwistingMyMelon]

TBH the boardman is a decent light bike with a fairly stiff frame, its not like its a hellfrauds £70 clunker

Once you get past a certain threshold of bikes there isn't if anything in it

[BMWBen]

Pretty simple answer to this one - the synapse is a mamil friendly "endurance" bike.

That means it's got a massive head tube and upright geometry, making the whole thing an aero disaster.

The boardman team is a proper bike, with proper geometry.

TLDR : you're more aero on the boardman.

Where do I send my invoice?

[Dannbodge]

As above.

Aero makes the biggest difference when riding and that's rider aero, before wheels etc and everything else.

[01samuelr]

You purchased the wrong bike. Synapse is an all day endurance machine. Its comfortable and a relaxed fit. A supersix is the race bike, I have one and it stiff, nimble and up hill it FAST.
I went from a trek domane to the supersix. I’m faster everywhere on the supersix.

[Zippee]

BMWBen said:

Pretty simple answer to this one - the synapse is a mamil friendly "endurance" bike.

That means it's got a massive head tube and upright geometry, making the whole thing an aero disaster.

The boardman team is a proper bike, with proper geometry.

TLDR : you're more aero on the boardman.

Where do I send my invoice?

Pretty much this. The Synapse is an Enduro geo set up. I have a Willier GTR I've just purchased, my old Specialized with Tiagra is quicker but stiffer and less comfy over distance than the Willer.

[240Cup]

Hmmm! The Boardman doesn't feel 'that much' more aero than the Synapse to me.

Looked at Supersix but due to regular hip / IT band niggles my fitter thought it was too aggressive.

Since purchasing the Synapse I have worked hard on hamstrings and technique and hips are better but not 100%.

I usually do 50 mile rides two or three times a week, so need a bit of endurance but also do try to 'go hard' i.e. beat the last best time etc.

Is it not the tyres? i.e. chunky 28's on the Hollowgrams on the Synapse versus super racy ones on the Hollowgrams on the Boardman?

[towser44]

240Cup said:

Hmmm! The Boardman doesn't feel 'that much' more aero than the Synapse to me.

Looked at Supersix but due to regular hip / IT band niggles my fitter thought it was too aggressive.

Since purchasing the Synapse I have worked hard on hamstrings and technique and hips are better but not 100%.

I usually do 50 mile rides two or three times a week, so need a bit of endurance but also do try to 'go hard' i.e. beat the last best time etc.

Is it not the tyres? i.e. chunky 28's on the Hollowgrams on the Synapse versus super racy ones on the Hollowgrams on the Boardman?

What tyres are they on each?

Edit - I assume they are Schwalbe Pro ONE Tubeless, 700x28c

Edited by towser44 on Thursday 29th March 21:35

[240Cup]

They are the Schwalbes on the Canondale (in 700/28) but Michelin Pro3 in 700/23 on the Boardman (both bikes are running Canondale Hollowgram carbon wheels)

[Dave2t]

Have you tried pedalling harder?

[240Cup]

Wahey, pedalling harder ... boom tish! Why didn't I think of that?

I use the Boardman and Canondale regularly so my fitness / pedal hardimotionturbo is the same across both bikes.

[E65Ross]

That's bizarre.

I recently bought a Canyon Aeroad disc DI2 (Ultegra) and it's replaced a Bianchi Infinito using 105 5800 from 2011. The difference is enormous, Aeroad is around 1.5-2mph quicker using the same tyres (although 25mm on the rear of the Canyon, Bianchi 23mm F/R).